Editor's Note: 25 Years! Holly Goring

Appears in the Jan/Feb 2022 issue of Pottery Making Illustrated.

I listen to audiobooks and consume the news on my smartphone these days, but I still love a paper magazine—bias, I know. Magazines are lightweight and portable, with big pages and large glossy images; their content changes often enough to remain relevant; they can be read in any order; and the variety of article formats—shorts bits and deep dives—lets me pop in and out or linger if time allows. While I enjoy the ritual, I know that paper media, too, is competing for time in everyone’s day-to-day routines, and we here at Pottery Making Illustrated are lucky to be a publication in a very passionate field. 

As we curate each issue, we are keenly aware that a 21st-century magazine needs to be something people want to hold on to because it looks good, it feels good, and it gives timeless information that readers refer back to. Magazines need to not only inform, but also entertain, or in our case, get the creative juices flowing. What Pottery Making Illustrated aims to deliver for the ceramic artist, whether a beginner or a skilled professional, is a place to visually indulge in learning ceramics from other artists; to not only encourage people to envision how they might incorporate a technique that resonates with them into their own work, but also provide the know-how to actually do it. This is what that makes this publication relevant and timeless. As a platform for artists to share their ideas, it presents skills to try today, next month, or years from now. It offers creative ideas when you’re in a slump, tips when you need to solve a problem, and a plan when you’re ready to embark on a new body of work. Pottery Making Illustrated is both a resource and indulgence, giving you permission to spend the whole day in the studio, guilt free.

Above Images: A look back at a several of Pottery Making Illustrated’s past covers—the theme: hands, pots, and processes.

To celebrate the start of our 25th volume year, we are throwing a potluck and serving up a feast of dishes handmade by our readers. And, as always, we have new projects: a large basket woven by Jeremy Randall, a juicer molded by Chris Alveshere, a treasures box built by Célia Zveibil Brandão, and a tripod vessel altered by Willi Eggerman. Plus, DIY extruder dies, utensil holders, fixing and embracing glaze faults, inventory tracking for potters, and a few cocktail recipes to help us all celebrate our anniversary year. Cheers!