Pulling for beginners (common mistakes)

[@EarthNationCeramics]

Edit : at the end of the credits I accidentally spelled Heather's name , heathr. Sorry about that. I hope that most of you can understand that they're supposed to be an extra E there.

[@heatherstewart3295]

:D

[@john00sinclair]

*there”s

[@priyanka0107]

When I pull, my fingers get wobbly and starts moving with the wheel and I lose the stability, why does that happen

[@magichepidog5743]

@@priyanka0107 u need to get more good

[@gb4670]

really appreciated the part where you cut the vessel in half, and show your hand positions, so much easier to "get". Thanks, have a Great weekend.

[@apollofell3925]

Learned more in ten minutes than two fkin weeks in my college class. I have a terrible teacher, these tips are a huge help

[@skynaizer7841]

Dude, same. I come into class and just straight up play KZbin videos while I throw because she straight up doesn't give us any real help or direction

[@Firstthunder]

Same. For the love it’d be great if you could help me understand the physical mechanics.

[@thehallhive9425]

Not only was this way more helpful than other videos, but the commentary was a nice touch. 🤣

[@kellyluna307]

I'm taking a class right now and our instructions were a hand out and a bag of clay. I learned more in this 20 minutes than I did in three hours. THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge!

[@WhaleTank]

I did my best pull to date because of this video. I watched it like 5 times before class and it was the most successful I have been yet. This video is *chef's kiss*

[@kerrim1986]

This has got to be one of the most helpful pulling videos around. That pressure one has my name all over it!

[@Treia24]

I am far from a beginner (I have an undergad degree in ceramics, lol), but I haven't had access to a wheel or kiln for 14 years until just the past week and a half. Your beginner videos are not only really, *really* good for refreshing my memory on like. Tiny things here and there that had slipped my mind. But honestly I would recommend your beginner throwing videos -- and those of a couple other specific youtube potters -- to *any* experienced thrower as well. Your techniques are often quite different from how my college professor taught me *and* different from what other potters on youtube are doing (and their techniques are different from each other). I've been really enjoying trying out so many new methods/hand positions/etc. and seeing what does or doesn't work well for me, especially as a full time artist with debilitating chronic pain!

[@vhstv8440]

Thanks for this video! As a high school Ceramics teacher, it's always important to let students watch and learn from different potters who might use different techniques. Sometimes the kids will "get it" when they see or hear a technique explained differently than I can. Great demo!

[@colterthompson6846]

Thank you for this. The too-much-pressure-causes-twisting concept is huge for me at this point in my ceramics learning.

[@moonriver1712]

When you explained how pulling works I couldn’t believe I’d never realized it was just squeezing and pressure application. I’ve been trying to yank my clay up my vessel for like 2 weeks you saved my life.

[@EarthNationCeramics]

That's what I'm here for :)

[@cherylelberytaylor4416]

Wow, you need to be a teacher if ur not already. That was so helpful, thorough an amazing thanks for your time and your help.

[@merrillranken6135]

The specific shots and comments about hand and finger position were SO important. The tip about moving the elbow (flex biceps) was game changer for me. Thank you so much!

[@Phidias81]

I'm not a beginner. Higher than intermediate I would say, but in this video I've found some precious tips. In particular I loved the idea that the hands and wrist don't move, but rather the shoulders and the back! Also I couldn't understand why when throwing larger quantities of clay, my pot would become wobbly. You showed the exact position I was taking, putting the arm straight and detached from the body! Now I pay attention to that, and my pulls and nice and vertical again!

[@Rachel-l8tr]

@8:50 I knew I had to subscribe hahaha this was honestly the most helpful and informative video that I've seen so far and I'm so happy I found it. I will be binge watching this guy

[@therabbitswhisper]

7:10 is what Ive been looking for. I keep removing clay instead of squeezing my fingers together. Thank you sir.

[@Tax2Me]

Thanks for that Gem of advice between 9:10 and 9:28. The staggered finger tip with the inside ahead of the outside finger is crucial to understand the Real McCoy of pulling. Glad to hear and visible see it. It is like drawing a spline. Cool beans!

[@sophieoshaughnessy9469]

There is so much here my teacher never told me as I crashed in burned serially. So glad I found you!

[@nancyburns7513]

I've been taking pottery lessons for 2 years switching from left-handed to right-handed. This video brought everything together in my head. Cutting the piece in half and explaining what happened was an amazing eye opener. Can't wait to follow more of your classes. Thanks.

[@themima5]

Nancy Burns ❤️

[@chrisc6676]

You're obviously the best teacher of how to throw on KZbin. Thorough, clear, and you put the science and logic back into pottery. I just decided to throw and found your channel. Excited to learn a lot ! Thanks so much

[@marthagSC]

Thanks so much! Explaining the “twist” really helped me...basic physics, but I had not thought of it that way. I’m taking a beginners course, and a few selected videos in between studio time helps me think through the process and get it ingrained better.

[@juliameaney7274]

Great video. Good info for me starting to pot after 45 years. Love your approach. I appreciate the “why “ of the action. The twisted humor works . You are refreshing to watch.

[@sandraludwig1546]

Yep, I had three flops last night because I did some of these things! Ended up in tears. What's funny is that I've successfully thrown before--but not for 20 years. Thanks for the tips!

[@CakedSkein]

The part where you explained how you need to squeeze the clay upwards really helped me to visualise, and also the part where you showed how the twisting can occur definitely made me realise what I was doing wrong! Thank you so much for this! The video was brilliant! :D

[@AllanRisk]

Really, really helpful! One problem I have is that when I do a pull, I have a hard time maintaining a cylindrical shape ... often, the clay wants to splay outwards into an inverted cone or bowl shape. I wonder if my wheel is going too fast? Your wheel seems to be going quite slow compared the speed I have mine going at ... which isn't fast, but not quite as slow as it seems you have yours going. Can you speak to the question of wheel speed?

[@Mamii363]

Thanks for this video. My pulling is exponentially better after watching this. I finally cut a bowl in half today and was amazed at just how even the walls were. 🙌🙌🙌

[@megankathleen8765]

honestly, dude, thank you so much. the extra visuals you did in this series - such as slowing down movements, comparing wedging to revving a motorcycle, and slicing the cylinders in half to explain the process - helped me understand things about the mistakes i was making in class and the results i'm aiming for in a way that my college professor and the other videos on youtube were just unable to. i'm going to be an art teacher and so i have the complete authority to say that you are a genuinely excellent teacher for breaking down the process in this way.

[@denisestover2416]

Wow! I wish you had this video in the beginning of 2015. I had (and still have) everything a Potter needs and wants. I was doing okay until throwing. After a week of trying and miserably failing I gave up. 😕 I just thought I was not cut out to pot😉 One day I mean to start it again, but that will be later. In your video you address EVERY issue I had, lol! Thank you so much for generously sharing your time and gifts. God Bless!

[@EarthNationCeramics]

*dab*

[@aprilkennedy1418]

This is what I needed. Game changer. I could not get the cylinder, but the info on why the clay twists, and the real pearl: to keep the hands still and move the anchored arms instead, had me throwing cylinders which were ndt bad! Thank you so much. This is great.

[@themoodyonejb]

I enjoy your videos so much! Im taking a clay class and basically making a project ecah class. Most are wonky 😂 My instructor will "fix" it, with no explanation, and we'll keep going. Your videos are indepth and explain the actual WHY, this is happening. I also enjoy listening to you and your quirky sayings. Lol Thank you for posting. I wish I could take a class with you.

[@eryngarcia9040]

Started a pottery class yesterday & had a wonderful time, but I could feel that I needed better understanding of what the clay was doing so I could correct what I was doing wrong. This was *phenomenal* for the way my brain works, thank you!

[@lizprotsman3865]

I love your videos because you talk energetically while showing us exactly what you’re teaching. I’ve learned a lot from you & am looking forward to putting your techniques to use when I go to my pottery class next week!

[@them2rascals]

I just dropped several hundred on a pottery class and now i'm like "why?" Excellent instruction!

[@Misswiskers4]

This was excellent !!! Some teacher don't realized that as a beginner, a thorough description of a process is a good thing.

[@catladylife]

Thank you so much for the basic tips. I never really learned from the beginning. I started going to a local parks and recreation that was more like just open studio and everyone else had already been going for a while and just was doing their own thing. So I pretty much just learned from watching others. But I've learned a lot from videos like yours that show the very basics from the start. We need a good foundation to work on from the beginning. Thanks again

[@staciebarton3658]

Thanks for this video! I keep getting the twist. Now I know why. 🤓

[@meredithinserra4670]

VERY helpful! I've only been at the wheel about 3 years as a hobby potter and nowhere near a master yet, so I mess up a lot, throw unevenly, don't throw consistently, etc. I have improved a LOT but I have a long way to go. The elbow thing I HAVE to try! I bet that's going to help me a LOT!

[@germancornejo5956]

Thanks to you I have made ma best Starbucks large glass y had no idea before your videos and now I’m so happy thanks dude (I am from Ushuaia Argentina 🇦🇷)

[@CalculyticCuber]

That knuckle trick before you do real pulls has been life-changing. I'll be honest and say I don't use my knuckles, but I make a fist with my right hand and use the outside edge of my index finger to accomplish the same thing. Doing this makes you so much more efficient with clay and I truly can't thank you enough for showing me. I think the only way I can make it better would be to twist the fist inwards to make the beginning volcano so my rims aren't so heavy.

[@alishaharris6407]

Started a pottery class a few weeks ago, and I am so glad I found your videos. Very helpful!!

[@camillet9883]

I practiced a bunch of cylinders today, then watched this video again. Now things make more sense. Thank you for the clear instruction.

[@amandajohnson5293]

This is THE BEST series I've found! I'm so excited to watch the whole series! Thank you for sharing your talent! Your down to earth commentary such a treat!

[@stephaniesanchez5773]

Thank you for this video it took me a while to find someone who’s so descriptive and hit every possible experience/technique

[@elisec9530]

Thanks so much! I just started a wheel course and I have * mostly * figured out centering and opening, but I could not for the life of me figure out what to actually do with my hands to pull. The caterpillar and the inside pressure being slightly above the outside pressure are just the tips I need. Also: where do you get your nice floppy sponge? Mine is big, and stiff, and sad.

[@EarthNationCeramics]

It's a mudtools sponge I bought from the company.

[@artmelodic]

I too agree, that tip was one I needed too.

[@ll-hr5xg]

0pyx,

[@cjsz6854]

I especially like your instruction to use stabilized elbows to pull. I hadn’t thought about that before. Great tip.

[@annewatkis5824]

Wonderful video. The three first steps are so challenging!

[@Jinxaire]

You explain things so well and show me exactly what I need to do/how to move my hands, elbows, and fingers. You explained it succinctly than my ceramics teacher. Great job, thanks. Subscribing for more.

[@laurennacuers5085]

I know this is an old vid but i just started wheel throwing and saw all of my mistakes. I made sure to make them to not overwhelm myself when i start properly learning. I can't wait to try your tips out next time i hit the studio!

[@megga1886]

I was having so much trouble pulling a wall until I found your video. Thank you!!!

[@____Ann____]

11.52 you are telling me the same as my teacher. 'Keep your elbow of your inner hand on your knees'. It is useful to see you doing it. In class I mainly watch the hands of my teacher, not arms and elbows. So this video is really helpful. Also, my teacher talks about pulling up the clay at the very base, but I prefer 'the caterpillar'. I 'll call it that in the future.

[@annewatkis5824]

Wonderful video. Thanks very much xxx

[@andreaeyzaguirre6208]

Love your lessons!!! All your tips are soooo Montessori style, lol. Perfect teacher👍🏼👍🏼.

[@sylviamc5090]

Thank you so much for these beginner videos. I truly appreciate your thoroughness. It really helps with my understanding and confidence. Now i finally feel ready to turn on my wheel for the first time.

[@norkelbri]

I have learned more from your beginner series than I did I the past( weeks in a wheel class! THANK YOU.

[@dameonb4586]

Most informative pulling lesson I have found. You are a great tutor, thank you.

[@neilahalter9663]

Thank you foe for such a detailed lesson on pulling up . I'm taking 2 different classes on pottery and you just showed me how to correct my pulling. Thank you again .

[@nainagupta5100]

i am naina from india n as abiggner its realy very helping video for me its been 5 months for me m doing on my wheel but pulling part is but difficult for me but after seeing yur video its realy helpfulll for me thanku sooo much

[@rocklambs3908]

Just subbed, you are very in depth. I need this as I hardly take in the information in class. Keeps it up🎉

[@annwltr]

I finally pulled without making a thin spot! Made a nice sturdy bowl. Thx Donte!

[@mackcurtin66]

Probably one of the best beginner videos I’ve seen and has helped me a lot , thanks so much !

[@smartypantsify]

Thank you, Dontae, I enjoy all your talking, jokes, and especially your mastery of working with clay!

[@Aaron.101]

Thanks, the demonstration on pulling was great. I enjoyed the part when you cut and showed the pull.

[@charlesgerveler4247]

Awesome video please keep it up. Your videos inspire me! Your rants make me about spit out my coffee!

[@clairepeters4964]

I cannot believe watching you once helped me so much! I have never been able to pull half as well before this! You give such a good description of something that is so hard to describe. Subscribing to your channel right away. Never written a comment on youtube before but this actually made me so grateful I had to! You are a fantastic teacher. Thank you!!!

[@mirandacatharineescalante5271]

Thank you for making these videos sir; they're very helpful for ceramics class at school.

[@jaydeebaby7]

Great video. Im currently struggling with this. I think what you said about the twist and movement of elbows not moving hand joints will help me.

[@markcalabrese2946]

Very informative! Thank you for such an in depth overview. I can't wait to get back on the wheel to give it another try. My goal is to be able to consistently pull 14" without challenge. Very much a rookie here with only about 25 hrs wheel time all added up. So far I can pull about 9" consistently with about 2.5 pounds of clay. I'm going to watch this video a bunch of times! I feel very inspired by it. Thanks again.

[@dratini101]

I centered my clay for the first time today!!! And then it flopped when I tried to pull it up 😂 so here I am lol, I'm gonna try again 😄

[@deiongreen3042]

This is is helpful the level of detail especially keep elbows connected and hands touching with the inside fingers slight above, many thanks

[@potatoria]

This video was wildly informative. Understanding how things work really helps my brain rather than simply following the instructions just because!!! you’re an excellent teacher and it’s not an easy skill to possess ✨🌈🥰

[@RobinAlanaBerry]

Thank you so much for this! I am going to refer back to this over and over I'm sure!

[@judywang8393]

11:40 It's exactly what I'm doing right now. And I don't understand what I've done wrong until I came cross your video. Move your elbow and keep stable.

[@lizalove91]

The thing no one tells you is how hard this is and just how much strength you actually need! Omg! I was amazed at how much pressure I try to put on it when centering and it still doesn’t rise up or when pulling. It’s so difficult.

[@EarthNationCeramics]

Finger strength is important

[@lizalove91]

@@EarthNationCeramics that’s good to know and not surprising why I have so much trouble! I have like carpal tunnel and fibro sooo not much hand strength haha. I’m always so sore after my pottery class

[@meghancaitlynnehuynh5040]

I love you videos! I’m a beginner and I’m watching a lot of videos and yours help the most! Also you’re so funny!

[@walterstraus1888]

You are the best instructor EVER. You go over every detail. My Problem: my "caterpillar" winds up coming off my clay body and I put it in the slop bucket. How do I keep it on my piece?

[@EarthNationCeramics]

Happens to me to. It's quite normal. it's majority from pulling all the way from the bottom, which is a good thing.

[@janesaunders576]

I have been pulling pots for a few years and I am always looking for different ways to imporove. This is the best example I have had. Well done. I can't wait to try out your tips.

[@wrinkledmango6797]

Getting ready to go use the wheel after more than a year, this is my tutorial, thanks so helpful.

[@imajapgerm]

Thanks for the refresher course. It's been 40+ yrs since I last touched clay. Now I'm ready to get my hands dirty again and I'm really looking forward to it! 😺

[@wendydaniel1110]

You are very thorough and clear with your instructions. Excellent tips

[@aurumheaven]

You’re so good at putting simple words on the technique for beginners. Just had my first class so thank you so much for the theory recap 🤗

[@robertobreve8623]

Oh wow very helpful video on pulling, I made the mistake of squeezing too much and my fingers weren’t at different levels, thanks! Very informative

[@dennishartley-realestateag3467]

Thanks for the awesome videos, entertaining and really helpful for a beginner who just makes the same mistakes over and over.

[@nutapril4560]

Explaining with the cross section is very very useful to ppl like me not knowing where to exert pressure

[@leena.j]

This is so helpful! I am a beginner potter and make all these mistakes 😆 you explained really well how I can improve.

[@ceel.2361]

This is such a great tutorial! I just had three pots destroyed when pulling halfway up because I was moving my hands! (Just started in the wheel). I can’t wait to go back and practice this method!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!

[@suewilliamsbrawn2600]

This is great - I started ceramics about 30 years ago with throwing, but gravitated over to hand building and it's been my main focus. But more recently I have gone back to throwing sometimes as well - centering seems to be ingrained in my muscle memory but I'm leaving too much clay in the bottoms and not been able to figure out where I'm going wrong. (and since I"m not a big trimming fan that's just too much trimming and clay waste!) I've just watched the opening and pulling videos and am eager to get on the wheel again and put it into practice (lots of practice....) I'm looking forward to checking out your other videos!

[@lindas5964]

Best video ever! So helpful as I’m doing ALL those things but not understanding why it’s not working.

[@Iconology]

Just started a pottery course and next week is throwing. This has made it so much clearer what best to do when pulling! Great vid and subscribed :D

[@annettebowen1540]

I keep coming back to this video! Thank-You for helping us learn ❤

[@shan-gn3ey]

This is so helpful!!! I recently did a workshop to try out pottery and see if I actually enjoy it, and now I know what I did wrong. Thank you!!!!!

[@Qiguila]

Very educational! Thank you! The point of moving the caterpillar made all the sense!

[@dreamsofmemory]

Best beginner videos on KZbin. Thank you so much.

[@vjvierengel1176]

Thanks Donte! I’ve been potting for about 6 months now, so still a beginner. I went through a stage where I did a lot of repetitive practice with pulling cylinders, and I got quite a bit better. Recently, though, my cylinder pulling started to go bad. Not enough water, my left arm not braced, and too slow a pull all seem to be the culprits, based on your excellent demonstration. Can’t wait to get back in there and adjust those and see how my work improves! Thanks a ton!!!

[@rogerrose6529]

Exceptional video. After watching every other vid on ceramics I found this. I subscribed, and now it's time to see everything else you've done. Great wheel talent is necessary, of course. But, your other talent is communication, teaching with just enough friendly and funny talk to make it personal to anyone. The filming is great. The camera zooms in on exactly where our eye should be. Not one "Umm-uh." This is more than a year old, and it's still relevant and important. Lots of praise. My only personal negative is the music. Maybe you have music playing when you work on the wheel. For me, the concentration is major. When my eye tries to focus on the exact ribbon of clay you're pulling up, I don't want to be distracted by any music, your skill is more than enough. (But, that's personal.) This is a great service to viewers, thanks!

[@eden5887]

These are great videos. I threw a little in college, but was more of a handbuilder. Ten years later, I'm reteaching myself at home, so having all these great tips & reminders is awesome. I've watched quite a few videos, and these seem to be the most in depth!

[@charliemilam5757]

Man you’re a rockstar, you explained this so well and helped me a ton!

[@claireginon7663]

Excellent teacher, correcting my mistakes and giving me faith to continue ❤

[@debbiesmith297]

I watch this one often! I can never thank you enough🥰

[@hannahhalow5340]

You’re a really good teacher! I’m excited to try this out! And you’re funny too, Thanks

[@nikikavian1076]

Thank you...Thank you....Amazing instructions with all your posts..much appreciated. X