Originally published in 2001, Vince Pitelka’s Clay: A Studio Handbook has been an essential, all-inclusive studio text for students, studio artists, educators and all those interested in the art of clay for years. Now it is back fully updated, expanded, and better than ever with beautiful color images! Clay: A Studio Handbook addresses the full range of ceramic processes, and brings a lifetime of ceramic knowledge directly into the hands of potters. A thorough table of contents, glossary of ceramic terms and raw materials, and index make finding answers quick and convenient.

The relatively inexpensive electric kiln is probably the single most important reason that ceramics has become so popular today. With many improvements over the years, electric kilns are now safer, more efficient, and easier to use than ever before. Every major manufacturer has better controls, more insulation, and creative design features that make it possible for almost anyone to load and fire their work successfully with little effort.

In Ceramics in the Environment, world renowned ceramic artist Janet Mansfield shows how ornamental, architectural and large-scale ceramic works have always appeared on buildings and in the landscape since the beginning of ceramics in civilization. This book looks at the vast array of ceramics being produced today around the world in this context; and divides work up into themes such as Symbolism, Pattern and Geometry, Architecture, Nature and the Human Figure, with a focus on the aesthetics and relevance of work in relation to its location.

More and more, artists are interested in producing work that’s not only beautifully designed and produced, but also environmentally friendly and socially responsible. In Sustainable Ceramics, pioneer Robert Harrison draws on more than forty years of working in clay to present practical possibilities for ceramic artists. This book covers all the factors to consider when going ‘green’, from fuels and alternative firing technology to energy-saving methods, sustainable ways to collect and use clay itself, and ways to deal with waste materials and save water. Harrison suggests simple and achievable methods by which to reduce the carbon footprint of ceramic art, and offers examples throughout of potters and clay artists who reclaim, reuse and recycle in their work. Sustainable Ceramics is an essential resource for any ceramicist, studio or school wishing to reduce the impact of their practice on the environment.

In this collection of articles from the Ceramics Monthly archives published from the 1980s to the early 2000s, potters share their knowledge on a full range of topics including designing a studio, making and using tools and equipment, photographing work, marketing and sales, kilns and firing. Woven through the fabric of this book are also the stories of problem solving, insightful solutions, and the individual stories of challenges and successes. Filled with tips, techniques and valuable information for the studio, this book holds something for everyone.