5 Foot Ideas for Pottery - UPSIDE DOWN THINKING TO IMPROVE YOUR POTTERY!

In this video Ann stands on her head and thinks UPSIDE DOWN to inspire how she decorates her work. Here are 5 Foot Ideas for Pottery that hopefully will get you thinking creatively about your work. It's also just good fun to watch Ann do her thing UPSIDE DOWN!
Answers to questions we get all the time:
We typically bisque to Cone 04 and fire to Cone 5-6
Ann uses Standard English Porcelain no. 365 unless specified otherwise in the video
Here is a link to Ann's White Liner Glaze: imgur.com/a/w8PP8Gy
If you would like to learn how Ann paints with underglazes - check out her Video Workshop Series. These workshops are very detailed (typically 1.5 - 2 hours in length) where Ann provides step by step instruction and are designed to help potters take their work to new levels of craftsmanship and artistry. vimeo.com/showcase/6725318
If you would like to BECOME A MEMBER of the the LSP Research Facility team and earn a cool title that you can put on your resume, we invite you to hit the "SUPER THANKS" button or the "Buy Ann a Coffee" button to help us unite the world through pottery. We so appreciate how generous you have been - THANK YOU!!!
Links to some of the tools Ann uses:
Hand Extruder: amzn.to/3soifWK
Polymer Clay: amzn.to/3DNpnyd
Loop Carving Tool: amzn.to/42jo1W6
Pottery Tott Aprons (Love These!) : amzn.to/3LznhXz
Laser Level (We just got one - cool!): amzn.to/40y9Lsc
Plastic Pastry Mat: amzn.to/430oTjI
Sugarbelle Icing Bottles: amzn.to/3VPslup
Needle Point Tracing Wheel: amzn.to/3LRrtkB
Banding Wheel I use: amzn.to/3KssUXc
Diamoncore Tools: diamondcoretools.com/
LINK TO ATOMIZER: amzn.to/3eA5mT2
Styrofoam Bowl Mold: amzn.to/39KoL0U
Painters Trim Guard: amzn.to/39C5TAX
Hole Punchers: amzn.to/3JutWyu
Brushes Ann Uses: amzn.to/3SqfZGk
Xiem Tools X-Bevel Bevel Cutter for Pottery and Ceramics:
amzn.to/3rZnmKi
ProPlus Sponge: amzn.to/3zkVy64
Best Red Ribs: amzn.to/3nEoQda
Good Cheap level Tool: amzn.to/3lT8MnE
The Cameras we use: amzn.to/3JJfGCd
Best Cheap Lens we film with: amzn.to/3I6Eljy
Best Good Lens we film with: amzn.to/3s1NuUW
ALL of the music we use is LEGALLY LICENCED!

[@sylviamc5090]

Thanks for another great tutorial. As a beginning potter, I’ve found your videos to be the best I’ve seen. You explain each technique thoroughly and clearly enough that I get a good understanding. Your creativity is inspiring!

[@annruel1982]

Hi Sylvia. That is so nice of you. Im always trying to find new ideas and Jim does all the editing to try to fit all the most important things into the video at the same time trying to cut the time of the videos as close to 10 minutes as possible. Im so glad you are enjoying them. thanks for sharing that with us.

[@dangillespie7052]

I love your idea of using measuring spoons to create sprigged feet!!

[@annruel1982]

Hi Dan. thanks so much for watching and Im glad you like the teaspoon idea. Give it a try. It is so easy to do, just make sure the cup is leather hard when attaching so it can get a good adherence. Cheers to you!!

[@debbiethompson6240]

Love how you design the bottoms of cups! I don't think big 'cup companys' think about that!

[@annruel1982]

Thanks Debbie. Im usually like that too. As long as the bottom of my pieces are smooth and clean, I take care as to where i paint my mark, but other than that I usually am happy with just that. This was a great exercise to get me thinking outside the box. Thanks for watching.

[@walkerpottery9296-Natalie]

The teaspoons! Genius measuring tool! I’ve been working to make my bottoms more exciting & the ideas you give in this video nearly inspired some new ideas. Thanks Ann! Have a nice holiday weekend! 💜

[@annruel1982]

Aww...I so glad you liked that. Thanks for watching and give that teaspoon idea a try. Happy potting.

[@jsud5559]

Absolutely wonderful!! I love your artistry as well as your creative use of tools and clay!

[@annruel1982]

Hey J! Aww...thanks so much!! I appreciate that...and thanks for watcing!

[@andthen2315]

Once again you nailed it. Engaging, concise, informative, and funny. Love you and your work

[@annruel1982]

Aww...thanks so much for the kind words and for watching!! WE really appreciate it!!

[@tammyandkiki]

Wonderful and innovative works! Genius ideas! Gorgeous ❤ Thank you for sharing!

[@annruel1982]

Thanks to you Tammy and Kiki for watching!! Yeah! We really appreciate it!

[@tammyandkiki]

@@annruel1982 totally our pleasure ❤️

[@annruel1982]

@@tammyandkiki 🙂

[@mommonald224]

Wowwww! We were just last week looking at an artist who does secret, very detailed sculptures on her bottoms. ❤ thanks for sharing this!

[@annruel1982]

You are so kind. Thank you for watching. What a coincidence. I also love to turn a piece over to see something fun on the bottom. It shows that the artist considered the entire piece which is what we should all do when making any pottery piece whether making sure the bottom is nice and smooth and clean or whether there is a more complicated design like these. Happy potting to you and everyone else in your studio 🙂

[@easterazali9237]

I truly admire your creativity and all of those cups turned out great ! 💖💖💖

[@annruel1982]

Hey Easter! Thanks so much. Im glad you like them. I appreciate you watching. Happy potting

[@gabrielabukovacova-bartoso303]

so cute !! 😍

[@annruel1982]

Thanks Gabirela!! Im glad you like it. We appreciate you watching!!

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

I don’t need to say it again. You already know I think you’re a pottery Goddess! I love the bees. My name (Deborah) means bee. So I’ve always been partial to them.🤗❤️🐝

[@annruel1982]

Hey Deborah!! You are so sweet!! Thank you for all your support and for watching. ....thats right, Deborah does mean "bee". I read that somewhere. I can see where the bees would be meaningful to you. Awesome. 🙂 🙂🙂. Happy potting to you Deborah

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

@@annruel1982 You’re most welcome! And happy potting/creating/making to you!!❤️🤗🐝

[@annruel1982]

@@deborahdanhauer8525 🙂

[@freedomtrailamerica2981]

Love love love!

[@denisenoble4010]

Ann another great video, on pintrest i have a saved page on feet so this was perfect to add to my collection of information. thankyou, all were lovely but the poppy so simple but perfectly formed x

[@annruel1982]

Hey Denise. thats great. Im glad you were able to add this to your collection of ideas. Thank you for the kind words and as always thank you for watching. We really appreciate that. Happy potting!!!

[@candystamping4552]

So creative! Thanks Ann 😊😊

[@annruel1982]

Hey Candy! Im so glad you like it. Thanks as always for watching. Jim and I really appreciate you.

[@natashacloutier3285]

Thanks!

[@evangeliemourouti]

Always beautiful ideas!

[@vzeimen]

I love the idea of decorating the bottoms first. I have to tell you, the last show/sale I had pieces in, I had some cute carved bowls that I thought would sell right away. I don't always carve the bottoms but on these ones I had. When I went in to work my shift at the sale, I turned the pieces with carved bottoms over so you could see the bottom and carved sides and all of them sold within a few hours. It seems like an afterthought to do it but it's a great surprise as someone handles the item or when you're sitting with someone and as they tip their cup so that the bottom can be seen.

[@annruel1982]

Hey Vicki! Thanks for sharing that story. You are so right. It is unique to see a surprise on the bottom of a piece. I am not surprised that they sold when you turned them over. I love that sort of thing too. Very clever on your part.

[@amarisgamacheceramics]

So creative. Love these ideas thank you

[@annruel1982]

You are welcome!! Thanks for watching. 🙂

[@teresaabatelli2782]

Brava brava!!!

[@annruel1982]

Thanks so much Teresa!! Jim and I really appreciate you watching.

[@alphonsechanekayebone7871]

Wonderfull

[@annruel1982]

Thanks Aphonse. We appreciate you watching,

[@pottery59]

I agree with @sylviamc5090. Your videos are turning out to be my favorites and my go-to videos. I just finished making a beer stein using one of your other videos, watching step-by-step, perfecting my cylinder mug-making. I have a question: do you make more money if I watch the whole commercial on KZbin instead of skipping it? I don't know how the compensation works. If so, I will watch the commercial to the end. Thank you for posting all these wonderful, informative videos.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Thank you for being a loyal watcher! I honestly don't know how the KZbin gods determine what counts as "watched". Bottom line, we're not getting rich here, we enjoy making these and if you want to skip through the ads, go for it...I do :)

[@carmecarrerastrelliso764]

Muy instructivo muchas grácias.

[@annruel1982]

¡De nada! Me alegra que te guste el vídeo. Gracias por ver.

[@jennycaldwell1]

When you underglaze the bottoms, do you ever have problems with your underglaze fluxing and sticking to your kiln shelf? Also, you said you glazed the last cup with the carved petals - how did you keep that from sticking when you fired it?

[@annruel1982]

Hi Jenny. I used Amaco Velvet underglazes in the video which are clay based so I didnt have any problems with sticking. As far as the last cup with the carved petals, I glazed the body of the cup but I didnt put any glaze on the bottom carved design. I just left that naked so no worries about sticking there either. If you are worried about some of your underglazes sticking, do some test tiles on top of clay biscuits and see if they stick. Usually the rule is that if the "underglaze" is a matte texture when high fired, it probably wont stick to the shelf. But if the "underglaze "is more smooth and shiny like a "glaze", after being high fired,... then it will probably will flux and stick to the shelf. Just test out the underglazes that you have 🙂. Good luck.

[@pennypeeler863]

In the first project, you added underglaze to the flat bottom. According to information I’ve read, some underglazes will stick to the kiln shelf. Do you sit the cup on stilts? Your work is so beautiful!

[@annruel1982]

Hi Penny. I havent had any problems with Amaco Velvets sticking to my kiln shelves. In fact, I regularly paint my "mark" on all of my pieces with velvet underglazesand have not had it stick at all. Perhaps do test tiles on the type of underglaze that you are using before you commit. Make sure your underglaze is a true underglaze and not like a stroke and coat in which some are more similar to a "glaze" than an underglaze. -- Glazes will stick as you know. Good luck.

[@pennypeeler863]

@@annruel1982 Thank you for this information and the quick reply. It must be the Velvet underglazes that do not stick. I subscribe to several Facebook pottery websites and the information is all over the place, LOL! I’ve been hesitant to put anything on the bottom.

[@annruel1982]

@@pennypeeler863 If the underglaze is clay based chances are that it will not stick. There are products that may be called "underglazes" but they are more of a glaze consistency that will stick. Test out the ones you use. When they are fired without any glaze over top of them, are they a matte finish or are they hard, shiny and smooth like a glaze? If they are more like a glaze chances are they will stick to the shelf

[@pennypeeler863]

Thank you very much! I’m hoping to do a glaze run later this week.

[@annruel1982]

@@pennypeeler863 Good luck Penny.

[@MPswans]

Simply brilliant...show how u draw bees and design mugs..

[@LittleStreetPottery]

I've got a couple vids on that - look at my Underglaze Painting 101 vid on this channel...and others that show my painting techniques.

[@MPswans]

@@LittleStreetPottery thanks! Sure

[@embee7434]

It's like watching a magician at work. ❤ Love these elegant outcomes. With the bamboo skewer slab bottom, what was the advantage of rounding the edges through the plastic? I mean you often soften and round without it, so I'm curious what made the change in this case.

[@annruel1982]

Hey Em. Haha. That is such a nice compliment. Thanks so much. As far as using the plastic wrap to round the edges. Recently I have started using the plastic wrap more... if I have it available... to round the edges of my slabs. Why?....First, it keeps my fingerprints off of the clay. Second, the plastic sticks to the clay and pulls on itself when you round the edges down so that it creates a nice even beveled edge....more even than just my fingers can do by themselves. Give it a try. and see if you get the same results. There is nothing wrong with just using your fingers to round edges, it is just a choice if I have it available. 🙂

[@embee7434]

@@annruel1982 Thank you, Ann! That makes sense. I'll give it a try. I appreciate the info!

[@margaretdeadmon1548]

Do u use underglazes on bottom of cup and if so do you stilt?

[@annruel1982]

Hi Margaret, I used Amaco Velvet underglazes on the tape resist patterned cup in the video. The Amaco underglazes are clay based so I didnt have any problems with sticking to the shelf. If you are worried about some of your underglazes sticking, do some test tiles on top of clay biscuits and see if they stick. Usually the rule is that if the "underglaze" is a matte texture when high fired, it probably wont stick to the shelf. But if the "underglaze "is more smooth and shiny like a "glaze", after being high fired,... then it may flux and stick to the shelf. Just test out the underglazes that you have. Have fun!

[@fereshtepezeshki]

Hi sis an 🙋‍♀️i'm your iranian fan. Can i join your time too? And how is this process?

[@annruel1982]

Hello to Iran from Florida. Thanks for watching! I think you are asking how to get your name featured at the end of our videos where Jim gives you a "title" under your name. What we are doing is really thanking people for donating money to our videos. People will donate by clicking on the "Buy Me a Coffee" link or the "Super Thanks" button. I hope I answered your question. Thanks so much for watching !! :-) Happy potting to you!!

[@bcorrigan70]

Thanks!

[@annruel1982]

Wow, thank you so much B!!!! Jim and I really appreciate your kind contribution to our efforts!! That will help us offset the costs of making these videos. And now you are an official member or our Little Street Pottery Research Facility. Keep an eye on our future videos as we will welcome you and Jim will give you your own unique title. It is a lot of fun!! :-)