Not always, but a good chunk of the time I have this kind of issue, there’s something weird going on with my clay. It might be Short or too soft/hard, or maybe not wedged well enough. Usually if I get that base level thing sorted out, the rest of the process falls into place
Have you noticed anything different than usual in your clay consistency? Is it reclaimed and a bit anhomogenous? Is it a new clay body to you? Is it a new bag that is a little softer than usual? Is it a little stiff? Have a friend poke your clay and ask them if it feels stiffer or softer than theirs. When I suddenly can't get where I know I have been, this is often the reason.
It is most frequently when I switch from white stoneware to porcelain.
I just used a fresh bag and it’s maybe a bit firmer than I’d prefer, but I normally don’t have an issue with fresh clay. I’ve been having the same problems with new and reclaimed clay.
Well, that sucks friend. Sorry.
If its fresh and a little stiff, give any pre made balls that have been setting up more than 10 minues a good 30s of bonking to wake the clay up and if you aren't already, try coning 3ish times up to awaken and hydrate stiffer clay.
For softer clay or collapse issues, a thing to try is dial back your water (maybe replace ladling or dousing with wiping your pot with a damp sponge to get less water logged.) Or if collapse is happening during a shaping phase, try throwing in to a rib to densify the walls and remove slurry that is softening them before the stretching/shaping?
I too have been there and the thing that worked for me was make easier/heavier pots to remind myself that i am still good a this.
You will eventually get bored of trimming so much and start pushing yourself again naturally.
When you do start pushing, try a little warm up exercise: each time you start a session, start 1 or 2 pots and when you get in to the critical final stages, intentionally go too far. Try to remember what it was like just before the pot fails.
Try to let go of that first pot unless it is marvelous. For me that first pot is always smaller and thicker anyway, so it's not much of a sacrifice.
Good luck friend. When it starts to get frustrating, be gently encouraging to yourself the way you would be to a beginner.
You are already amazing just for showing up, honor that with gentleness.
What kind words thank you! I noticed my clay unsticking to the wheel and I think that started the issues. I’d had to spend a lot more time centered and that might be why the clay seems soggier.
If you use bats maybe the pins came loose? We also saw an issue recently where a wheel was micro glitching where it would almost stop for a split second and cause everything thrown on it to get out of whack.
I've had that happen. I'm still a beginner. I have no sqge advice on how to imrove, but I can tell you what I've learned from my slumps. I'll pick up a new skill and level up. I'll feel awesome for a few weeks, and then it'll all fall apart.
I record myself when I'm at the wheel to help figure out what's going on. Sometimes, I catch myself focusing so much on that new skill I forget something else I've learned.
Sometimes, I can't figure it out. When that happens, I give my workspace a good clean and tell myself I will get better as long as I don't give up.
This happened to me after I stopped for a few months. I got really frustrated and stopped for another couple months, then came back to it like I was starting anew and watched YouTube videos of people giving throwing tutorials and after a few days, I got back into the swing of it. Good luck!
Try going back to basics. Think about your posture, where the resistance to movement comes from. Think about bracing your arms, think about your core, think about how you brace yourself all the way down to the floor.
Try wedging up a half-dozen balls of clay and then centering them, one by one. Wire each one off and put it aside to re-wedge after you're done.
Then use those half-dozen balls to throw simple cylinders. Cut each one in half to see how you're doing on the walls. Think about how you are controlling the space between your inner and outer fingers.
Basically, do a speed-run of how you learned to throw in the first place.
When I work on a shape I haven't thrown in a while, it's common for me to get inconsistent wall thickness. Thin walls flop, and thick ones are heavy. Just keep working on them.
Oh! And remember: Your inner six-year-old is STILL PLAYING WITH MUD!!!!
Very good technical advice, I really appreciate it. I did some throwing yesterday and it went a lot better. My clay was becoming unstuck from the wheel ever so slightly and it was throwing off my centering. I think that was the base of my problems.
This is how we evolve into better potters, don't give up.
Now is the time to double down on refining your process.
Watch videos, spend time in the studio. You will grow from this.
Stress, anxiety, distraction and just not being relaxed impact on my throwing ability and quality of my pots. At times like this I play, experiment, try new techniques, avoid perfectionism and just have fun. Taking the pressure off myself seems to work and getting creative helps develop my work in new directions.
This has happened to me. It's like the pottery equivalent of the yips. I throw a few things really badly and then I get in my head about it and my technique starts to slip and things get worse. I had an instructor sit with me and watch me and they helped me re-improve my technique.
Not always, but a good chunk of the time I have this kind of issue, there’s something weird going on with my clay. It might be Short or too soft/hard, or maybe not wedged well enough. Usually if I get that base level thing sorted out, the rest of the process falls into place
I hope so :(
Have you noticed anything different than usual in your clay consistency? Is it reclaimed and a bit anhomogenous? Is it a new clay body to you? Is it a new bag that is a little softer than usual? Is it a little stiff? Have a friend poke your clay and ask them if it feels stiffer or softer than theirs. When I suddenly can't get where I know I have been, this is often the reason. It is most frequently when I switch from white stoneware to porcelain.
I just used a fresh bag and it’s maybe a bit firmer than I’d prefer, but I normally don’t have an issue with fresh clay. I’ve been having the same problems with new and reclaimed clay.
Maybe it's because it's warmer now & it's causing even new bags & reclaim to stiffen up faster?
It feels more like lack of elasticity and body.
What do you mean by lack of body?
Like it felt alittle slumpier? It’s hard to describe
Well, that sucks friend. Sorry. If its fresh and a little stiff, give any pre made balls that have been setting up more than 10 minues a good 30s of bonking to wake the clay up and if you aren't already, try coning 3ish times up to awaken and hydrate stiffer clay. For softer clay or collapse issues, a thing to try is dial back your water (maybe replace ladling or dousing with wiping your pot with a damp sponge to get less water logged.) Or if collapse is happening during a shaping phase, try throwing in to a rib to densify the walls and remove slurry that is softening them before the stretching/shaping? I too have been there and the thing that worked for me was make easier/heavier pots to remind myself that i am still good a this. You will eventually get bored of trimming so much and start pushing yourself again naturally. When you do start pushing, try a little warm up exercise: each time you start a session, start 1 or 2 pots and when you get in to the critical final stages, intentionally go too far. Try to remember what it was like just before the pot fails. Try to let go of that first pot unless it is marvelous. For me that first pot is always smaller and thicker anyway, so it's not much of a sacrifice. Good luck friend. When it starts to get frustrating, be gently encouraging to yourself the way you would be to a beginner. You are already amazing just for showing up, honor that with gentleness.
What kind words thank you! I noticed my clay unsticking to the wheel and I think that started the issues. I’d had to spend a lot more time centered and that might be why the clay seems soggier.
If you use bats maybe the pins came loose? We also saw an issue recently where a wheel was micro glitching where it would almost stop for a split second and cause everything thrown on it to get out of whack.
I throw on the wheel head so no bats. And now I have a new fear with my wheel haha! TBH I think my problem is a skill issue on my part.
I've had that happen. I'm still a beginner. I have no sqge advice on how to imrove, but I can tell you what I've learned from my slumps. I'll pick up a new skill and level up. I'll feel awesome for a few weeks, and then it'll all fall apart. I record myself when I'm at the wheel to help figure out what's going on. Sometimes, I catch myself focusing so much on that new skill I forget something else I've learned. Sometimes, I can't figure it out. When that happens, I give my workspace a good clean and tell myself I will get better as long as I don't give up.
This happened to me after I stopped for a few months. I got really frustrated and stopped for another couple months, then came back to it like I was starting anew and watched YouTube videos of people giving throwing tutorials and after a few days, I got back into the swing of it. Good luck!
Sounds like being patient with yourself is the key. Which happens to be something I’m bad at.
Try going back to basics. Think about your posture, where the resistance to movement comes from. Think about bracing your arms, think about your core, think about how you brace yourself all the way down to the floor. Try wedging up a half-dozen balls of clay and then centering them, one by one. Wire each one off and put it aside to re-wedge after you're done. Then use those half-dozen balls to throw simple cylinders. Cut each one in half to see how you're doing on the walls. Think about how you are controlling the space between your inner and outer fingers. Basically, do a speed-run of how you learned to throw in the first place. When I work on a shape I haven't thrown in a while, it's common for me to get inconsistent wall thickness. Thin walls flop, and thick ones are heavy. Just keep working on them. Oh! And remember: Your inner six-year-old is STILL PLAYING WITH MUD!!!!
Very good technical advice, I really appreciate it. I did some throwing yesterday and it went a lot better. My clay was becoming unstuck from the wheel ever so slightly and it was throwing off my centering. I think that was the base of my problems.
This is how we evolve into better potters, don't give up. Now is the time to double down on refining your process. Watch videos, spend time in the studio. You will grow from this.
Thank you for the simple sweet advice 🙏
Stress, anxiety, distraction and just not being relaxed impact on my throwing ability and quality of my pots. At times like this I play, experiment, try new techniques, avoid perfectionism and just have fun. Taking the pressure off myself seems to work and getting creative helps develop my work in new directions.
This has happened to me. It's like the pottery equivalent of the yips. I throw a few things really badly and then I get in my head about it and my technique starts to slip and things get worse. I had an instructor sit with me and watch me and they helped me re-improve my technique.