Learning to turn

I have been turning on the potters wheel for several year and struggling. Most times I turn ok but can not manage to turn more and a couple of pounds. I turn for a while then I can't.

What was I to do? Should I take more courses or just practice practice practice.  I chose the practice line. It did help, yet I still struggled  ------  UNTIL

I bought two DVD's -- Beginning to Throw and Advanced Throwing by Robin Hopper. I wasn't going to get the Beginning To Throw until I watched and exert and noticed that he had some tips I could benefit from.  It turns out I was turning backwards. 

A simple lesson on why you put yours hands a certain way while turning makes such a difference. Now I am turning larger pots.

Pottery: Butler Pottery

Pottery: Butler Pottery: "I have entered into the world of blogging. A new step for me as I'm not accustom to the world of blogging. I will try to keep you up to dat..."

Butler Pottery

I have entered into the world of blogging. A new step for me as I'm not accustom to the world of blogging.  I will try to keep you up to date on what I am doing in the pottery business.

One day I was looking at the pine cone Christmas wreathe I had wired together for a center piece. I thought, 'this wreathe won't last forever. Why not make one out of clay. I formed the pine cones out of clay, added round balls and leaves to it. After it had dried I hand painted my wreath.  It was bisque fired, then glazed and fired. Now I have a wreathe that will last forever, unless it gets dropped and broken.