How to Throw VERY Tall Pottery - A TRICK YOU SHOULD KNOW!

[@fruitlessbeast]

I’ve been working in ceramics for 49 years and I love watching all your videos. You improve the lives of others and that’s the best any of us can strive for.

[@annruel1982]

Hey Fruitless. Wow, that is one of the nicest compliments. thank you so much. Jim and I really appreciate you watching the videos and we are so happy that you enjoy them. Thank you!!! Ann

[@BarbaraStone-u6i]

You always have such great videos! That's the best shot of spiral wedging I've ever seen. And your way of coning, 1/3 at a time will be a terrific tip for my students who have a hard time with it. Thanx!

[@annruel1982]

Oh good. Everybody has their own way of working. this is what works for me the best. Good luck to your students! 🙂

[@montgomery59]

Great tips, will be applying in studio tomorrow!

[@annruel1982]

Hi Montgomery. Awesome! Go for it. Just remember to keep the clay coned inward as you go to avoid collapse and watch for any bulging out of the clay in areas (dont let the clay get out of control). Good luck!!

[@loralora7597]

Great tips. What is new for me that I always thought I have to put clay up with one pull . I see that you can stop on the way. I gonna try it out . Thanks

[@annruel1982]

Hi Lora. I dont know, maybe there is someone out there who can pull it up in one go, but I am not that talented. I dont think it matters how you get there as long as you get there, haha. I do have to say that if it takes too many pulls, my clay does get tired and I have found I need to stop and let the clay dry out a little then go again. But give it a go, think about keeping the clay in that coned in shape so it doesnt collapse and watch the walls for any bulging out. Give it a go! Fingers crossed.

[@annruel1982]

Thanks for watching everybody! 🙂 Happy thanksgiving

[@stephaniebart-horvath1382]

You, too, Ann!

[@annruel1982]

@@stephaniebart-horvath1382 Hey Stephanie. thanks s much! Cheers!!

[@susanpriem1739]

As usual Ann your videos are wonderful! They really help me trouble shoot and learn new techniques and skills. Thank you!

[@annruel1982]

Hi Susan. I really appreciate you sharing that. Jim and I work really hard on these videos and we thank YOU for watching. Happy potting !

[@linzajchowski1803]

great tips. So thankful for you and your weekly videos

[@annruel1982]

Hi Lin! Aww...thank you so much. It is a pleasure to make them and it really makes me happy to hear that people are enjoying them. Take care! Ann

[@travismaxwell9805]

Here is a tip on centering. With both hands cupping the clay ball, take note that clay is traveling toward your left palm and away from your right for most American wheels turning counter clockwise. To center, push your lower left palm into the clay so that it catches the outside edge of the clay ball and your right hand is mostly riding on the opposite side. After the change, with both hands not touching the wheel head, push in with both palms. A centered clay ball for me is one that I cannot tell is spinning. This centering technique when mastered will center a clay ball in a few seconds but be careful. If you push in too hard with your left hand, the clay will win and you have to be ready.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Thanks for sharing with our community!

[@williamblack4611]

I really like the groove you use to insert the second piece. I am going to try that today. Would you tell us how tall the first section was turned. Also, I noticed that when you were shaping the jar, you never went inside to support the piece. Any reasons why.

[@annruel1982]

Hi William. The groove gives the piece a nice solid place to sit and a tighter connection point. As far as how tall the first section was turned, I should have measured that at its tallest point. when I stretched out the width to shape it, the cylinder shrinks down. Im guessing it might have been somewhere around 11 inches?? As far as shaping goes, I actually had my red rib inside wall of the piece as I moved it and stretched the clay outward. It is hard to give you a good view of what I am doing in there. Sorry about that.

[@doninis1354]

So satisfying. I would love to lern pottery for sure, I love clay and the things I had the possibility to do were so much fun. Thank you for sharing, I like your videos, I always have the impression I could jump up and do it (I know thats not happening, its a long learning process).

[@annruel1982]

Hi Doninis. You should really give it a try. Look for a pottery class near where you live. I bet you can find something. I bet you would surprise yourself and come away with something beautiful quicker than you think. Also part of the fun is when you see your progress which you will each class. Just go into knowing that you will have some successes and failures but just try and focus on the progress and always be moving forward to the next piece and you can work through the frustrations of learning a new skill. Go for it!

[@carolthomas6337]

Thamk you for going slowly with this video.

[@denisenoble4010]

Thanks Ann for another good video, im struggling to pul up larger lumps of clay, before while learning to throw, i took the easy way and trimmed lots off. Now im beginning to use more clay to throw bigger pieces, this video is invaluable for me as you break it down into 'easy to understand sections' which i hope will help. Wish me luck x😊

[@LittleStreetPottery]

You can do it!

[@bluegardener9777]

Do you let the clay come to leather soft before joining?

[@annruel1982]

Hi Blue. Yes, that would be best. Give it a go 🙂. Thanks for watching.

[@streetsmartintelligent]

Hi there!! Love your channel❤ I'm hoping you can answer this question, wish I could send you a photo on how my pieces turned out. Used high fire clay, Cone 5, used high fire glazes, and every piece that too so long to make because that are all hand made & carvings on them. They ALL turned our sooooo ugly and some cracked. I've got other high fire pieces to fire but afraid to, don't want to ruin them too.😢 I usually always just low fire pieces. Do you know what possibly could of gone wrong?

[@annruel1982]

Hi l.h. I am so sorry to hear about your troubles with your pieces. As far as what could have gone wrong. Without seeing them it is difficult to know but as far as what sort of problems CAN go wrong when making pottery....I could write a book about it as there are so many things. I am always holding my breath when firing my pieces especially when I am firing a project for the first time. If you are using commercial clays and glazes, then that would help to eliminate some of the possible troubles. when you are talking about cracking, my first questions would center around how you constructed your pieces...do they have thin spots, is the piece very flat (as the clay dries and shrinks the flatter it is, the more difficult it is to keep from cracking). It may be more of an issue to dry the piece VERY SLOWLY. The problem of UGLY is a different one and may just be that you need to do more test tiles to know in advance how your piece might look after being fired. Good luck

[@shelleydoxtdator753]

Scary too lol. Beautiful - I will conquer my fears 😅😊

[@LittleStreetPottery]

You can do it!

[@lilabert7993]

Technique très étrange mais bon, ça monte 😁