Your channel and content is exactly what I like to see when it comes to art techniques, I wish there was more of your style content for other mediums. I've been blowing glass for about 5 years, and I'm about to get my BFA, and after that I want to earn my MFA to become a teacher. My first glass blowing instructor is very much like you in process, and I want to replicate that process of learning so that others can learn comfortably, without fear of which way is right or wrong, just different and specific to what you want to do. It's all about the correct sequence that we watch from the masters. Can't wait for more videos like this

Hey there. Ive been a potter for years. I recently got a job teaching throwing and ran straight to youtube to brush up a bit on the teaching aspect. I think you're great! funny, personable, knowledgeable, but most importantly...VERSATILE! I especially agree with you about NOT discouraging anyone's technique. I, personally, always encourage students to learn from as many people (other students as well) as possible. I am left handed and at first was told to throw left handed...it wasn't until I took from a traditional Japanese teacher, and he told me to throw right, trim left, that my throwing really took off. anyway, i wanted to say that I center a mix between the karate chop (LOL) and yours. it also greatly depends on what clay body and how large or small I'm throwing...I LOVE porcelain, its my go to. I make a series of tiny tea sets...fine art tho, not kitchy. again anyway, THANKS and dont stop sharing your style and personality! GEM!

Thank you for your videos, I really love your philosophy and the way you teach. Appreciate individual differences, preferences and process 👍🏻

I am a beginner and am old. I don't have the upper strength that I used to. But I love learning. I find that when I try and cone, I really struggle to get the hand strength to bring it to a cone. You make it look so smooth picking that up that clay with your pinky the clay with your pinky.

Love your videos. You are an excellent teacher and fun to watch!

Really enjoying your work. You make it interesting and fun too!!

Man been waiting all week for this, thanks

potter tip! How I was taught is like karate chop, but smart, it works really well so please listen! Get your dominant hand in karate chop form and open your pinkie (the bottom finger). That'll create a space for the thumb of your other hand. if you approach the clay with this form, your dominant hand can chop down and your other can stabilize and shape the clay. Small sponges also fit in the chop hand so you can wet the clay as you like. This is the best way in my opinion and also the simplest when you're looking at where you're putting force and where you need to. I hope someone learns from this!

I've found that the wave seems to work best for me. But sometimes, depending if the piece of clay is large, I'll use the karate chop integrated with the wave.

I'm mostly a "wavemaster" potter, but i squeeze the clay from both sides, forcing it centered, then cone up, down, up then down. As far as spiral wedging, it's basically like ram's head wedging, but with one hand rather than both.

I was practically on the floor laughing. Thank you!

I do the hulk motion but I press with the force of the karate chopper. I also do this thing where I cone up once, bring it back down, and then I center the bottom/skirt area with my sponge and then cone up and down several times.

So wish someone had told me not to use porcelain a month ago. I've been hand building, and dare I say it, slip-casting, with both porcelain and stoneware for about a year and a half. For my final project this semester I decided to push myself by throwing ten soup tureens. I made many bowls with my porcelain clay, but definitely could not get the height needed for tureens, Luckily someone told me to try stoneware, it makes a world of difference!

Thank you soo much for all your videos!!!!

I have to center way differently. I have EDS and very hyper-mobile joints so my hands dislocate as I put pressure and they do not lock in place. I have found a way that uses my wrists and forearms and I pull the clay to myself.

Thank you so much for this inspiring video!

Brand new beginner here! Thank you, been watching your videos they are really helpful!!!

I am a beginner and I have been havin so much trouble because I can not center doing the karate chopped like I have been shown! I’ve spent at least 12 hours collectively trying to center clay and I finally used the “hammer”’it as you call it the hulk smash and I was finally able to center enough to start pulling walls!

My first time throwing, I gave myself hardcore road rash from putting my hand on the wheel. I use more water now lol

Thanks so much for helping us. This will probably sound stupid but what I am struggling with is finding the right stool!! I have a lot of low back problems to begin with but if I can figure out the right height stool I believe I can safely do this. Does anyone have any suggestions on how you found the optimum height that does not put strain on your back?

I was hoping to see tunnel centering. :p I'm a wave master with a cross chop finish on larger clay.

I'm going to try it with the thumbs

I also struggle with spiral wedging, no video or tutorial can help me. Thanks for your teachings.

Ok what I plan is for my daughter to simply get used to throwing. She has had a few pottery experiences in art programs and she is interested in learning more. If I got or built a wheel (lots of intructables on how to) what kind of clay specifically would you recommend for a novice who really just needs hands on practice?

Pushing forward with your dominant hand while stabilizing with the other instead of using both thumbs

I began with the pottery, i even boughtmy own wheel like 2 months ago i still can't center, i need an instructorthat take my hands betweenhis and teach me thanks anywaysfor the tips

Im just learning pottery. I did a workshop and now i joined a class and im a karate chopper! I always make the ufo shape lol so it was funny to see it happened to you as well, im not alone in the universe lol If you center different ways will it change the way the clay speaks to you? Yes.....my clay talks to me ....and has moods

Wow I’m a little of everything I guess cause I’m evolving in how I do my art. But I cone up and down and have been known to be both a karate chopper and a hulk smasher. Trying to transition to thumbs

I'm not really any of those. I tend to basically do the "karate chop" method, but I use the lower palm of my hand. However, my teacher, is a karate chop guy.

yeah i do that up and down shit and just wait until im not jumping around a tone

Hahaha! Apparantly im a Hulkster! Ill try othet ways ypu have shown. :)

Btw, why u killed Edward?

But when I use too much water, I get to splash my mentor who throws on the wheel next to me. She’s told me I have to throw 10 five inch tall cylinders that are no wider than three and a half inches before I can move on to other forms. She deserves all the water. 😂😂😂

"You're gonna get this wheel pregnant" Lol

I center by comning up back done 3 time

I'm the sponge center-er! Good Enough!

Disagree with your comment on 3d printing as someone who does AutoCAD and vector work. Very challenging and the feeling of seeing hours of work come to life.

I'm a hand cornerer!

LIEEEEEEEEEES - i learned on procelain. Been thinking I should give earthenware a roll soon...

LOL I 'Do the Wave' thats funny since I'm a complete nub, but it works for me!

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

I call it the slope

I will not binge watch all your videos. I will not binge watch all your videos. I will not binge watch all your videos.....without eating. My first class was last Thursday and I was taught the karate chop centering only. I’m gonna try a couple different ways this Thursday and see which feels better and report back. Delusional? Perhaps. But I’m still going to report back.

I love both you and Florian Gadsby but you guys are so different lol

I really like your videos and how detailed they are. However, this time I think you got ahead of yourself. You didn't explain making the clay into a ball, then smacking it on the center of the wheel head. Making sure that you have that as close on the center as possible saves a lot of time and frustration for beginning potters. With that said, I recommend you channel to beginner potter on Reddit all the time. Great vids.

Karate chop while listening to kung fu fighting!

I am a karate chopper!

I had problems spiral or rams head wedge because I had a wrist injury but I learned stack and slam wedging and I have never gone back. A lot less cracking and awesomeness me consistency. Check out this vid: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fqeggc2G06-dhWg.html

I’m so stressed out by the fact that you don’t have a splash pan 🤣

The class im taking gives us porcelain and here I am...trying to center and it ain't workin

I really like your videos generally. This video, however, mentions getting close enough to get the clay “pregnant” and also “taking off the skirt.” Not to mention the condom comment at the very end. It’s just not necessary. Takes away from your teaching. Lots of women watch these videos. There’s no reason to alienate them. Your comments could be triggering. We don’t want overt sexual references in our clay videos. Thanks!