Centering clay on the potter's wheel requires speed and a lot of lubrication. Begin by dousing the clay with a handful of water or slurry. Never let the clay begin to dry; it will catch on your hands and go off center.
The wheel should be rotating at full speed as you center. When you feel no more movement under your hand and your hand no longer moves at all as it rests on the top and sides of the clay as the clay rotates at full speed, the clay is centered.
As you center the clay, think of what you will be asking the clay to do next.
- If you are throwing a very wide, low form such as a plate, platter or low bowl, you should center your clay into a low dome.
- If you are throwing a pot that is relatively equal in terms of height to width at the base, you will want to center the clay into an average dome shape.
- If you are throwing a very tall form, shape the clay into a taller, narrower dome. Keep in mind, however, your fingers will still need to reach all the way down to the level of the pot's future floor as you open the form.
- If you will be throwing off the mound, don't worry about centering the base of the mound. Only center the clay at the top in the area you will be throwing. It is helpful to undercut that volume of clay as you center it, being careful not to undercut it too much. If you do so, the clay will simply twist off the mound.
