$59.97
Sticks and Stones . . . are just about the only things it takes to enjoy pit firing and burnishing. These extremely low-tech techniques require the very basics — some sticks for a fire, rocks or bricks for a pit, and a stone to smooth the clay surface.
$29.97
Fred Olsen is one of the leading pioneers in explaining everything about kilns to the studio potter and his book is one of the best selling references on the topic. This book covers it all from refractory materials and applications to design principles and construction techniques. No matter what type of kiln you plan to build, or what type of fuel you plan to use, The Kiln Book will help you understand what it takes to successfully harness the heat you need to fire your work and get the effects you’re looking for.
$26.97
Body adornment is one of the oldest art forms and throughout history, people all over the world have decorated their bodies in one way or another. In its earliest and most primitive forms, clay and earth pigments were smeared or painted on the body to adorn it and to create mystery or theatre during rituals. Beads made from a variety of materials were one of the simplest forms of jewelry, and were also used as currency, to confer status and to ward off bad spirits.
$26.97
Large scale ceramics demand a number of considerations that do not concern most ceramists: kiln size, assembling, weatherproofing and installation are some of the things that must be taken into account. Large-scale Ceramics discusses these issues as well as giving advice on obtaining and handling commissions.
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Because low-firing is the most basic of all ceramic techniques, it treats all your senses. Using just about the lowest possible technical setting, you submit your work to flames and smoke giving you a sense of what the ancients felt when they used fire to create their primitive works. Both ancient cultures and contemporary potters have used low-firing to great effect, adding slips and burnishing pieces to create finishes not possible with any other firing method. Whether using an old garbage can, a pit in the ground, or a bonfire, low-firing is accessible to anyone with an outdoor space. Low-firing and Burnishing provides step-by-step practical information focusing on various approaches to low firing and methods for creating natural finishes.
$26.97
Raku has been a popular technique among potters for a long time—the roar of the fire, the glowing work, the dramatic results—are all part of the allure. But raku is more than just a technique, it’s a way of thinking with an attitude of openness to the unexpected and willingness to use accidental happenings in developing your work. Raku encourages curiosity and exploration, and there’s no end to the variety and quality possible in this medium.
$26.97
Throwing large work is definitely challenging and takes a different approach than throwing normal-sized pots. Nic Collins looks at throwing purely from the perspective of making very large work. He assumes you can already throw, but different techniques are needed when making large work because of all the added problems—buckling, collapsing, warping—not to mention that the techniques needed to physically throw much larger work are very different. Nic looks at all of this, offering clear guidance on how to make work successfully, covering the various traditional techniques used (such as those used by the Onggi potters of Korea), as well as how to avoid disastrous pitfalls.
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Using clay as an artistic treatment for wall space is an increasingly fashionable and innovative solution for decorators, architects and makers. Wall pieces are the perfect solution for those who enjoy sculpture but have no space; they fulfill the same function as a picture while being much more dynamic and three-dimensional. Current wall pieces vary enormously from simple tiled works to huge installations, and this book looks at the huge variety of work being made, as well as all the problems, solutions and diverse approaches to wall pieces. Wall Pieces provides an insight into the work of contemporary makers, exploring how to plan, design, make, mount and safely hang ceramic pieces. It's also illustrated with a wide selection of original and inspiring work by contemporary ceramic artists.
$19.97
When it comes to innovation, ceramic artists rank at the top. What is it about clay that brings out the creative spirit in us? Unlike a canvas to be painted or a stone to be carved, clay presents unlimited possibilities. You can shape it, throw it, pour it, carve it, stamp it, paint it—anything. It’s the most versatile of mediums. For creative artists choosing clay, there’s no telling what the results will be. In this collection of techniques, profiles and projects, more than 25 innovative artists explore some of the vast possibilities clay has to offer. From Amy Santoferraro’s Plate-O-Matic and Shuji Ikeda’s elegant woven baskets to using clay as a canvas, there’s no end to the possibilities.
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One of the most remarkable things about clay is that you can make most anything from it, and in Ceramic Projects: Forming Techniques dozens of clay artists prove this over and over. You’ll discover some practical projects like Steve Davis-Rosenbaum’s unique Chip and Dip server and Dannon Rhudy’s Juicer to the more esoteric Pancaker of Keith Phillips and the exotic Condiment Server from Gwendolyn Yoppolo.
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Clay is the oldest and most natural medium for sculpture. You can form large pieces one coil at a time, construct pieces with slabs, stack forms into totems, or now even create something digitally and “print” it. In Ceramic Sculpture, clay artists reveal their techniques and their inspiration for creative sculptural works. Some of the work is monumental, some intimate, some site specific, but all of it influenced by clay. With each artist providing some aspect of the sculptural process from conceptualization to forming and finishing to the final installation, you’ll find the range of ideas and techniques informative and inspiring.
$19.97
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Electric kilns are wonderful things! They’re so readily available and simple to install that you can easily take advantage of the incredible potential this tool has to offer. Nearly every ceramic artist now uses one in some capacity in their studio because electric firing offers a control and dependability not found with any other type of firing.
$19.97
Get in on the latest techniques from 21st century potters with a book that covers three of the most critical aspects of the ceramic process in up-to-date terms. Find out how 30 ‘with it’ ceramic artists create unique forms and the methods they use to glaze and decorate their work. You’ll discover all types of forming, decorating and glazing techniques illustrated in detailed step-by-step photo sequences that cover every aspect of modern ceramics.
$19.97
We all remember our first experience with glazing and how our hopes usually exceeded our skills–and knowledge. Glazing plays an important part of ceramic art but can be rather mysterious to both the newcomer and the seasoned professional. While the chemistry may appear to be a bit like alchemy to the uninitiated, an established science and accepted practices provide order and repeatable results. Glazes & Glazing: Finishing Techniques covers many aspects of glazing–from formulating your own special concoctions to working with various combinations and applications.
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Raku is one of the most exciting and popular techniques in ceramics. From the ball of clay to the final fired piece, you’re in control of every creative aspect along the way, and the basic raku process is within the reach of potters of any age or skill level. But when the technically skilled and highly creative artists turn to raku, they explore and experiment to take the medium to an inspiring level.
$19.97
Raku, pit and barrel firing are three of the most popular firing techniques in ceramics. Accessible to anyone involved in this expressive medium, the unifying theme of these three techniques is the ability to work directly with the fire to achieve both quick and unique results not available with more conventional firing techniques.
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There are scores of techniques, hundreds of variations and thousands of combinations in ceramics. And it’s these combinations that make pottery art so exciting since no two people can produce the same work. This is a book about variety, but, more importantly, it’s about possibilities. This compilation of techniques from a wide spectrum of experienced clay artists illustrates the variables of figuring out processes, perfecting techniques and combining some really weird stuff to come up with something different. In Studio Ceramics you’ll find techniques for double-walled vessels, miniatures, templates, carving, sculpting, mixed media, throwing, handbuilding, surface decoration, photo transfers, and much more.
$19.97
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When you’re ready to go beyond dipping, pouring and brushing the same palette of glazes onto your work, you’ll find the alternatives to surface decoration offered here to be an excellent jumping-off point. In this collection, thirty of the most innovative and talented contemporary ceramic artists share their techniques and processes that make their work unique and expressive.
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