Make a Whale, step by step instructions.

Beginning to end directions on making a whale using stoneware clay. Finished photographs at the end of the video.

[@BrokenArrowPottery]

Heavens! Good thing your construction was helpful in preventing a worse case! Love the fish & the whales! Thanks!

[@PennyRitz]

You make it look so easy -- it is a beautiful whale! So glad your 'incident' was caught before any damage was done. I'd say you should be playing the lottery today as your luck is holding out!

[@Vsmithpots]

I did joke about buying a lottery ticket.

[@walkerpottery9296-Natalie]

Love listening to the wildlife all around you. Such a cool whale! Thanks Vaughn!

[@k.ishiwata7564]

Glad to know that things are under control and you are doing good！ I love your whale very much, looks happyily moving in the ocean!

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks

[@user-mp6tg7wb2d]

Perfection as always. Thank you for your instruction

[@MarkoVegano]

You do justice for the whale. Beautiful ❤

[@user-xv7vo9zc9p]

I love love these whales. Definitely going to try and make one ❤

[@sharonpeek7728]

Thank you for the super whale video. You are amazing and such a great teacher. I am very sorry about your fire and thankful you are getting back to normal. I would love to come visit your studio and bring back a whale. I live in SC and do not fly but will check into driving or trains.

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks, may be another subscriber would like to share a trip.

[@ching322]

I'm glad to know you and your wife are safe! Thank you for the demo and hope the repairs will finish soon.

[@Vsmithpots]

Thank you.

[@conniemezzo9370]

Thank you, as always, for being so generous by sharing your skills and knowledge. Your whale is FANTASTIC!!!!

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks.

[@skcamerican]

Beautiful glazing job! Lots of folks would have done underglaze and clear, and this is so much better. Glad the lightning didn’t get you!

[@Vsmithpots]

Thank you, the glazes are Mouse grey/brown, variegated blue and oatmeal.

[@sandirodman6756]

Thank you! Super

[@Hannah-lz4mu]

Nádhera 😊😊nevim ,co se u Vás stalo ale podle chatu asi blesk😮😮😮jsem šťastná, že se to obešlo bez ujmy na Vašem zdraví 😒😒moc se prosím opatrujte ať vše dobře dopadne 👊👊🙌🙌

[@jyotibhargava8740]

Thank you so much for this demo. Your reason for doing so is very noble but I watch your videos for tips I can take to work with slabs or paint. Plus, knowing a bit about the Nova Scotia way of life is always fun for someone watching from a very hot country :-)

[@Vsmithpots]

I am glad to be of help.

[@Mariede425]

OH, OH WOW....Vaughan, I, for one, am so grateful for the "powers that be" that you and your lovely wife are OK!!!! That must have been a literal shock (LOL) to you both to see that that happened! Again, I am so VERY happy you all are OK. Stay Well and keep on playing with that clay! Love from New Jersey

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks, we are still contemplating how lucky we were.

[@annjohansson3962]

You are a amazing potter ...thanks for a awesome lesson!Greatings from Sweden❤

[@Vsmithpots]

Thank you and have a great autumn.

[@aimeecantu]

Thank you for always sharing!! I still use your plastic and slab roller tip 🫶🏼

[@Vsmithpots]

Good to know.

[@joannemclintock6634]

Thanks so much! Took me more like an hour but it was such fun! You’ve made a UK potter very happy! ❤

[@lee-annmccleland9554]

So lovely. I live on the whale coast of South Africa. I am definitely going to try one of these.

[@carolynpollack1083]

Hi. I love your whales (and fish) My partner and my son sat and watched how you made this one with me. They were very impressed with your work, as am I. This is another project for me to try. Gee, you were so lucky with that blaze, especially since it smouldered for so long.

[@Vsmithpots]

Very lucky, the firemen said it was a miracle the gas line did not cause an explosion. Thanks.

[@denisenoble4010]

thank you for sharing your Whale how to, when you were talking in the previous video, i just fell in love with them. you were lucky with your lighting strike, it could have been so much worse, but its good to know all is well. thanks for sharing

[@melrussell7830]

I’m pleased that your nearly back to normal with the Gallery, it’s quite freaky that you have had two Lightning strikes in your life, but thankfully you are both okay 😊💚 The whale’s are beautiful and I love the glaze choices.

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks Mel.

[@whisperingeaglelanders2339]

This Whale is so beautiful ❤ I love making slab ceramics 😊 I'm sorry to hear about your fire!

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks, we were lucky.

[@lindaprice5827]

I thoroughly enjoyed your video. The whales are beautiful.

[@jenniferdebeneditto6075]

Theses are fantastic. Than you for sharing

[@jillheath2804]

LOVE IT , LOVE IT, LOVE IT!! ❤Ps nothing like pottery to keep you going. like you we had a lightening strike hit our home, thought the house split in half 😂 Hope the electrician installed as surge protector on your building, work well and saved our equipment next time around( yes it does strike twice)

[@ginnymaurer2580]

Wonderful!

[@LindaGisla]

Hi Vauughhan. Once again you made me go "wow!" I love these whales of yours. They are amazing!

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks Linda, I hope your flower garden is still doing well.

[@pamdorneman888]

Thank you! Yours are so beautiful

[@jone6635]

I'm glad that you are back to normal or nearly back to normal after the scary lighting strike. Great lesson, you are an amazing teacher, the whales are beautiful. Thank you 😍

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks.

[@jsud5559]

Thanks so much for your generosity and kindness in sharing with us…let’s hope that lightning doesn’t strike thrice😱❣️

[@Vsmithpots]

Me too.

[@themercurialmoxie]

Beautiful, as always.

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks for continuing to watch.

[@sandymcgill1910]

nice work

[@lisatockstein567]

Glad all is good there! Love your videos and your generosity in sharing your techniques. Kiln opening soon?

[@Vsmithpots]

Yes, I have one already down loaded to KZbin for two weeks time.

[@idathorman-bg3zf]

Love your whale

[@Deem57]

I taught kids art classes this summer at the local college and made a simple fish and a simple flying bird template for the kids to use to make clay relief sculptures. The pieces were bisqued and painted with acrylic paint. Your original fish tutorial video was the inspiration. Next time I would make a sea turtle, too.😁👍👍

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks they looked great.

[@Whatnok]

Glad everything and everything’s safe! 🐋🙏

[@lisabroussardjanuska6774]

So sorry about all the damage you guys had to work thru and the fact no one was hurt or worse, is unbelievable!!! Thank you so much for showing us how you made your beautiful whales!!! One day I will go to NS, it's a discovery thing for me to finally see where my ancestors were from.

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks Lisa. Looking forward to your visit.

[@lindagoesel3815]

What a wonderful video. So soothing and calming. I love all the cooing of the birds. What a beautiful peaceful atmosphere. Also beautiful whale. Tiffany of hobblecreek pottery made a fish ,very nice job. Glad your studio is in better shape. Good wishes to you and your mate. ❤

[@Vsmithpots]

Thanks, Tiffany has one of my carved tiles too.

[@margaretfrew6661]

Where do you put the second hole for hanging

[@Vsmithpots]

Near the tail.

[@MrDhalli6500]

That's why I use Rockwool insulation it's made of rock and will not burn or melt or transfer heat or mold or compress when it get whet, IMO it's the best insulator.

[@jeanriggs5044]

Your videos are soothing and you're a wonderful teacher. Happy the fire didn't do more damage. I'm wondering how wide the pottery studio's kiln is. 😀

[@Vsmithpots]

The gas kiln is 34 inches wide. Thanks.

[@ginafeddersen8200]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this video again! Love your videos Vaughan😊 you’ve Got all the lovely pottery Ladies doing fishes now😊 I too will give it a try here in Denmark. I did some smaller Raku fishes a few years back, and then attached them to a piece of driftwood, only made 3 sets and they sold very quickly.😊 I work only with stoneware now and my Kiln is not so big, 38Ø cm diameter so I will only be able to make smaller whales. What are the dimensions of your whale Vaughan? 😊 many Thanks for your inspiration and sharing all your lovely videos and tips😊

[@Vsmithpots]

The longest ones are about 70cms. Thanks and good luck.

[@carmecarrerastrelliso764]

Que belleza muchas grácias !!

[@BurgardPottery]

Love the whales. If i made one I'd be stumped by the glazing. Would you mind sharing what type of glaze to use? If not that's ok 😊

[@Vsmithpots]

Mouse brown, variagated blue and an oatmeal. In Mastering Cone 6 glaze book.

[@cj3078]

How do you keep the flat big pieces from cracking during firing ? Do you put something like grog under them thanks

[@Vsmithpots]

I use the advancer kiln shelves and fire slowly.

[@EastWind123]

Thank you so much for this lesson! I can't wait to try a few. May I ask what clay you use for your whales and fish? They are so lovely!

[@Vsmithpots]

I use cone 6 , #455 from Pottery Supply House in Toronto.

[@tricialee5]

Thanks for a clear and detailed demo! At the end, it looks like the tail is much drier than the rest of the clay/body. Would you cover tail with plastic to avoid cracking and encourage even drying? TY

[@Vsmithpots]

I do not mind them curving a little since it adds movement to the piece.

[@tricialee5]

@@Vsmithpots yes, I like the warping/curving, also. But my query is related to the potential for cracking, since tail is already drier than the rest of the piece….? Have you ever lost a tail or fin due to uneven drying?

[@Vsmithpots]

They always work letting them dry on paper, no cracks.

[@diannaflynn8209]

What type of clay do you use.

[@Vsmithpots]

I use a speckled buff/sand clay #455 from Pottery Supply House