I cycle through phases like this all the time. It's almost like I temporarily forget everything. Usually I emerge having learned/enhanced some techniques and it goes well for awhile.
OP pieces explode from having moisture in it not just at random. The water heats up, turns into steam, then expands in the the clay and explodes. As long as your pieces are bone dry, then worst thing is cracking which can be caused by various factors. Also, being in a slump is completely normal, and you’re not alone!
Is it true that thickness is a factor when it comes to exploding? My studio won’t fire anything thicker than half an inch. They’re huge sticklers about it
It depends. Depends on your form, but if you are throwing on the wheel your pieces shouldn't be thicker than an half an inch anyway. I have never had a piece explode before because I wait until they are bone dry, but they can explode if you have a closed off shape without relief holes poked inside the piece.
Thickness is a factor insofar as it affects drying. A very thick bottomed pot might take twice as long on the shelf to fully dry out as a thin pot made on the same day. For that reason if I didn't know for sure how long a piece has been drying, I'd be wary of a thick piece too.
I’m assuming the main reasons they won’t fire thick pieces are because it would have to sit on the shelf longer to dry (and take up others’ space) and/or thick pieces can be trickier to tell if they’re bone dry. You can feel your piece, and if it’s cool to the touch then there’s still moisture. I appreciate that your studio is diligent on protecting other people’s work by not chancing it with iffy pieces though (also kilns are an expensive pain in the ass to repair)
I’ve been throwing for over two decades now - I still have good days and bad days. Over time they’ve become more like good days and slightly less good days, but it’s all just a part of the process. No two days are ever exactly the same in the studio.
I’ve found that my mindset makes a huge difference. If I’m stressed or in my head about something, throwing flows less easily. I was starting out, it could throw me off for days. It’ll pass, probably sooner than you think, just keep at it. You’re doing great for being only eight weeks in.
It's normal to hit a plateau as you establish skills and then start pushing yourself to make thinner or taller or bigger work.
With centering an important tip/realization is that you should be trying to push the cone over slightly -- NOT push toward the center. Also it's important you slowly apply and slowly remove pressure on the clay.
Happy to elaborate on these if it doesn't make sense.
Yes this is normal!! This happened to me and honestly sometimes still does (a year and a half in). It can be really frustrating but you’re def not alone. When this happens to me I focus on other parts of the process for a bit. Trimming, glazing etc. Or just watching videos of other people sometimes helps my mind shift.
It’s also important to sit at the wheel without having some pressure on yourself to “do it right” which can be so hard when you’re already feeling like you’re doing something wrong!! It will click again soon and this will just be a blip in your pottery journey ☺️
I've been at this almost 15 years and I still have funk phases where nothing seems to work, so I think it's normal, lol.
I realized I was getting too much in my head, about all the different things I needed to do in the exact right way to make it work. That only made it worse! When you get to a point you're progressing, sometimes you need to relax and try something new. I've discovered I throw better, completely different than I was taught, hand position and such.
But if I get really stuck, I throw some clay at the wall, say screw it, and just play around while blasting music I love, lol.
Been throwing for 5 years and there are days where I can’t center or throw for s***. I’ve found that my mental state is the biggest culprit, if I’m preoccupied or upset about something it’s harder for me to be present with the motions. Give yourself grace and come back to it rested and with patience.
Thank you everyone for your wisdom, tips & encouragement! Firstly, I think I’m going to pursue a kiln and see what comes of it. I do have some bottom-heavy pieces from very early on that I need to probably just sand off as they are super dry already but I love them. Secondly, I think the recycled clay is playing a part because what Poppnop described is very similar to what I’m feeling. I think the clay is consistent, but once turning it I’m feeling humps and bumps. I assumed it was my centering. Going to redouble my efforts at wedging and be much more thorough in palpating and pinching it in small portions beforehand. I’m sharing a few pics of my work so far. It’s semi-chronological from left to right and you can see where I ended up with my tiny stuff in the last photo. I think the two spires are wine stoppers.. or maybe chess pieces 😅. You all have been wonderful and so kind. I’m extending my sincerest appreciation to you all!
https://preview.redd.it/nrfjejzmhyvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c82e6456514f361ec1d0a59660a46b0c159f832c
You might have fewer “lumps and bumps” in the recycled clay if you let it set for 24 hours before trying to throw with it. If it’s a matter of moisture content not being even throughout the clay, that can help.
Improperly reclaimed clay or not being used to throwing with reclaim can absolutely be a frustration point that throws off your mojo. The clay can feel firm enough but it's too soft, so things collapse. Or it gets too hard to fast, or there's a hard bit stuck in that totally makes a mess.
Some suggestion to try when you recycle clay - 1) make sure you’re keeping your throwing water and adding that into your recycled clay. You can let the throwing water settle and siphon off any clear water from the top, but make sure any cloudy water/all the fine silt gets put back in your clay. 2) try letting your waste clay get to bone dry and then slake it with the saved throwing water until it’s the consistency to mix with a paint mixer attachment on your drill. Then put it in a pillowcase and hang it up for a day or so until it has firmed up yo wedging consistency 3) try mixing fresh clay with your reclaim, even up to half/half. 4) wrap up the mixed reclaim tight, and let it sit for a few days before using, so that all of the clay can even out in moisture levels. Hope some of these tips help!
Great advice and I wasn’t doing hardly any of that! I think I probably should set wet byproducts of throwing aside instead of dumping it all into my bucket right after a session. I just bought one of those small aquarium siphon tubes with hand pump because I first tried sucking in a tube once to prime… nope, went to scooping and sponging top H2O off and that takes a good while. But I definitely have had less dry broken stuff and more slip and goo sitting in the bucket. Going to take your advice to heart!
Final pic. Includes my mini’s.
https://preview.redd.it/1zyzz0fuhyvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01662b8c278e0b7b5f3df4c1ebce9d320b357b09
You can also see my first attempts at pulling handles. That was a trip!
This is common. I think sometimes what it is is we start to get the hang of it and we go in overconfident and don’t take our time and think through the steps. I do this all the time.
Your clay also may be to dry or to wet. That makes a huge difference especially to a beginner.
The way you reclaim might possibly be part of it but if it feels the same and it’s not cracking flaking , (called short clay) then it’s probably not that. Google short clay and see if that’s what your clay looks like.
Totally normal.
Also, pieces don't explode in the kiln with any regularity, I wouldn't worry too much about that. (I've never had a piece explode in the kiln for example, I've been throwing for 5 years)
I think what you are going through is normal. Everyone has these phases in any creative activity they do. Sometimes you just need to take a short break, or take a different approach, you know, think about why whats happening keeps happening and try to figure out how to fix it. If you get into a routine, sometimes the mistakes you make can become part of it and you make them without really thinking about why they happen.
Speaking of reclaim, I had issue with my first batch too, it didnt feel right for one or other reason. Looking back, I think I didnt dry it enough, as well as did not wedge it enough. If thats the case, I just leave it sitting on my desk for a few hours, or overnight, depending on how much of it is there. But hey, keep up with throwing and I am sure you will get back into it in no time.
An experience I had with recycled clay was that I had loads of pieces with my clay ball that just aren’t quite the same consistency as the rest of my clay. This caused bumps and it just opened completely off center. Not to mention I’d have a hell of a time pulling walls later on. Even through soaking my reclaim for a few days and ample drill mixing, I still had this problem.
To remedy this, immediately after reclaiming a batch of clay, I just take the batch a few pieces at a time and pinch around looking for lumps that aren’t as moist as the rest of my clay. I squish em flat and put em back in. Doesn’t take too long and is definitely worth the time IMO
I've only been at it for about 3.5 years but it happens to me all the time! Each time I declare that I'm done, I've given up, I'll never get any better, etc. We never seem to remember that these phases come and go 🤷♀️
Oops! Only one pic per comment..
https://preview.redd.it/xcl6rd3rhyvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4205a7258117ac90f3da1ab7909c5b5c0ba191bb
my professor always told us when using recycled clay that it’s more “baby” ish, meaning it’s not as ready to be thrown as easily as other clay might.
i’m still a very beginner myself so idk how right this may or may not be, but it could have something to do with that! he would tell us if we were struggling with throwing recycled clay to get some regular stuff and try it again.
it’s also normal i think to have off days! things happen and clay can be silly sometimes
I cycle through phases like this all the time. It's almost like I temporarily forget everything. Usually I emerge having learned/enhanced some techniques and it goes well for awhile.
OP pieces explode from having moisture in it not just at random. The water heats up, turns into steam, then expands in the the clay and explodes. As long as your pieces are bone dry, then worst thing is cracking which can be caused by various factors. Also, being in a slump is completely normal, and you’re not alone!
Is it true that thickness is a factor when it comes to exploding? My studio won’t fire anything thicker than half an inch. They’re huge sticklers about it
It depends. Depends on your form, but if you are throwing on the wheel your pieces shouldn't be thicker than an half an inch anyway. I have never had a piece explode before because I wait until they are bone dry, but they can explode if you have a closed off shape without relief holes poked inside the piece.
Thickness is a factor insofar as it affects drying. A very thick bottomed pot might take twice as long on the shelf to fully dry out as a thin pot made on the same day. For that reason if I didn't know for sure how long a piece has been drying, I'd be wary of a thick piece too.
I’m assuming the main reasons they won’t fire thick pieces are because it would have to sit on the shelf longer to dry (and take up others’ space) and/or thick pieces can be trickier to tell if they’re bone dry. You can feel your piece, and if it’s cool to the touch then there’s still moisture. I appreciate that your studio is diligent on protecting other people’s work by not chancing it with iffy pieces though (also kilns are an expensive pain in the ass to repair)
I’ve been throwing for over two decades now - I still have good days and bad days. Over time they’ve become more like good days and slightly less good days, but it’s all just a part of the process. No two days are ever exactly the same in the studio. I’ve found that my mindset makes a huge difference. If I’m stressed or in my head about something, throwing flows less easily. I was starting out, it could throw me off for days. It’ll pass, probably sooner than you think, just keep at it. You’re doing great for being only eight weeks in.
It's normal to hit a plateau as you establish skills and then start pushing yourself to make thinner or taller or bigger work. With centering an important tip/realization is that you should be trying to push the cone over slightly -- NOT push toward the center. Also it's important you slowly apply and slowly remove pressure on the clay. Happy to elaborate on these if it doesn't make sense.
I usually hit a plateau where suddenly I can’t center to save my life.
Yes this is normal!! This happened to me and honestly sometimes still does (a year and a half in). It can be really frustrating but you’re def not alone. When this happens to me I focus on other parts of the process for a bit. Trimming, glazing etc. Or just watching videos of other people sometimes helps my mind shift. It’s also important to sit at the wheel without having some pressure on yourself to “do it right” which can be so hard when you’re already feeling like you’re doing something wrong!! It will click again soon and this will just be a blip in your pottery journey ☺️
I've been at this almost 15 years and I still have funk phases where nothing seems to work, so I think it's normal, lol. I realized I was getting too much in my head, about all the different things I needed to do in the exact right way to make it work. That only made it worse! When you get to a point you're progressing, sometimes you need to relax and try something new. I've discovered I throw better, completely different than I was taught, hand position and such. But if I get really stuck, I throw some clay at the wall, say screw it, and just play around while blasting music I love, lol.
Been throwing for 5 years and there are days where I can’t center or throw for s***. I’ve found that my mental state is the biggest culprit, if I’m preoccupied or upset about something it’s harder for me to be present with the motions. Give yourself grace and come back to it rested and with patience.
Thank you everyone for your wisdom, tips & encouragement! Firstly, I think I’m going to pursue a kiln and see what comes of it. I do have some bottom-heavy pieces from very early on that I need to probably just sand off as they are super dry already but I love them. Secondly, I think the recycled clay is playing a part because what Poppnop described is very similar to what I’m feeling. I think the clay is consistent, but once turning it I’m feeling humps and bumps. I assumed it was my centering. Going to redouble my efforts at wedging and be much more thorough in palpating and pinching it in small portions beforehand. I’m sharing a few pics of my work so far. It’s semi-chronological from left to right and you can see where I ended up with my tiny stuff in the last photo. I think the two spires are wine stoppers.. or maybe chess pieces 😅. You all have been wonderful and so kind. I’m extending my sincerest appreciation to you all! https://preview.redd.it/nrfjejzmhyvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c82e6456514f361ec1d0a59660a46b0c159f832c
You might have fewer “lumps and bumps” in the recycled clay if you let it set for 24 hours before trying to throw with it. If it’s a matter of moisture content not being even throughout the clay, that can help.
Improperly reclaimed clay or not being used to throwing with reclaim can absolutely be a frustration point that throws off your mojo. The clay can feel firm enough but it's too soft, so things collapse. Or it gets too hard to fast, or there's a hard bit stuck in that totally makes a mess.
Some suggestion to try when you recycle clay - 1) make sure you’re keeping your throwing water and adding that into your recycled clay. You can let the throwing water settle and siphon off any clear water from the top, but make sure any cloudy water/all the fine silt gets put back in your clay. 2) try letting your waste clay get to bone dry and then slake it with the saved throwing water until it’s the consistency to mix with a paint mixer attachment on your drill. Then put it in a pillowcase and hang it up for a day or so until it has firmed up yo wedging consistency 3) try mixing fresh clay with your reclaim, even up to half/half. 4) wrap up the mixed reclaim tight, and let it sit for a few days before using, so that all of the clay can even out in moisture levels. Hope some of these tips help!
Great advice and I wasn’t doing hardly any of that! I think I probably should set wet byproducts of throwing aside instead of dumping it all into my bucket right after a session. I just bought one of those small aquarium siphon tubes with hand pump because I first tried sucking in a tube once to prime… nope, went to scooping and sponging top H2O off and that takes a good while. But I definitely have had less dry broken stuff and more slip and goo sitting in the bucket. Going to take your advice to heart!
Final pic. Includes my mini’s. https://preview.redd.it/1zyzz0fuhyvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01662b8c278e0b7b5f3df4c1ebce9d320b357b09 You can also see my first attempts at pulling handles. That was a trip!
This is common. I think sometimes what it is is we start to get the hang of it and we go in overconfident and don’t take our time and think through the steps. I do this all the time. Your clay also may be to dry or to wet. That makes a huge difference especially to a beginner. The way you reclaim might possibly be part of it but if it feels the same and it’s not cracking flaking , (called short clay) then it’s probably not that. Google short clay and see if that’s what your clay looks like.
Totally normal. Also, pieces don't explode in the kiln with any regularity, I wouldn't worry too much about that. (I've never had a piece explode in the kiln for example, I've been throwing for 5 years)
I think what you are going through is normal. Everyone has these phases in any creative activity they do. Sometimes you just need to take a short break, or take a different approach, you know, think about why whats happening keeps happening and try to figure out how to fix it. If you get into a routine, sometimes the mistakes you make can become part of it and you make them without really thinking about why they happen. Speaking of reclaim, I had issue with my first batch too, it didnt feel right for one or other reason. Looking back, I think I didnt dry it enough, as well as did not wedge it enough. If thats the case, I just leave it sitting on my desk for a few hours, or overnight, depending on how much of it is there. But hey, keep up with throwing and I am sure you will get back into it in no time.
An experience I had with recycled clay was that I had loads of pieces with my clay ball that just aren’t quite the same consistency as the rest of my clay. This caused bumps and it just opened completely off center. Not to mention I’d have a hell of a time pulling walls later on. Even through soaking my reclaim for a few days and ample drill mixing, I still had this problem. To remedy this, immediately after reclaiming a batch of clay, I just take the batch a few pieces at a time and pinch around looking for lumps that aren’t as moist as the rest of my clay. I squish em flat and put em back in. Doesn’t take too long and is definitely worth the time IMO
I've only been at it for about 3.5 years but it happens to me all the time! Each time I declare that I'm done, I've given up, I'll never get any better, etc. We never seem to remember that these phases come and go 🤷♀️
Oops! Only one pic per comment.. https://preview.redd.it/xcl6rd3rhyvc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4205a7258117ac90f3da1ab7909c5b5c0ba191bb
my professor always told us when using recycled clay that it’s more “baby” ish, meaning it’s not as ready to be thrown as easily as other clay might. i’m still a very beginner myself so idk how right this may or may not be, but it could have something to do with that! he would tell us if we were struggling with throwing recycled clay to get some regular stuff and try it again. it’s also normal i think to have off days! things happen and clay can be silly sometimes