Ceramic Arts Daily – Wheel Throwing Video: A Simple Pottery Making Technique Turned Upside Down

Brace yourselves, Ceramic Arts Daily readers. Today’s video is going to turn your world upside down. And if it doesn’t turn your world upside down, it will most likely turn your platters upside down. Potter Mark Peters is back with another great wheel throwing video in which he takes a basic pottery making technique and turns it on its head. As usual, the method results in the cool surface effects for which Mark is known (and which he will teach at the upcoming Potters Council workshop Expressive Surfaces in Kansas City, Missouri). If you are one who dreads trimming pottery, this technique is for you! – Jennifer Harnetty, editor.

Want to learn from Mark Peters in person?

Don’t miss the upcoming Potters Council workshop Expressive Surfaces,
October 23-25, 2009, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Register before September 18, 2009, and save $50!

52 Comments on "Wheel Throwing Video: A Simple Pottery Making Technique Turned Upside Down"

nancy January 8, 2012 at 1:57 am -

Loved what you did. I’m new at this, just started pottery in Nov 2010, I’m going to try this tommorrow at my pottery guild. I’ve been told that I’m pretty good at the wheel for a begginer. Thank you for the idea. : )
Christy January 7, 2011 at 4:35 pm -

You are really something!
Keisha December 18, 2010 at 3:04 pm -

Amazing I tell ya!!!!
Yoellah January 29, 2010 at 1:24 am -

What a simple inventive technique, I’m inspired, Thanks
Laura November 20, 2009 at 9:11 am -

This video is the favorite of my Advanced Ceramics class here at Rogers Heritage High School’s Art Academy. On Fridays we deep clean the studio, then watch a video clip or two. This one had them dancing to the music, and excited about other possibilities in clay! Thank you so much!
Pam September 9, 2009 at 10:59 am -

My high school students are going to love this. Thanks for sharing!
richard September 9, 2009 at 12:59 am -

very cheeky mr.peters…..
Christie September 7, 2009 at 3:59 pm -

I finally got it to load. It must have been my computer
Christie September 7, 2009 at 3:41 pm -

I have seen this great video before. When I tried to review it today it only showed the first minute and some seconds. I have tried to reload it in different ways but it stops at the same point. Help!
miranda September 7, 2009 at 10:46 am -

I left the rim quite thick before undercutting and was then able to throw a smooth rim once I flipped the platter over, making a nice contrast to the textured interior. I also had success with the original shape having no “middle”, adding a smooth ( or differently textured!) slab for the bottom after flipped. This is a great technique for exploring contrast… Thank You Mark!
Rick August 31, 2009 at 9:33 pm -

All good suggestions, Mark. Thank you, I will give them a try.
Mark August 30, 2009 at 7:50 pm -

If your platter has trouble releasing from the bat it’s probably one of 2 things. Either your clay is very wet to begin with or the bat is wet and the wire drags water with it as it cuts, sticking the platter right back down. First thing to do is to make sure you scrape all the water and slip from the bat even up into the rim. Use a pointy wooden tool to do this if you need to. Another solution might be to throw the platter then let it set up for a few hours before cutting and releasing. The exact amount of time varies of course. Mark Peters
Rick August 28, 2009 at 11:26 pm -

I need a clue too. I have tried using 3 different clay types but it always sticks when using the wire. I have tried letting it sit, heating the rim to stiffen it. I know I am not compressing it back when I flip it. I have even tried the wire after flipping, still sticks. I did get it to work using twisted fishing line, made a great pattern but I want it to work with the spring. What gives?
Nancy August 28, 2009 at 4:16 pm -

Somebody give me a clue. I run the wire all the way through but when I invert it, the platter sticks to the original bat. What am I doing wrong.
Ray August 28, 2009 at 11:49 am -

That is a great idea that I can share with my students who might otherwise have trouble throwing a platter that size. Thanks for sharing the techniques.
cinda August 25, 2009 at 10:14 pm -

nice……………………
Joan August 24, 2009 at 1:48 pm -

Thank you so much. I’m just getting back to potting after 15 years and this is an inspiration. I also hate trimming, and I avoid it as much as possible. Joan, Minnesota
Roberta August 24, 2009 at 11:28 am -

Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Do you have to sand down the ridges a bit so it won’t be too sharp? I have that problem with my applique when I add my leaves with a layer of clay and they burn off. I would hope to try this out with my applique, so was also wondering if the platter separates easily if you use a fishing line or wire cut off instead of the sprung spring. Roberta, Grapevine studio, Santa Cruz CA
Mark August 24, 2009 at 7:25 am -

Thanks for the great comments! I try to include photos of finished pieces in my videos but unfortunately I don’t have one from this technique :( There are a lot of variations to this. Try different sized springs or even a plain or braided wire. The middle of this platter was a little less than 1/4 inch. If you use a “finer” spring it could be thinner. Ben- The music was The Dave Grisman Quartet. Ginny- the texture is pretty deep, but I imagine this as a serving platter- bread, cookies, fruit etc. If it was a dinner plate I would use a different spring. Hope to see some of you in Kansas City! Mark Peters
Helen August 23, 2009 at 7:54 pm -

I just loved your vidio, what a great idea. Thank you Hx
Mary August 23, 2009 at 6:50 pm -

Great idea! I’m going to try it now!
Terri August 23, 2009 at 5:04 pm -

I love to trim – it’s my annal side. But I love the spring so much and the surface that it creates I’ll have to try this. Wish I could make KC in October. Might have to work on that.
Camille August 23, 2009 at 4:05 pm -

just great !!
Darrel August 23, 2009 at 1:18 pm -

Great video keep up the possibilities. Have not worked with clay for forty years and now I’m throwing more clay then I have in all my high school days> thanks for the inspiration. Darrel
Yasser August 23, 2009 at 11:13 am -

good work I had made the same idea in 1999-2000 of final graduation project in the faculty yasserrohaiem@yahoo.com
Sandra August 22, 2009 at 8:15 pm -

Awesome, & inspiring! Thank you so much!
sa August 22, 2009 at 7:03 pm -

I do enjoy watching your video and watch ur fingure doing the work at throwing. For me to make the centre of it i waste alot of clay until no more left. Any way I am very new in ceramic . from malaysia
Brigitta August 22, 2009 at 6:50 pm -

What a wonderful idea — how did you know that so many potters hate to trim pots to make feet. Thanks for thinking outside the box.
sandra August 22, 2009 at 3:27 pm -

zowie. lateral thinking at its best.
Lyla August 22, 2009 at 1:52 pm -

I am on my way to the studio……….right now! Thanks!
gaby August 22, 2009 at 12:42 pm -

i like the video and the technique. I’ll try to do it… and i’ll hope. =)!
Ben August 22, 2009 at 10:00 am -

I just want to know who played the music on the video!! I want that CD! Ben Seymour
Martha August 22, 2009 at 9:21 am -

Mark, WOW!! so cool. How thick do you leave the center when you open it up to make the foot? Is that the eventual thickness of the rim? Thanks for sharing this, Could you cut it off smooth and when it’s flipped make the center smooth with a decorated rim, or would the center just fall to the bat when pressed? Martha
jo August 22, 2009 at 8:16 am -

wonderful. thanks for the neat video, can/t wait to try it
Carole August 22, 2009 at 7:36 am -

Thanks, Mark, I agree with all the above comments..why didn’t I think of that…so logical…etc. I really like the minimal trimming….literally no mess to clean up!
Michele August 22, 2009 at 3:26 am -

This is a wonderful and great idea for textured surfaces.
ana maría August 21, 2009 at 8:44 pm -

Hola, hermosa técnica!!!!!!!! Please, give me de secret. How do you do to take off de plate from de texturated superficie?
Alan August 21, 2009 at 6:13 pm -

I first used coil spring patterns 17/18 years ago. Love the marks on the bat tho!
Kathrene August 21, 2009 at 5:42 pm -

Wow, inspiring to watch!
Karin August 21, 2009 at 4:47 pm -

Sweet!
Liz August 21, 2009 at 4:29 pm -

Great video and super music. Thank you for sharing.
Ginny August 21, 2009 at 4:14 pm -

Surely the ribs are going to be awkward if the platter is actually used for food… Or will the glaze actually fill in the spaces??? I agree that it would be nice to see the finished piece!
Kathy August 21, 2009 at 3:57 pm -

Such a great idea! I want to go try it right NOW!
karen August 21, 2009 at 2:04 pm -

I look forward to Friday afternoons @ work cause I always get a sanity break and watch the weekly video!! Id gets me through till the 5 ocloack bell and sets the mood to “Get Dirty” in the studio. My only suggestion (I see others feel the same way) is that the artist show us a finished product ant the end of the video so that we can appreciate their beautiful piece!!
p August 21, 2009 at 1:51 pm -

Superb, and the music just put me in the mood for some throwing too!
Maria-Teresa August 21, 2009 at 1:51 pm -

Many Thanks. Great video. A truly artist, so economic with movements. Love it.
Ronnie August 21, 2009 at 1:46 pm -

thanks for the video – great idea, great demonstration. would have liked to see how the upside down platters look when complete.
jo August 21, 2009 at 12:51 pm -

Wish you would indicate the length of the videos, so we would know how long it would take on a slow land line to download.
Mercedes August 21, 2009 at 12:51 pm -

Wonderful idea… Thank you for sharing this. I’ll try.
Suzy August 21, 2009 at 12:15 pm -

Fun! I’ve done this, too…..but, never with your cute little back-and-forth wiggle with the spring cutting wire. The resulting waves are beautiful! Wish you’d have ended the video with a peek at how the platter looked glazed and fired.
Carla August 21, 2009 at 12:08 pm -

Makes you want to say.. “why didn’t I think if that” Great idea. Thanks so much for sharing.
Donna August 21, 2009 at 12:06 pm -

I couldn’t figure out where you were going with that. What a pleasant surprise. Thanks for an excellent video.
rebecca August 21, 2009 at 12:06 pm -

Truely amazing! I especially like the coil spring design. Well, really, I like all of it. And, I hate throwing platters!