How to Open Up Centred Clay and Form the Base of a Pot - A Beginner's Guide

Here's part two in my detailed 'how to throw a pot' series. This week I'm discussing how to open up a centred lump of clay and form the base. I discuss technique, how to fix certain errors and best practices, at least from my point of view.
If you'd like to watch part one, which goes over centring the clay, you can find it here: • How to Center Clay - A...
Timecodes:
0:00 - Introduction
0:18 - Explaining this series
0:57 - How to find the centre of the clay
1:10 - Positioning of arms and hands
1:51 - Positioning of fingers
2:12 - Pushing down to form the 'hollow' or 'well'
2:45 - Checking the base thickness
3:57 - Opening up from a birds eye view
4:48 - Pulling the clay out
5:14 - Compressing the base
5:46 - Cross section of an correct lump
6:16 - Cross section of incorrect lump
7:05 - Discussing re-centering the clay
8:15 - Discussing other grips used for this process
10:06 - Cross section for a bowl form
10:07 - How to open up for a plate
12:45 - How to open up one style of lid
13:15 - Chatting about the different ways of doing this process
14:22 - Clean up
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Website - www.floriangadsby.com

[@katiejaneofficially]

Last year, I had a large tumor removed from my arm and shoulder. I started watching your videos and then to build strength in my arm I started ceramics. I now have a wheel and feel you are my teacher, my guide. Thank you.

[@barbaramitchell7768]

I began taking pottery lessons a year ago and my instructor recommended your videos. I watched them many times at the beginning. I've spent the last year trying to master centering and a couple of weeks ago I finally had a break through. The first time I pushed the cone down and felt the clay center it was an amazing moment. My next problem was that I would knock the clay off center when opening up. I went back and watched this video again and figured out exactly what I was doing incorrectly. I went to the studio yesterday and on my very first pot I centered, opened, and pulled the walls on a perfectly centered ball of clay. It was truly magical after a full year of being just slightly off center. I threw my best pots so far and I just wanted to thank you for your wonderfully helpful videos.

[@benjaminbohannon4432]

I have just completed my first few days at the potter's wheel. Your videos, especially your instructional and narrated videos, have been incredibly insightful to what is most definitely a craft that looks much easier than it actually is. I've had many buckled walls, thin bottoms, and moments with gritty and unlubricated chunks of clay, but I have been enjoying the process and taking care to reflect over each attempt. Yesterday, I threw only 1 semi-successful cylinder, and today I threw 4. Progress, even with only micro-improvements, is still progress. Thank you for putting in the time to make these informative videos! It makes a world of difference to a budding pottery hobbyist such as myself.

[@rajshrisingh9378]

Any suggestions for starting at home 🏠? Which wheel I have to buy and where to buy?

[@knightclan4]

@@rajshrisingh9378 What wheel did you end up getting?

[@knightclan4]

How is the wheel throwing going?

[@fwong]

I've been more excited for this video than literally any movie in theaters this year, no joke.

[@floriangadsby]

So pleased to hear that - a little surreal too! I grew up as a teenager watching your videos back in the day. Thanks for watching Freddie, seeing pottery ramp up in popularity is so damn cool.

[@irrelevantmrna3400]

i’ve spent weeks on the wheel trying to master a simple pot with 0 success after help from my teacher, peers, and other youtube videos. but for whatever reason, the way you explain it just clicks in my brain. i’m finally doing okay at centering and this video came at a perfect time!

[@suzannefurman3957]

Why are you using two hands on the clay?

[@ibs102]

The clarity and structure (as well as your calm voice!) are very much appreciated. Thank you!

[@AmbiguousEthnicity]

These videos are really fantastic, Florian. They’re the best instruction I’ve seen so far, presented very clearly and with perfect detail. We’re fortunate to live in such an age where this quality of instruction is available at our fingertips. Thanks for being a huge part of that!

[@katjalucin7065]

I can’t even express how amazingly good your instructions are! I started doing pottery about 3 months ago (in a group of 5 beginners) and by precisely watching and learning from your beginners guide my progress is just beyond my and my teachers expectation! I can’t thank you enough for helping us newbies and I’m sure that if I stick with this hobby, your videos will be one of the reasons I did. Thank you!

[@akaneve478]

I know nothing about pottery but I love all of your videos. they're just so relaxing and informative. your voice is just amazing to listen to

[@FryInTheOnionRings]

I just started a pottery class last night and felt totally lost, but I loved every minute of it! Im so happy I found your channel. I learned so much! I can't wait to get in the studio and put these techniques to practice. Thank you!❤

[@camilabeltrame6763]

Amazing as always! Can’t wait for the third episode of the serie. Just love how detailed your instructions are. Thank you so much!

[@lynnenewell6812]

Dear Florian I have learnt so much from watching your videos and every day I pot I take you into the potters club rooms where I pot with your voice in my head for a thing to try and improve on. Yesterday I made my first tall bud vase, shaped and robes as you do and how it turned out at last made me just about cry- after weeks of mastering the ribs it was for me perfect. I think you are the best tutor I have ever had and just adore your calm voice. You must get on tv and have a series. If ever I am in England I would love to visit you and will definitely one day when I can afford it, buy a piece of your work although at 68 and this damn COViD has already cancelled my son and I visiting my birthplace, I am not sure we will ever make it? But we can hope, I can’t afford to Patreon you but tell all my potter friends to watch and learn so hopefully you get some remuneration that way for the generous giving of your skills to us all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@ace.fury.]

So glad this popped up into my feed. Smooth delivery, informative, and encouraging. Thank you!!

[@annewatkis5824]

Great video thank you. I can centre and raise and lower the clay initially. However, pulling up the walls is hard for me. Using just my two index fingers is a challenge. Twice the top came off even with my short nails. It’s great to know there is more than one method to pull up the walls. Thank you very much.

[@juicepottery]

i've seen studios post what opened centered clay is supposed to look like but its through this video that i finally understood why and how its done! thanks so much for this series

[@Jess-zu7kv]

Thank you so much - all your details, cross sections and scoring to show where a trimmed base would be are so informative!

[@UkuleleLauren]

I’ve taken two 6-week wheel classes and recently purchased a cheap little wheel for my home studio. I’ve always struggled with feeling like I had a piece centered but then ended up “drilling” off center. I tried one thumb, both thumbs, but this thumb and index finger combo felt so right! Thank you!

[@floriangadsby]

Wonderful! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@ThatOneWeirdGal]

How do you fire your pieces, do you have a kiln?

[@AliveguyPottery]

Thanks for including the mechanics and in depth details about how Clay moves and why you make the moves that you do. Being a Mechanical Engineer, this video really talks to many levels of comprehension, including us techie types😂 we can always count on you for a clear perspective of what’s happening in front of us with clay. Well done Florian! 🙌🙌 PS: I’m envious of your vocal cadence! Teachers should take notes here..

[@isobellep]

I agree with you about the mechanics (I think science and art art partners) I think of the clay as particles suspended in water. After listening to Florian's teaching about 'water' made me realise my first throws were too wet and imbalance. I photograph all my pots so I can look back and see progress,🙂

[@Skipperau]

Thank you for making these videos, I have many tutorials on pottery and you have been the first person to explain the position of the arms and hands.

[@elizabethfager9403]

Totally awesome videos! Seeing the inside of the pots to demonstrate how certain maneuvers affects the clay was very helpful!

[@cwells.pottery]

I can't wait to see the next video in this series. I've been potting once-twice a week for 3.5 months now and was just able to get a 3 pound cylinder to 11 inches (collared in quite narrow) and can't seem to get a solid grasp on how to get lots of clay up quickly, or any more thin. It took me 6-7 pulls and 3-4 collars to get that height. I'm always amazed on how thinly you're able to pull your walls. Can't wait.

[@AlbertoDrake27]

the cross-sections are extremely helpful!

[@superdooper1830]

Love this new series! I've been having success making more advanced things here and there as a new potter but I've been getting frustrated, trying to be too good too quickly. I really need to slow down to that steady, slow and consistent movement like you've shown. Thank you!

[@maimahdi7373]

I’m quite moved! This is beautiful, working slowly and calmly in a very fast world

[@gennaCarr10]

Definitely right on that. Many people have long fingers- arms- bigger hands overall. Me not so much. I’m short so not blessed with bigger hands.

[@Junho2Lee]

hi Florian, you are reading my mind that I was facing the same common errors you demonstrated. 😂 I was struggling to centering and pulling up the straight wall( as well as angle and height) for making the vase/ mug. I kept repeating sames mistakes (and my thumb was painful too) and I can finally find out the root problems now from your sharing. Thank you so much! 👍

[@anonymerer]

the cross-sections are extremely helpful! 🙏

[@alexandraframe6493]

You have such a calm relax voice and you explain the different ways to work the clay. I’m really enjoying your videos, can’t wait to watch the next one. Which is my biggest weakness on the wheel.

[@jacobgrimmer7883]

Thanks for the amazing videos! You inspired me to give pottery a try and after 2 years of doing it on and off and thanks to your constant flow of video's I'm starting to create things I like. Your guidance and tutorials are amazing. Thanks!!!

[@chrisdotdash5154]

I love these types of informational and educational videos! I’m really excited to see your future videos of this series.

[@floriangadsby]

That's great to hear, lots more to come hopefully. They're fun to make and a welcome change from my usual content.

[@alexgarcia-ug9zk]

i am a scholarship student for a ceramics class that i otherwise wouldn't be able to afford -- i had my first class today and found the teacher terribly hard to understand (she insists on her very specific methods and hand movements) so watching your videos afterwards has been sooo so clarifying and reassuring !!!! i don't want to throw away the opportunity (pun not intended) & these are really really helping me make the most of it. thank you so much !!!!!

[@millietansillmakes1953]

I really appreciate your videos. Like so many others in your comments I am taking my first pottery wheel class now. Watching your videos has been so helpful - arming me with confidence and ideas each time I enter the studio. I'd been noticing a little wobble after forming the base, and now after watching this video I have an idea why! Thank you so much.

[@Dobby-1611]

Thanks again Florian for another very informative video...absolutely wonderful to have this for us budding and improving potters.

[@greyparrot8]

Absolutely amazing. I love the options you provide; as someone with arthritis that finds a lot of things painful to do, it opens up some more options for me (rather than the 'you have to do it this way').

[@nilooghazanfari94]

You are an amazing teacher, my pottery skills are emproving thanks to your videos, thank you so much ❤️🌹🙏

[@ayazedd]

thank you so so much! I am so eternally grateful for your detailed guides, it's awesome that expertise as concise as yours can be taken in on an accessible platform such as youtube

[@ching322]

This is absolutely helpful! Thank you Florian for sharing, really appreciated!

[@AC-oj6ue]

Thanks very much! I learn something new with each of your videos. I've also enjoyed your IG posts and reels for years. Your work is fantastic!

[@saskiascott8181]

Oh wow this is so helpful, you've addressed a lot of problems I've been having at this stage, I didn't know what I was doing wrong before

[@wendyreed7945]

Thank you so much for these videos. They are so clearly explained and demonstrated.

[@theasianwitch]

Love your videos, thank you for making this incredible series! I just started a pottery class and have been reviewing your videos every week...they are super helpful. I find your voice very calming and the visuals of the smooth slip are on point.

[@Artndots]

So helpful, thank you, I loved the idea of showing it from two different angles.

[@isobellep]

Your documentary style of thoroughness in the demonstration and voice over explaining exactly what is happening is a a treat - passing this on is a gift for us beginners. The science of clay material and its properties makes a difference in how to make it work. The focussed thinking is an important discipline. 🌟T H A N K Y OU 🌟 It may be helpful to talk about different clays and perhaps the weight of a clay ball. I note you use a beautiful terracotta. What makes terracotta special for you?☺

[@SharlaO]

I just got my first wheel for Mother’s Day!! I am pumped!!! Your videos have been the most well explained and helpful so far! Thank you for that! I’m about to get started. Any tips for beginners are very welcomed!! So excited to learn!

[@psychedelikchameleon]

Superbly detailed and fascinating to watch. Thank you so much.

[@drewgi7543]

I was wondering what your narration reminded me of, and I realised that you sound just like Neil Gresham in his Masterclass films. A true level of calm and direct understanding of what's happening and why. I've always wanted to try pottery, and your videos and re-ignited that spark :) I already found a pottery workshop near me that offers lessons.

[@katiakatiakat]

Thank you. That was really helpful! Love everything about your teaching style. 🙏🏽

[@jasminhenschel1330]

amazing and thank you. videos well done and calm, your voice is perfect for this - will try all these methods

[@ragnkja]

I’ve not tried pottery myself (yet, because I’d quite like to if I could), but I’m sure there must be a lot of beginners these days who are extremely grateful to see your technique up close, as it’s much harder to get that in person than it used to be. I think detailed demonstrations are going to be in high demand for a good while still.

[@ruthmarkiewicz6693]

I love watching your work and listen to your explanation. Your pottery so beautiful.

[@inesa2313]

Thank you for all those videos Florian!

[@friedaviolet9492]

Amazingly informative and well orchestrated!

[@irynaposatska7652]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@jamiethompson4289]

Thank you for sharing your expertise. The information you provide is very clearly presented and thorough. I have ordered your book and look forward to reading it.

[@copperman9845]

Amazing! Thank you so much for the lessons. I love them. I can not stop watching! ❤

[@FlwrCats76]

Thank you for addressing wobbly walls! I can't seem to re-center it. This video helps. Now to put it into practice next class.

[@amitamembal]

You are one of my masters. Thank you for this video. Excellent as always 🙏🏼

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you, Amit! 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@michaeljay7949]

You're an amazing educator. Thank you.

[@lindakierdorff6738]

Thans you for your detailed video as I mainly have been handbuilding and most of the courses are full I really helps to start throwing on the wheel

[@City0FDreams]

What I'm learning right now, from you, as an absolute novice is that I need to slow down and focus on how my arms and hands are positioned. I'm rushing to get to an end product

[@floriangadsby]

Exactly!

[@juanQuedo]

these guides are gold

[@floriangadsby]

So pleased you think so. The next part is going to be fun to film, lots of cross sections and examples of what can go wrong. Thanks for watching!

[@elizahorsten4436]

Thank you for all the information .

[@savageart100]

thankyou for your amazing turorial

[@linaS212]

Thank you for the videos 😍😍

[@wheebke]

so so helpful, thank you!

[@LoveYouBeTrue]

Definitely helpful. You touched on so many things I’ve been doing wrong and couldn’t figure out why. Can you make a video on creating pots that are in a bowl shape? Or how to make a smaller-ish chimenae? Thanks!!

[@jankowalski2652]

fantastic guide!

[@annecardwell3687]

Looking forward to part 3 - though there is a lot to digest here already!

[@bestcoast16]

Florian I appreciate you so much ❤🙏🏽

[@themoodyonejb]

This is the part I struggle with. I'm taking a spinning class now, and my instructor always has to "fix" my wobble before I get further. I'm going to keep this video on loop, and keep trying. 😂

[@cathyrosa79]

Awesome. Thanks!

[@jazmeen8886]

Watched your videos over and over again, working on my walls not collapsing. Sometimes I feel the clay won, but after watching your videos, I get back into position, and continue the efforts, to one day make a mug. PS what do you do with all the recycle clay? How many times can you use one piece before tossing it? Thanks, Mona

[@VyGee3311]

Pleasure to watch and clearly Florian makes pots more skillfully than the other people, but I can't for the life of me pick up a technique from these videos. Does anybody know if there are videos that go more slowly and focus on the basic technique? Here, for example all I wanted was a step-by-step of how you actually open: hold you right hand like this, your left hand like that... and so on.

[@kendalandmarycarr4835]

You are my best teacher

[@kendalandmarycarr4835]

I have watched your videos ever since I haves did pottery but I’m 9 now 🎉🎉🎉

[@mattmcgrath9061]

So informative

[@michaelmadison883]

Thank you so much!!

[@user-ij2um2oj7g]

Thanks!! 🙂

[@marieschorp6853]

Thanks!

[@dalekizez]

THE BEST!

[@ruthnoronha8206]

Florian thank you for making all these teaching videos. You explain things so well. I have a question if the base is to thin can you rescue the bowl or is it better to start over?

[@yodrewtube]

Even your scoring is precise!

[@ThatOneWeirdGal]

Can you do a tutorial on how to throw air dry clay? Should you make the bottom and walls thicker, as air dry clay is more prone to breakage? Is it easier/harder to throw? I want to learn how to do this and I feel like this is a cheaper option for first starting out, as I don't have access to a kiln.

[@floriangadsby]

I’m afraid I’ve never thrown with air drying clay! But I imagine it’s the same as most clays, so my usual centring/how-to guides should work.

[@marcowiak]

obrigado !!!

[@opyoboi4247]

WOW JUST WOW

[@pmbeerspottery2563]

Cool!

[@tinacincotti6014]

This series is soooo helpful! Has part three (on pulling the walls) been posted yet? I can't find it!

[@floriangadsby]

Not posted yet! I imagine it’ll come out the week after next? This week has been a hectic one and I’ve not had much time in the studio.

[@tinacincotti6014]

@@floriangadsby Wonderful, thanks so much for your reply! I really appreciate it.

[@inbalkidron]

תודה!

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you! What a kind gesture, I really appreciate it!

[@geraot]

Florian, how do you measure the width of the base of your pots for consistency when throwing a batch?

[@floriangadsby]

At this point it’s done by eye entirely, yet they aren’t all 100% percent the same by any means, likely range by a few millimetres every now and then. If you are making shapes repetitively then you can make simple measuring guides from pieces of wood or old credit cards.

[@katheewaterhouse9717]

Thanks

[@floriangadsby]

Thank you Kathee! Your support means so much :)

[@queenkwt3855]

nice❤

[@peko1967]

Would love to try some of that clay, can't figure out what it is. Looks very appealing though.

[@floriangadsby]

It's a high iron stoneware body, hence the colour. If you find a stoneware with small grog particles it'll more or less feel the same as this.

[@peko1967]

@@floriangadsby Gotcha thanks. Yeah looking for one like that that's not too groggy. Great stuff on your channel!

[@elinakipi5342]

Ευχαριστούμε!

[@elinakipi5342]

Thank you so much for your help your videos are great and so supportive! thank you!

[@raheelazam6385]

Beautiful ❤💛💖💖💛💖💟💖💖💞

[@catherinemontalvan4340]

Hi there! Can you make a video on how exactly to get a flat base my base is too curved and you mentioned opening at an angle but I can't really see or understand clearly how to correct that 😅

[@user-rr8hl7oq2e]

I love pottery

[@s.missizhippiew.1117]

What is the proper location of the foot pedal? Thank you..

[@suzannefurman3957]

Why are you using two hsnds. You only need one. Do you know how to do first pull up with left hand. You get great particle orientation that way

[@flummoxedbeing]

When you open (4:55), it almost looks like you are pulling an opening wider than the base of the centered clay. I just started a pottery class and was told you shouldn't open more than the width of your centered puck. Is it okay to do this?

[@floriangadsby]

I don’t push it much further than the original lump, but you can overhang the walls slightly when pushing how to widen the initial base. If your teacher says don’t, maybe follow their advice for a while whilst you’re learning, then as you become more confident you can start pushing the boundaries a little more. The most important part at the beginning is to keep practicing centring and then pulling up the walls to create neat cylinders and bowls. Good luck!

[@norishan6241]

Could you make a vid abt making your own clay at home?