Properly removing your hands from the clay is a subtle yet crucial skill in pottery, essential for maintaining the centred state of the clay.
Contact During Motion: Always ensure the clay is spinning when you make contact or remove your hands. Just like turning wood on a lathe, the material should be in motion before you touch it or stop touching it. This prevents any unintended distortions or imprints.
Gentle Release: When you're ready to remove your hands, do so very gently and gradually. Abrupt movements can cause slight wobbles or distortions in the clay, potentially offsetting even perfectly centred clay.
Consistent Motion: Maintain a smooth and steady motion when engaging with the clay, akin to a fluid dance where every movement is deliberate and controlled to avoid jarring transitions.
Practice Subtle Detachment: The goal is to detach your hands from the clay as if there was never any connection. With enough practice, this will become a seamless part of your process, appearing as though you’re simply lifting your hands away without effect.