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About Ric Swenson
Expertise
For nearly 40 years I have been involved with pottery. I specialize in wheelthrown pottery, but spent 12 years as Plant Manager of Bennington Potters, Inc. where I learned all about RAM pressing, slip casting, jiggering, OSHA regulations regarding clay manufacture, safety, etc. I have specific knowledge in forming techniques, texturing clay, clay bodies, glazes and application techniques, as well as firing and kiln building.

Experience
I have taught ceramics and art history at the high school and college level in Anchorage, AK (UAA) and Bennington, VT.for 12 years. I ran Bennington Potters, Inc. for 12 years 1982-94. I was manager of Fine Art Tile Co.,San Antonio, TX for several years and taught Pottery classes in Atlanta, GA. at Elements (Kickwheel Pottery Supply), Currently in JingDeZhen , P.R. China, teaching Ceramics and Oral English.

Organizations
American Ceramic Society (Chair of Design Div. 1985-7)
Current member of Tucker Arts Guild, Tucker, GA. Art Station member, Stone Mountain, GA

Publications
CERAMICS MONTHLY, AMERICAN CRAFT

Education/Credentials
BFA, Drawing and Painting, Pacific Lutheran Univ., Tacoma, WA. 1970 with certification to teach Art K-12.
MFA, Ceramics, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA. 1976

Awards and Honors
One Man Show of Pottery, Anchorage Historical and Fine Arts Museum.
Alaska Art Bank Collection, Collection U. of Puget Sound, JingDeZhen Ceramics Institute, China.
Over 70 juried entries in State and Regional art shows over 30 years. Solo exhibition, 2006, The Pottery Workshop, JingDeZhen, China. Exhibitor and Conference participant, Wu Yi Shan Univ. China 2007.

You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Visual Arts > Pottery > Centering

Pottery - Centering

Expert: Ric Swenson - 11/3/2009

Question
Another question occured to me as I was "surfing" the answers here. Is there a trick to centering large amounts of clay? I have really small hands and have real trouble centering more than a few pounds of clay at once. It seems if I can't keep my hands joined I just can't get rid of the last of the wobble. For now I just center 3-4 lbs and then add another ball ontop and center that. I have gotten up to about 8 lbs this way but after that I just can't seem to make the top (the added ball) and bottom (already centered) come together without introducing the dreaded wobble back in.
My technique is to "lock" my left arm into my body and use the right to manipulate the lump until it is in the center. I'd like the opportunity to try some large things but I am plain worn out with trying to center big hunks of clay.

Answer
Get the clay into a ball put it on the wheel head and slowly rotate the wheel...slap the clay as it turns....you will be able to see where it is not centered...rotate the wheel faster and you will see any wobble...slap it.... Then finally add water/slip and start to center...brace your elbows against your legs/knees and use those bigger leg muscles to push and steady the centering.

Right hand on the right side...left hand on top...even pressure..push to the center and release hands slowly

hope this helps.

Ric

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