Books & Magazines

With classes in more than ten media, instruction by only the finest practitioners, and an atmosphere of friendly exchange between artists, Penland is the place for crafters to improve and broaden their skills. Here, ceramists will discover technical and inspirational resources from the masters that will carry their art to new levels. Each Penland professional represented specializes in a particular technique or method; photographs show them working, as well as feature their art. Expressly for this volume, they have written accompanying essays and chosen pieces by other artists to complement their own. Clara "Kitty" Couch fashions deeply glowing coil built vessels; Angela Pozo's lively tiled mosaics shimmer with color; Michael Sherrill builds beautiful sculptural objects that hold layer upon layer of color as texture. There are others who do mold-making and slip casting; majolica; wheel-thrown forms; slab reliefs; and much more. This is one book that will never leave the studio!

Pioneer Pottery is one of the classic texts in ceramic literature. Its author, Michael Cardew, was one of the seminal figures in British ceramics and this book, written partly in response to his time spent in Africa, has influenced generations of potters around the world. As one of the early and influential figures in British ceramics, Michael Cardew was asked in 1942 by the Crown Agents to go to Nigeria to set up a pottery training center. It was his experiences there, as well as his previous time spent in the Gold Coast, that formed the basis for this book. In addition to discussions about the basics of clay and glaze materials and their properties, Cardew shows how to make pots in the Kwali, Jebba, Vume, Ilorin, and Hausa traditions of western Africa. Net Wt. is 2.66 lbs.

Porcelain, by reputation, is the most difficult of clays to work with, and it demands particular care at all stages of the making and firing process. This work looks at porcelain and its history, and suggests the clays, making methods and surface treatments most suitable, and recommends firing schedules and recipes that can be used when working with it. It also looks at contemporary approaches to employing this material.

A master sculptor demonstrates how an artist can use thoughts and feelings combined with technique to produce evocative portraits in clay. Peter Rubino, who has achieved wide acclaim for his portrait busts of great sports figures, uses line drawings, illustrations, and running commentary to show how the sculptors hands and tools create a portrait likeness. 20 color and 250 b&w illustrations .

Emmanuel Cooper's classic guide to making glazes is now available in a thoroughly revised new edition. Cooper provides potters with an introductory section on glaze materials, coloring, mixing, and the application of glazes, as well as information on health and safety issues. This essential guide also features over 400 recipes ranging from opaque, matte, and transparent glazes to crystalline and black iron glazes, organized according to their varying temperature ranges. Net Wt. is 1.47 lbs.

Frank and Janet Hamer explain the sources and character of materials, the behavior of clays and glaze minerals during forming and firing processes, forming methods, and glaze construction. In addition to brief outlines and detailed articles with cross references to illustrations, color photographs illustrate glaze effects and surfaces featured in the work of inventive, contemporary potters. The varied techniques of raku, maiolica, crystalline glazes, salt and soda, stoneware, and porcelain are also presented in a new color section. This new edition has been updated to include auto-reduction, crystalline glazes, insulation, stains, and specialized firing and fuming techniques. With upwards of 800 illustrations to clarify everything in the ceramic world, in its fifth edition The Potter's Dictionary of Materials and Techniques will continue to serve as the authority on all things ceramic. Net Wt. is 4.55 lbs.

Over 600 shapes and forms are extensively illustrated with indicative silhouettes and inspirational photographs. This practical reference presents a multitude of great glaze recipes and how to create them. More than 700 individual glazes are vividly displayed with complete instructions. Plus, readers will learn about ceramic decoration, such as agateware and sgraffito. Net Wt. is 1.63 lbs.

Written by Steven Branfman, The Potter's Professional Handbook covers topics ranging from determining what a professional is to equipment selection, setting up shop, marketing your work, and much more. This book provides descriptions of the items necessary for a beginning professional potter and includes visual examples of items including sales slips, purchase orders, invoices, credit slips, and even floor plans of well-known potters studios. Net Wt. is .9 lbs.

A handsome, color-illustrated large-format book guides students through the craft of creating pottery and other ceramics. Different types of clay and their properties are described, as are the various tools used by the potter. Additional advice details the process of glazing and baking. Hundreds of photos show tools, wheels, pottery technique, and finished products.

Beginners learn to make vases, trays, tiles, and many other attractive objects. They also learn techniques for creating designs, color combinations, and textures with inlays, slips, feathering, and burnishing. Separate sections instruct on clay preparation, on using a potter's wheel, and on firing in the kiln. Hundreds of instructive and inspiring color photos. Net Wt. is 1.83 lbs.