nancylee

Thank you!! I think the pool noodle would be the right size. I have an extruder but I don't think the hollow die I have it big enough.
I appreciate your help!
Nancy

Thank you!! I think the pool noodle would be the right size. I have an extruder but I don't think the hollow die I have it big enough.
I appreciate your help!
Nancy

IMHO if you already have  a moderate level of throwing skill  I think it would be much easier to throw than handbuild. If you do try and throw one keep your walls from getting too thin at the top where they will be curved into each other.

You could do it a couple of ways. Start with a flexible form like a pool noodle and form it into a circle. Drape clay over this to create 2 circular pieces that you can connect into a hollow shape. Think about how you cut a bagel in half, but instead of cutting it apart, you’re attaching the pieces at a firm leather hard stage. 
Another approach would be if you have an extruder and have a die that will create a hollow tube. Extrude your tube longer than you’d want the circumference of your doughnut to be. Seal the ends, trapping air inside. Curve the tube into a circular shape, and allow to stiffen enough that the tube won’t collapse when opened. Cut the ends on a diagonal to give you more attaching surface, and slip and score away. 
You could also try dowel rolling a tube, but that gets a lot tricker the bigger the piece is.

So this happened:

My first modeling attempt.  Now what do I do with it?  Note, I am not 100% sure the tail isn't going to fall off.  The tail was drying out faster than the rest from the tip so it was suggested I wax it, and just as I lifted it to dribble wax around the bottom I  noticed a discontinuity there - just in time for the wax to dribble into it.  I may have to surgically reattach it at some point.
Feet aren't that great and I'm pretty sure no gecko known to nature has its rear legs attached like that.  Also the back legs probably should have been musclier than the front.
How do you glaze or at least color something like this up?  Its not like it needs glossiness but I would like to color it up rather than just coating it with iron oxide wash or something.  I would hate for something runny to glue it to its cookie.
I had NO idea this might come out this well first shot out of the barrel.  I've been fascinated by the idea of sculpting since I was a kid.  I tried everything I could think of.  I used to swipe plaster of paris out of my dad's supply and make blocks of it with various additives trying to find something I could carve.  Chopped straw, vermiculite, cedar chips, even paper once, that was the worst.  I tried melting blocks of paraffin.  I saved milk cartons from school to make small blocks or the pint cream cartons or half gallon and gallon milk cartons from home, to make different size blocks.  I tried carving twigs, pine, and balsa wood.  I carved with my Girl Scout pocket knife.  Horrible horrible results.  I finally gave up when I was in high school.  So imagine my surprise when I ended up with the above, which, while not anything like masterful, at least vaguely resembles its intended model.
I suppose it helps that I didn't actually CARVE that, I modeled it.  So I guess I'm still a sculpting failure LOL! (the worst of his little hannies were carved, the better versions modeled).
But I would like to build on the limited success I had with that.  For instance - anybody have any suggestions for resources that might help me better understand animal anatomy so maybe my next attempt doesn't have his/her legs attached all do-whonkers?
Thx.
Pye

HI,
I agree that it isn't strength, cause I'm strong and I've seen tiny women throw 25 pounds!! It it my technique. 
I read your thoughts several times and I think I am getting what you are saying. I am going to have to play some more this weekend when I have time. 
Thank you!
Nancy

Thanks, I never heard or saw that technique!! I am going to try it tonight!! 

Thank you for doing this!!! I understand now!!! 
Much appreciated,
Nancy

Nancy, Maybe this will help, quick sketch of  hand positions, my kiln is firing today, so did it inside. hope this helps.

I  usually hold a sponge in my rt hand so that the water will drip down the forearm as I hold in place.
best,
Pres

HI,
I agree that it isn't strength, cause I'm strong and I've seen tiny women throw 25 pounds!! It it my technique. 
I read your thoughts several times and I think I am getting what you are saying. I am going to have to play some more this weekend when I have time. 
Thank you!
Nancy

I think as long as 80% of the country is still working or getting unemployment, sales will be up - at least online. My views on etsy are way up over last year and my sales skyrocketed over last year, but I wasn't selling much last year cause I was working again full time. People are home, can't go shopping, and are bored to tears. Thus, they shop. 
I think Christmas shopping will be good, but online. I think an online presence, even if only Instagram, is vital right now.

I think as long as 80% of the country is still working or getting unemployment, sales will be up - at least online. My views on etsy are way up over last year and my sales skyrocketed over last year, but I wasn't selling much last year cause I was working again full time. People are home, can't go shopping, and are bored to tears. Thus, they shop. 
I think Christmas shopping will be good, but online. I think an online presence, even if only Instagram, is vital right now.

I mentioned in another thread a few days ago that I would be attempting to throw an extra-large planter for my patio. Here it is so far. This was a combination of throwing and coil building. 25 lbs of clay total. It is currently 17.5 inches across and 10 inches tall. No guarantees it will make it through the rest of the process. 

As a retired educator, I am glad to be out at this time. My granddaughter is a senior, she is the salutatorian, no pomp and circumstance for these kids, no prom, senior trip, graduation, the class that never graduates. Hopefully something can be worked out to make some of it up to them.
 
bst,
Pres

I'm thinking that it would be wise to plan for a year without shows. Maybe next summer. 
In the meantime, online shopping appeals to many customers, possibly potters can create online co-ops to get away from etsy distractions. 
Also, in the short term, consider marketing hand sanitizer bottles - if you know a sewist, see about selling masks and bottles together. 
Right now, Nurseries are open (because they sell food plants) so think about placing wares there - vases, planters, wall art, garden themed mugs and platters.
Stay safe.
 

Having worked in allied health, peripheral to public health, for state government, for many decades in two states, I know way too much about the disregard and misunderstandings of how to interpret and apply  valid data for populations.  Collecting and analyzing the best valid data and massive testing needed. It is more about trends and regional containment strategies than about single positives/negatives of us as individuals.  I ain't budging until Sir Fauci tells me it's worth taking a chance. And then I'll wait a few weeks after that to see what's happening out there! 

Nancy, when throwing larger pieces my arms are usually part of my technique, I often will use a fist on the top of a 10# piece of clay, with the forearm up the side, holding that side of the clay in place as my left hand is pushing into the solid arm and fist, because of the arm and fist the clay cannot go anywhere, so it has to become centered. It is brute force, but can be done slowly with more water and patience. I have a tendency to muscle the clay into center, but part of that is my wedging also as I wedge cone shaped, and put the clay on the wheel with the cone centered on the wheel head. Then I slap the clay into partial center while turning slowly then center as mentioned above. Try it.
 
best,
Pres

I'm practicing cylinders again.  Can someone give me a height to aim for when throwing with 1kg / 2.2lb of clay?  I need something to aim for, even if it's difficult.  I'll set a gauge up so I can keep trying to hit that height.
Incidentally, here in the UK we call this # a hash sign.  I still find it confusing when people refer to it as a pound sign, which is one of these: £.

Glazenerd,
I really am pleased when posts are able to help others out. However, I can not take credit. . . . it takes a community.
 
 
best,
Pres

My first instructor was well traveled in the orient and a believer in the discipline.
Our first assignment was to throw ten 10" cylinders of the same diameter.
If you cannot,  then throw until you can.

Yikes! I pictured ten cylinders that were 10" tall and of the same (10") diameter! THAT would be a challenge

Interesting post. Quite honestly my experience was that I needed to spend lots of time learning centering .... get REALLY good at centering or you re screwed. Then Cylinders, then bowls ... lots of cylinders and bowls. Then I could try more interesting stuff. Took a good year for me to get comfy but then I am jsut a hobbyist, not a full-timer.

Long limbs, eye that, in the 99th percentile, reach for height - fun shopping for long sleeve shirts that fit at the wrist, neck, and body ...on t'other hand, reaching the top shelf, painting walls, etc., heh.
Often overlooked: a) clay shifting on the wheelhead/bat, where just a smidge of movement is all it takes to "throw" off your center. b) shearing - apply too much pressure, too soon, where the separation/shear that results will continue to influence that pot, throughout - start over. c) poorly prepared, where a thick or thin bit of clay, bubble, crumb - any inconsistency - will disrupt the flow of the clay. d) poorly prepared, where thorough wedging is continued in the several "conings" (as DH mentioned, above) on the wheel, continued, where a clockwise thrower tips up the rams head to the right, eh? Try it. e) poorly thrown base, as the opening and working of the base/bottom is a continuation of the preparation to throw a vessel - easy to impart a shear at this step. f) direction, where one may be better suited for one over the other; whilst I can (sort of) throw counter clockwise, t'other is soo much easier for me. There may be a right/left handedness to it, meh, I'm right handed. f) too wet/dry, where the patience and persistence required to work stiff clay ...it's difficult! ...and squishy clay doesn't provide much feedback, and requires quick work. If the clay is a smidge too damp to start with, it will be just right once thoroughly wedged - wedging removed some moisture, eh?
Learning (wouldn't say learned) all that th' hard way.
Having seen eighty five pound eighty five year old potter throw large pots without straining (except, perhaps, lifting the clay to and from the wheel head!), not sure much strength is required?

@nancylee For amounts of clay you are talking about, I pat the clay, as the wheel slowly turns, into a semi-centered mound. Then I place both hands on the opposite side of the mound and as I increase the speed of he wheel, pull the mound towards my body. This gets the mound closer to centered, but I don't worry about perfect at this time. Now I cone the clay 3 times, after each cone try to place your hands in your centering position and hold till the mound gets closer to centered. By the 3rd cone everything should be aligned and centered.
I had read where Marcia Selsor likes to have the chair she sits in be positioned so when she looks down at the wheel she is looking about 1 inch beyond the center of the wheel. This has helped greatly. Try to lay your weight on the mound with your shoulders well over the mound. I usually end up with clay on my chest from hugging the mound.

Me too, and I can't throw at all.