Synopses & Reviews
Pottery making and wheel throwing is a timeless craft, perfect for beginner crafters and artisans who don't mind getting their hands dirty. The Potter's Complete Studio Handbook is the perfect guide for all levels to enjoy and master the art of pottery. The book is a compilation of the best features from The Potter's Studio Handbook and The Potter's Studio Clay and Glaze Handbook, bringing the best of hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques together with comprehensive instruction for clays and glazes.
Inside, you'll find:—expert tips and tricks for selecting and preparing your clay, constructing slab projects, throwing and centering clay on the wheel, firing your project to perfection
—16 beautiful and functional projects with step-by-step photos using wheel-throwing, hand-building, and slipcasting techniques that can be done at home
—more than 40 formulas for unique clays and glazes with instructions on how to use them plus troubleshooting tips from the experts
—behind-the-scenes access to production and mining facilities . . . and much more!
Synopsis
Pottery making and wheel throwing is a timeless craft, perfect for beginner crafters and artisans who don't mind getting their hands dirty. The Potter's Complete Studio Handbook is the perfect guide for all levels to enjoy and master the art of pottery. The book is a compilation of the best features from The Potter's Studio Handbook and The Potter's Studio Clay and Glaze Handbook, bringing the best of hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques together with comprehensive instruction for clays and glazes. Inside, you'll find: -expert tips and tricks for selecting and preparing your clay, constructing slab projects, throwing and centering clay on the wheel, firing your project to perfection -16 beautiful and functional projects with step-by-step photos using wheel-throwing, hand-building, and slipcasting techniques that can be done at home -more than 40 formulas for unique clays and glazes with instructions on how to use them plus troubleshooting tips from the experts -behind-the-scenes access to production and mining facilities . . . and much more
About the Author
Kristin Muller has been a ceramic artist for 20 years and an arts administrator for 10. Currently the education director for Brookfield Craft Center in Brookfield, Connecticut, she has been teaching ceramics there for more than thirteen years. She holds a bachelor of science in studio arts with a concentration in ceramics from Southern Connecticut State University. Kristin has attended countless seminars and workshops with leading potters and clay artists and is currently an MFA candidate at Hood College. She has a studio and wood-fired Anagama kiln in eastern Pennsylvania, and she exhibits her work nationally and internationally. http://www.kristinmuller.net
As a ceramics instructor and consultant, Jeff Zamek has lectured and led workshops for more than 30 years, and has developed clay body and glaze formulas for ceramics supply companies throughout the United States. As a freelance writer, he has contributed articles to most major ceramics magazines, including Pottery Making Illustrated, Ceramics Monthly, and Ceramic Industry. Zamek is the author of What Every Potter Should Know and Safety in the Ceramics Studio, both published by Krause. He lives in Southampton, MA. http://www.jeffzamek.com
Table of Contents
Foreword by Brother Iain Highet
Introduction
Part One: Studio Requirements and Properties of Clay
Chapter One: Your Studio
Workspace Considerations
Physical Requirements for Setting up a Studio
Planning the Placement of Tools and Equipment
Chapter Two: Tools and Equipment
Essential Equipment
Tools for Hand Building
Tools for Wheel Work
Chapter Three: Clay
Types of Clay
Choosing a Clay Supplier
States of Clay
Conversion of Clay Through Fire
Ceramic Temperatures
The Origin of Clay
Dynamic Clay
Acquiring Clay: Buy Premixed or Mix Your Own?
Mixing Your Own Clay
Buying Premixed Clay
Choosing a Ceramics Supplier
Clay Body Formulas
Testing Clay Body Formulas
Troubleshooting Clay Imperfections
Chapter Four: Preliminary Clay Techniques
Managing Clay Consistency
Wedging
Shrinkage and Drying
Keeping the Studio Clean
Reclaiming and Recycling Clay
Chapter Five: Hand Building
Pinch Pots
Stamping Clay
Slab Construction
Cutting and Joining Slabs
Slump and Hump Molds
Coil Building
Chapter Six: Throwing on the Potter’s Wheel
Setting Up the Wheel and Stool
Potter’s Wheel Dynamics
Developing Skills Through Repetition
Pottery Forms
Basic Wheel Techniques
Troubleshooting Common Throwing Problems
Chapter Seven: Decorative and Finishing Techniques
Choosing Glazes
Mixing Glazes
Safety Precautions
Gathering Supplies
Preparing Ware for Glazing
Chapter Eight: Glaze Chemistry
Desirable Glaze
Testing Glaze
Glazes for Foods and Beverages
Adjusting and Testing Glazes
Ask the Right Questions
Particle Size
Kiln Size and Atmosphere
Kiln Firing Cycle
Raw Material Substitutions
Metallic Coloring Oxide/Carbonates
Glaze Water and Soluble Materials
Adjusting Clay Content
Creating Test Tiles
Preparing the Glaze Mixture
Dipping Test Tiles
Useful Glaze Tests
Glaze Calculation Software
Chapter Nine: Troubleshooting Glazes
Glaze Blisters
Crazing
Correcting Crazing
Shivering
Correcting Shivering
S-Crack Issues
Five Steps to Prevent S-Cracks
Incorrect Coning Technique
Chapter Ten: Ceramic Kilns and Firing Work
Types of Kiln Firing
Pyrometric Cones
Chapter Eleven: How to Fire an Electric Kiln
Choosing and Preparing Your Electric Kiln
Bisque Firing
Loading Green Ware for Bisque Firing
Loading Glaze Ware for Glaze Firing
Keeping a Kiln Log and a Glaze Journal
Cooling the Kiln
Unloading the Kiln
Inside the Kiln
Changing Clay Color
Speckling Effect
Special Glaze Effects
Ceramics Showcase: Special Glaze Effects
Part Two: A Step-by-Step Guide to Hand Building and Pottery Wheel Projects
Chapter Twelve: Hand Building Projects
Slab Plates
Whimsical Teapot
Coiled and Paddled Jar
Chapter Thirteen: Beginning Wheel Projects
Faceted Utensil Holder
Bottles and Vases
Pitchers
Batter Bowl with Handle
Set of Mugs
Throwing Bowl Forms
Shaping a Constant Curve and Using a Throwing Rib
Principles of Trimming
Trimming Multiple Forms
Guide to Trimming Clay
Guide to Trimming Multiple Forms
Chapter Fourteen: Intermediate Wheel Projects
Plates and Platters
Trimming a Plate
Chip and Dip Dish
Casserole with Lid and Handles
Teapot with Lid, Spout, and Handle
Two-Part Vase
Chapter Fifteen: Clay and Glaze Formulas
Thrown Cylinder
Thrown Jar
Square-Sided Thrown Raku Covered Jar
Wheel-Thrown Altered Oval
Wheel-Thrown Unglazed Bowl
Slab Construction Oval Platter
Wheel-Thrown/Hand-Built Sculptural Disk
Wheel-Thrown Bottle
Wheel-Thrown Disk
Wheel-Thrown Bowl
Wheel-Thrown Oval Cylinder
Wheel-Thrown Covered Jar
Wheel-Thrown Bowl
Wheel-Thrown Goblet
Wheel-Thrown Covered Jar
Wheel-Thrown Bottle
Wheel-Thrown Raku-Fired Vase
Press-Molded Bowl
Wheel-Thrown Bowl
Wheel-Thrown Sculptural Rattle
Wheel-Thrown Jar
Wheel-Thrown Cup
Chapter Sixteen: Going into the Ceramics Business
Plan Your Business
Plan Your Production Time
Plan Your Purchases and Pricing
Marketing Your Pottery
Creating Functional Sets to Sell
Sources of Inspiration
Conclusion
Resources
Glossary
Index
About the Authors