The Potter's Studio Handbook: A Start-to-Finish Guide to Hand-Built and Wheel-Thrown Ceramics
Like blacksmithing or hobby farming, pottery-making appeals to individuals who like to be creative, work with their hands, and don’t mind getting a little dirty. However, it is a hobby that is largely underserved by the publishing industry, but difficult for someone to learn without a comprehensive guide because the tools and techniques are quite complicated. The Potter’s Studio Handbook guides readers through the process of setting up their own studio and teaching them how to master the...
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Like blacksmithing or hobby farming, pottery-making appeals to individuals who like to be creative, work with their hands, and don't mind getting a little dirty. However, it is a hobby that is largely underserved by the publishing industry, but difficult for someone to learn without a comprehensive guide because the tools and techniques are quite complicated. The Potter's Studio Handbook guides readers through the process of setting up their own studio and teaching them how to master the techniques at home. Once techniques are mastered, The Potter's Studio Handbook will remain an invaluable resource to the clay artist when looking to create beautiful, yet functional projects, at home with nearly 25 projects that build upon previously learned skills. Daniel Lombardo - Library Journal Müller, a ceramic artist since 1987 and the education director for Brookfield Craft Center in Brookfield, CT, offers a splendid book on a timeless art. She guides beginners through advanced students in equipping a ceramic studio, handling the design, preparing the clay, constructing slab projects, throwing on a wheel, glazing, and firing. The 16 clay projects featured here include teapots, vases, and dinner plates. Readers can draw inspiration from the creative painting and underglazing examples, as well as the unusual firing techniques for color and texture. Highly recommended, though professional potters will want advanced works like Irene Poulton's Fired Up with Raku: Over 300 Recipes.
Foreword Brother Iain Highet 8Introduction 10Studio requirements and properties of clay 14Your studio 16Workspace Considerations 16Physical Requirements for Setting up a Studio 16Planning the Placement of Tools and Equipment 25Tools and equipment 28Essential Equipment 28Tools for Hand Building 32Tools for Wheel Work 33Clay 38Types of Clay 40Choosing a Clay Supplier 41States of Clay 42Conversion of Clay Through Fire 45Ceramic Temperatures 47Preliminary clay techniques 50Managing Clay Consistency 51Wedging 51Shrinkage and Drying 54Keeping the Studio Clean 55Reclaiming and Recycling Clay 56Hand building 58Pinch Pots 58Stamping Clay 62Slab Construction 62Cutting and Joining Slabs 63Slump and Hump Molds 67Coil Building 67Throwing on the potter's wheel 72Setting Up the Wheel and Stool 74Potter's Wheel Dynamics 74Developing Skills Through Repetition 76Pottery Forms 76Basic Wheel Techniques 76Troubleshooting Common Throwing Problems 88Decorative and finishing techniques 90Choosing Glazes 90Glaze Chemistry Made Easy 95Safety Precautions 98Mixing Glazes 98Preparing Ware for Glazing 102Ceramic kilns and firing work 108Types of Kiln Firing 108Pyrometric Cones 114How to fire an electric kiln 116Choosing and Preparing Your Electric Kiln 116Bisque Firing 119Loading Green Ware for Bisque Firing 120Loading Glaze Ware for Glaze Firing 122Keeping a Kiln Log and a Glaze Journal 126Common Flaws in Glazes 127Cooling the Kiln 127Unloading the Kiln 128A step-by-step guide to hand-building and pottery wheel projects 130Hand-building projects 132Slab Plates 134Whimsical Teapot 136Coiled and Paddled Jar 139Beginning wheel projects 142Faceted Utensil Holder 144Bottles and Vases 147Pitchers 149Batter Bowl with Handle 152Set of Mugs 154Throwing Bowl Forms 156Shaping a Constant Curve and Using a Throwing Rib 158Principles of Trimming 158Trimming Multiple Forms 160Guide to Trimming Clay 160Intermediate wheel projects 164Plates and Platters 166Trimming a Plate 168Chip and Dip Dish 169Casserole with Lid and Handles 171Teapot with Lid, Spout, and Handle 175Two-Part Vase 180Sources of Inspiration 183Conclusion 183Resources 184Glossary 186Index 189Acknowledgments 191About the Author 192
\ Library JournalMüller, a ceramic artist since 1987 and the education director for Brookfield Craft Center in Brookfield, CT, offers a splendid book on a timeless art. She guides beginners through advanced students in equipping a ceramic studio, handling the design, preparing the clay, constructing slab projects, throwing on a wheel, glazing, and firing. The 16 clay projects featured here include teapots, vases, and dinner plates. Readers can draw inspiration from the creative painting and underglazing examples, as well as the unusual firing techniques for color and texture. Highly recommended, though professional potters will want advanced works like Irene Poulton's Fired Up with Raku: Over 300 Recipes.\ —Daniel Lombardo\ \ \
