How To Throw A Foot On A Bowl Or Vase - Tutorial

This video is NOT about trimming a foot on a pot.
Today I go through as much detail that I can muster about throwing a foot on a pot similar to those in the thumbnail. I recorded this from several different angles and tried hard to think of every detail to share about this process. I truly hope this video helps if you want to finish the bottom of your pots this way.
As always, Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!
Intro: www.bensound.com/royalty-free...

[@sheilam4964]

You knoww what is so special about the camera angles you showed that are so beneficial to someone who wants to learn (students)? If any student stood and watched from the place of those views, the teacher would . . . You know! Thanks for showing us the 'unseen'; the best seat in the house.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Haha. You’re welcome. I am glad it all came out smooth and coherent along with the different angles. Cheers

[@andreag7822]

Thank you so much. The super close angle helped me to see exactly how your thumb was placed. That will be what I practise in college this week.

[@arreolaartistry]

You will be known for your angles❗ The best camera angle on the internet. Close up and personal is the only way I learn. THANK YOU 💃

[@rebeccahardy298]

Yes! Great camera angles! Thank you!

[@eddiespottery8439]

Hi Matt, I do like that your showing the tricks of a production potter. Fast, quick and easy, things that most will never learn only because everyone thinks you have to use a different tool for everything you do. This was enjoyable. eddiespottery.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Thank you. Yeah I have learned and developed tons of different techniques being a production potter. I am thankful for many of those lessons and yet have to break certain habits or ways of thinking when working for myself. Cheers

[@laineyschmelzle777]

I absolutely loved how you changed the angle of the camera so we could see what you were doing from different angles! Very helpful, thank you!

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

I’m glad it was helpful. You’re welcome

[@linzajchowski1803]

Thanks for sharing this great technique. Awesome instructions and video!

[@jackierisch5793]

Thanks for different perspectives. Awesome

[@sammi-joreviews1135]

Only improvement I can notice is if you threw pots left handed. LOL😂 Thank you for making these videos. It helps tremendously. I have a tendency to cut away the bottom. I think it’s just habit. Will definitely give this a go. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 PS: I’m a lefty. My husband is trying to learn from me. Our attempts are funny. It is tough to show someone how to center or make pulls when one of you needs to turn the wheel clockwise while the other needs it to turn counterclockwise.

[@anabelamelo7231]

Wonderful technique! Will try it very soon. Thanks.

[@laurenrencher3765]

I’m excited to try this. Thank you so much for being so willing to share the processes you use.

[@TheMarnaiz]

Thank you for this really useful demonstration.

[@rutilopata8294]

Great video! Thank you so much for sharing your skill with such patience and passion, I learned a lot even after 25 years of pottering😁🙏🏻🕊💐

[@jerseymisfit]

So helpful. You’re videos are the best. Thanks as always. 🥰

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Thank you!

[@doriscurrie1813]

I love the foots on your pottery

[@jeanrutka4517]

Great info. Thanks a million

[@nbks6w8]

Brilliant...love it and will try it this week! Thank you!!!

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Good luck. Thank you

[@dougnicholson1146]

Thank you so very much Mathew... I appreciate your time to showing us your techniques... I really mean that... thanks

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re very welcome! I’m glad you enjoy the videos

[@levirosin1736]

Awesome man! This is very helpful, all the angles and your commentary explained the process greatly! You’re an amazing potter.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Thank you. I’m glad it was helpful. Cheers

[@harrycockfield5114]

Nice technique.thanks for sharing.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re welcome. I hope it helps

[@marypeterson1011]

I tried this way of making a foot today and liked it A LOT! I need to become a little more proficient with it but, overall, it worked well and I really like the final (finished) look of the pot. THANK YOU!!!

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re very welcome! I’m glad the video helped so much. Cheers

[@bsbearden]

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to show us this technique. Love your work, looking forward to your next kiln opening and would love to buy one of your pieces. Cheers, Erika Bearden

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I hope the technique helps you. I’ll have my kiln opening the middle of April and also another Etsy sale in April of pieces from that wood firing.

[@centralparkcoffeeco.cafeba6634]

Great camera angle. Thanks for sharing with us !!

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re welcome

[@clifforddalton3067]

thanks for taking the time to show us this method Matt, very interesting :)

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re welcome Cliff. Cheers!

[@caroleaton8237]

Hi Matthew ... This is an excellent tutorial. I appreciate the close ups and you telling us the placement of your thumb/index finger and rib. I always put a foot on my pieces and will try this method. It’s more efficient than the way I do it. Thanks again. Carol

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re welcome. I hope this technique works out for you.

[@lukeplatte9194]

Thank you for making this!

[@joyfulthings1]

I was told I always had to have a foot ring and struggled with that rule because some of my bottoms were too thin to manage that. Thanks for the lesson on how to make a beautiful foot on my pieces without having to have a ‘special’ tool. I also need to add that your pottery is outstanding and you truly are inspiring.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Thank you. I guess my lack of formal pottery education or my early mentors not teaching to trim a foot made me learn this technique. I don’t mind either, I’m only irritated when someone says, “art is a free expression but you have to do it this way...” haha. I hope the video helps you.

[@joyfulthings1]

@@MatthewKellyPottery it took me a couple of tries and then it seemed to come together. Still working on a "too big" "too small" balance with the pot but I got one that I just loved. This is my go-to bottom rim from now on. How do you handle large flat platters? :>)

[@meganwong5117]

Thanks for explaining in such details!

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re welcome, I hope it was helpful

[@dianwilliams2919]

Thank you so much! I learned a lot. Thanks again !

[@yvainy]

You are a genious. I have been trying to find a tool to make feet like that. I am going to give it a try, your way.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Good luck. I hope it helps you

[@KellyAnn1997]

Thank you, this was very helpful. I’ve just been using a tool that had a cut away in it and scraping a bunch of clay that way on the bottom. I like this way better. xo

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

I hope it works well for you. Good luck.

[@BrokenArrowPottery]

That is so efficient. I love it! ♥

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

I’m glad you enjoyed it. Cheers

[@edsonbest4416]

Amazing inspiration

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Thank you

[@clifforddalton3067]

very interesting video Matt :) thank you

[@bryanjohnson1254]

Thank u kindly

[@sweet4cakes791]

This is great, thank you so much. You are wonderful at teaching your techniques, please keep that up. You should classes.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Thank you. I am interested in doing some workshops eventually.

[@WildAcornsArtStudio]

I like that the size of the foot matches the size of the neck of the vase. Feels more symmetry to me. Everybody's different, right??? 😊. Thanks for sharing!!

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re welcome! Yes we are all different and prefer various shapes. Cheers

[@lorrainedavis9775]

Fab video great variety of angles very helpful thank you. If you ever feel like do a video I would love to see how you throw using the rib to lift the clay. 😍

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I have that idea on my list of ideas. Should be coming soon.

[@shannonforpresident2282]

Thank you!

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re welcome

[@williec6334]

Great stuff as usual . Learned so much from you. I have taken your one piece goblet technique and translated that to pedestal bowls. You show us how to think outside of the box. You mentioned in earlier video of pulling with the rib. Not sure if what you did in this video is what you meant. The rib in this video was more for shaping , would love to see pulling with the rib if you ever have time. Thanks

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Thank you. I’m glad the videos have helped. I definitely try to think outside the box. I really don’t like that box. Haha I have the pulling with rib idea on my list. Should be coming up soon

[@lydiabosley9152]

Matthew - Really useful demonstration, thanks! I was somehow under the impression that a foot always had to be trimmed, with a recess on the bottom, so that it was truly a 'ring'...maybe that's just in case one has thrown a thicker bottom than necessary, which I also thought was a necessity, not sure why! I guess you save this step by simply throwing the bottom thinner to begin with, which makes sense to me, but maybe it takes a great deal of practice to get the thickness exactly right!? Anyway, I'm going to try this method next time I'm on the wheel - definitely time-saving, thanks! P.S. Really enjoyed the opportunity to see the bowl 'from your side', I've never seen anyone do that before, very useful! If possible, some time I'd love to see the angle from above down into the inside of the bowl to see the steps you make from vertical sides to nicely curved ones, I always have trouble with that! Thanks again!

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

I know several potters that are fine craftsmen that do trim pots and not because they can’t throw them light otherwise. It takes a whole different skill set to throw thick with the idea of how you will trim the piece. Both are valid and beautiful in their own way. I hope the video helps. Good luck.

[@tomloggia6421]

Hi Matthew Your demonstrations are very helpful. Please explain or show how you open to the right depth and then dry your pots so your bottoms don’t crack? Thank you

[@benpatterson4452]

Foot: The frame for a ceramic ware. I have seen a lot of ways to create a foot, but I have never seen this one. It's a great approach, and as you mentioned, saves you some time. Personally, I trim/ turn a foot after my wares set up a bit. I like to have a raised middle portion, especially on bowls and mugs, as it helps protect the surfaces those wares are set on. You look to be using a new clay body as well.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Thanks for sharing. That is a new clay body I’m testing in the wood kiln. I had about 400 lbs of it and figured I needed to use it up. It throws very well. You’re very observant. Haha

[@benpatterson4452]

@@MatthewKellyPottery My wife would disagree, in regards to me being observant... That body has a bit of a red hue. Almost makes it look like a pale terracotta. I'm guessing there isn't much, if any, iron in it since that fluxes at the temps you're firing at. In any case, I'll be interested to see how it looks, when it comes out of the kiln.

[@paulabaum8317]

I would confirm all the kudos below on your many wonderful videos, but I am wondering what the lovely guitar music is? I love it.

[@joseeugeniofariaalvim9974]

Awesome feet. Thank you millions for sharing. Congrats from Brazil.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re welcome!

[@Abyjan1]

👌

[@pathelmer9881]

I like how it looks but I would have liked to see how the bottom looked on a finished piece.

[@rexfetzer3430]

I really like the way you do that you’re your foot very makes it like I said elegant and one other question I haven’t thrown pipes in few years and I’m back at it again I’m having a problem with when I’m pulling a cylinder up all of a sudden in the middle it starts twisting and it’s in there what am I doing wrong

[@Cate7451]

❤

[@sandrasau1890]

Thanks a lot🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@lorioschu7759]

Hey Matthew, I found you today and I started to watch video after video. I really like the way you explain it. It helps me a lot. The different camara views are amazing, in special the on in front of you. I started throwing around November, so I'm very new to it, but you video are so motivated. When I sow, what you can do out of one pound clay, I was very impressed. Do you have a video where you cut a pott, so it is possible to see the thickness? I'm very in the beginning and I have fun to throw. I learned a lot in this month, but can you make a video, how you use your tool? I'm a little bit scared to use it, but I want to learn. When I threw a port withe thin walls it always fall apart, do I need to go slower up? Thank you for all the work you put in your video and that you are so natural. PS. Sorry for my spelling and grammar mistake, but it is still difficult to write in English as my second language.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You are very welcome! I’m glad the videos are helpful. Good luck and happy potting

[@ashleighwilding9986]

Hi Matthew, thanks for the awesome awesome video, cool to watch! Just wondering, do you sometimes work like this - eg. throwing straight shapes and then adding the foot/shaping them later - or was this mainly to show a sequence of making feet, as you mentioned? I'm just wondering if a bit of drying time in between/having a firmer pot makes the shaping process easier?

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

No I don’t let pieces stiffen after creating the foot before shaping it.

[@boblaturner7427]

Hi Matthew, this is a great video about how to make a rounded foot with a standard rib and not a specially shaped one... When you wire these off the bats, there is usually a little sharp edge there that needs to be thumbed off. Do you do that too? It would be good to see that too, especially seeing someone pick up a large platter or bowl and thumb it off. Thanks for the vids!

[@marlyswilliams9949]

Bob LaTurner I was wondering the same thing. Do you run a wire under pots with the thrown foot, particularly large platters, or do you just leave them and allow to dry completely on the bat without intervention? All the best!

[@SallyRoperPottery]

Bob, Matt explains in earlier videos that he allows the pot to dry on the Tempered bat and it will release itself giving a perfectly flat base. He then smooths the rough edge and signs the piece.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Thank you Sally. I came to answer and you beat me to it. Cheers!

[@darjalovsin7510]

Hi, Matthew, using only one tool and make such a nice piece is so elementary and this is a way to perfection. I am going to try this. So, no trimming, you say?

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re correct. One tool and no trimming. My recent video about letting my pots dry on the bat covers the process when they come off the bat.

[@kellydiver]

Great video, thanks! Do you not wire off your pieces?

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

No I let the pieces dry on the bat as long as the bats are smooth. They release with a very nice smooth bottom.

[@victoriapowers8261]

Did you buy those bats or make them? What material are they?

[@vivianahall1292]

Hi, thanks for your videos! I am really learning how to create a foot which minimize my trimming time ! Would you share information of your wooden bats? Where can I order ?

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You’re welcome. I bought those from a local woodworker who isn’t making them anymore. Apologies.

[@UsernamesForDummies]

“I’m not gonna keep this because of the size of the foot...” ohhh! I’d kill for the ability to make a vase like this.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Haha. Sorry to disappoint but usually I won’t keep pieces that I throw that I think are ugly. I guess my years of practice afford me that. Either that or I’m just too self critical. Haha

[@potterywheel2503]

@@MatthewKellyPottery LOL, it's cause it only takes you 5 minutes to make another one.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Oh c’mon I can do it in less than 5! Geez 🙄 😂

[@jerusalempotteryhagopkarak6950]

I usually sign my pieces after I paint. Do you ever make recesses in the foot for signatures (under the vase or bowl)? how do you do those?

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

I sign my pieces in the clay before they are bisque fired. I try to do that soon after they pop off the bat making it much easier to get a good depth of a signature.

[@Ksulli01]

Do you need to know how to throw clay on a wheel or can you make coffee cups by hand by rolling the clay? Thanks Karla

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

You can make just about anything out of coils or slabs of clay. You should be able to search YT for slab or coil coffee mug. Good luck

[@brucec6442]

"my brain didn't know what to do!". ........Been there !

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Haven’t we all

[@brucec6442]

@@MatthewKellyPottery If you say so

[@UsernamesForDummies]

I’d like to see how and where you cut them to get such perfect “bottoms” without trimming the underside.

[@benpatterson4452]

The bottom is just smooth from the bat. It releases cleanly, once it gets dry enough.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Thanks Ben. I came to respond and you beat me to it. Cheers!

[@jkrisjones]

Please show how the bowls / plates are hung on the wall behind you thanks

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Yes I need to do that. I’ll add it to my list of throwing ideas so I remember to include it as an aside in an upcoming video.

[@danhebert1592]

When you sponge off the piece doesn’t that bring the grog to the surface

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

That definitely can do that. That clay doesn’t have much grog so we’re clear. Cheers

[@virnasettle9874]

@@MatthewKellyPottery where can i buy like the bats you had? thanks

[@Iheartyoualil]

So then do you not trim these?

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

Most of my pieces don’t get trimmed

[@DanO7052]

Do you make your own bats? They appear to be 1/4” Masonite.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

They are 1/4” high density tempered masonite. I didn’t make them but they were homemade by a local woodworker.

[@DanO7052]

Matthew Kelly Pottery thanks I have to search for 1/4 “. Our local Home Depot don’t have it.

[@MatthewKellyPottery]

I had the same issue with our Home Depot. They have it on their website but not available near me. I don’t have an urgent need for any but going to check with Lowe’s hardware also.

[@annettemeglino7232]

@@MatthewKellyPottery Ahh no wonder I cannot find them. Would your local woodworker sell some to me in NY? Also, where do you find your wood rib? Thanks so much for this video it was incredibly helpful.