Centering Clay on a Pottery Wheel---Its that simple!

Here is a basic detailed explanation of how to master centering clay on a pottery wheel. Melanie of Mudgirl Pottery will demonstrate that using 2lbs of clay and your whole skeleton, you too can center in minutes!! Enjoy!
Follow me on instagram and my studios @mudclaystudio @call_it_a_pot and @mudgirlpottery

[@jennyp7084]

Great description of the hand positions. For me centring is a constant struggle. Thank you!

[@MudgirlPottery]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Lamefoureyes]

The top hand being too far forward was super insightful; I'm pretty sure that's what I've been doing wrong. Thanks so much!

[@Lamefoureyes]

Yup, that made all the difference!

[@user-tk7zg2cs4j]

Hi, I'm a beginner in Australia and was having trouble centering until I watched your video. now I'm not so intimidated by the wheel and keen to throw more and won't be recycling so much bloody clay. Thankyou 😀

[@gembolding]

I discovered your channel yesterday and today I threw a couple of cylinders sooooo much easier and BETTER! You are one of the best pottery "teachers" on youtube !❤❤

[@spookycatzstudio2115]

I took this lesson to the wheel, threw 10 bowls, my personal best!! Centering just got easier, thank you!!

[@MudgirlPottery]

CENTERING is EVERYTHING

[@kristinamanning5395]

I watched this video several times before returning to my wheel class today following summer break. It WORKED, and I’m GRATEFUL! I’m sharing this with other new students-thanks again! 👏🏼🎉

[@willow8745]

I'm excited and interested in being a pottery teacher in the future but it's hard to explain all these complicated but very important positions! Thank you for such a concise explanation!

[@MyMazyCat]

Mudgirl! I ❤ your videos!! I really appreciate you taking the time to teach us! Your videos are absolutely FANTASTIC!! You are a talented instructor!

[@BethJacobs-bf2px]

A specific video of coning up would be fantastic! Thanks again for your patient and generous tutorials!

[@MudgirlPottery]

@MudgirlPottery 1 second ago I def can... but if you look at my videos with bigger clay I often cover coning in those!

[@MidwifeBonnie]

I really love these videos. I'm struggling to center and throw my first cylinder that's not all wonky. Thank you for helping me learn the basics

[@HelenaBacharCohen]

This was so helpful, thank you! I was finally able to throw decent looking bowls yesterday!

[@MudgirlPottery]

That’s awesome. Most important part. Don’t let centrifugal force and gravity win. Make it a bowl at the very wnd

[@domnimc6298]

This is absolutely the best explanation of centering I've come across. Thank you so much!! Now to binge all your videos!

[@MudgirlPottery]

Awww thanks. Centering doesn thave to be so hard and you dont have to be a muscle-y person to do so. USe you whoie body!

[@chelseab7636]

I do the same thing with my left arm! I discovered that was easier for me back when I was in school. I hadn’t seen anyone else do that, but I showed some other girls in class who were struggling and it helped them too

[@janetvogeler7842]

You are such a great teacher…. For some reason you have made it click for me

[@roaryanna477]

Can't wait for a coning video! Thank you for this strategy, I'm going to try it out tomorrow

[@janettewilson5368]

I have taken many classes and watched sooo many videos on how to center clay….you are the first to give me the ahaaa moment and it’s like well that totally makes sense…can’t wait to go out to my wheel tomorrow and center some clay! Thank you for sharing your wisdom…

[@MudgirlPottery]

Awesome. Make yourself 5 balls, center one and move to the side , then center another and pout it to the side.. Do that 5 times.. It will become part of you! Muscle memory!

[@vivic4514]

Thank you! You're a great teacher

[@bmorlan35able]

perfect tips! :). I recenty came back to my wheel after 5 years (medical issues prevented me from making pots) and centering was harder than it was in the very beginning! I just love how you make everytihg so down to earth and lots of practice without overwhelming someone with info :)

[@MudgirlPottery]

Glad you are back at it! Thanks so much. Im glad it helped. I often think I may be giving too much info! Keep watching more, I quite a few analogies that are a bit out there but tend to help! (or at least make you smile!) LOL

[@BethJacobs-bf2px]

So helpful because of your specific directions. Thank you !!

[@MudgirlPottery]

You are welcome!!!

[@katlehmann5131]

Thank you 🎉

[@MidwifeBonnie]

Really helpful, thanks!

[@pattyhastings4648]

Thank you for your expertise ❣️ l’m a beginner 😅, I tried your method and it made all the difference for me ….

[@thomasschwarz1973]

good one thanks a lot

[@Stephanie-uy6vo]

Thank you for this video!

[@MudgirlPottery]

Glad you enjoyed it! Any ideas for new ones LMK

[@pavlentos]

The first of all is nice wedging! 😊

[@nikkiknutson2846]

Very helpful! You're hilarious!

[@carmecarrerastrelliso764]

Muy instuctivo muchas grácias !!

[@socialPiotr]

Thank You ❤

[@roseannjames5397]

I just had two disappointing days in the studio trying to center. My biggest problem is my wrist on my left hand hurts. Am I doing something wrong or should I give up wheel throwing?

[@meganculhane5351]

I’m struggling SO much with centering. Thank you!! What do you do if your bat is wiggling? Also my clay tends to come off the bat when I cone up. What am I doing wrong? How do I help my clay stick?

[@DarkFayte]

Something I've been struggling with in my class (been using the wheel for about 5 weeks) is sometimes when centering there's kind of a lump next the base that's really have to get back in to center fully. Is there when you use those angled two fingers to kind of push it back in?

[@MudgirlPottery]

yes. those side fingers act like a rib and push those random grains of clay back into the lump, then the top will feel uneven, so use your top hand to push it back in to shape

[@sherryconway7557]

Are you throwing right or left hand dominate?

[@SubjectSigma11]

Alex Grey on your arm? Nice

[@MudgirlPottery]

Yes!! Love him and Tool. Dave matthews drawing on the other side!

[@joelbergeron3515]

my life is a void in the universe!

[@potterylady44]

Hello...are you still going to make a coning up video👀👀👀?

[@MudgirlPottery]

I def can... but if you look at my videos with bigger clay I often cover coning in those!