The Practical Potter -a step-by-step handbook by Josie Warshaw

Description

This lot consists of a large soft back edition of -
The Practical Potter
A Step-by-step Handbook
-a comprehensive guide to ceramics
with step-by-step projects and techniques
by Josie Warshaw
Customer reviews
This book is quite informative, with a good exposition of lots of different ceramics techniques, along with examples of work by many artists. It is not as technical as, say, Rhode's book with respect to dealing with materials, but there are many techniques in here that are well beyond beginner level, such as various mold techniques and fibrous clay (paperclay). It includes lots of photographs (generally several per page), both of work-in-progress, as well as creative completed work. It is "practical" in that it gives clear photos and instructions for accomplishing techniques, but the results are very artistic, as evidenced by the photos.
The major sections are History & Design, Handbuilding, Molds, Throwing, Glaze & Decoration, Kilns. For each section, equipment is illustrated, then techniques are discussed, finally a few instructive projects using those techniques are shown from start to finish.
If you have no other this is the ceramics guide to keep for reference and ideas. Basic glazing techniques and clay building procedures are explained in layman's terms.
Wonderful informative book with gorgeous pictures. I think it's quite a comprehensive covering techniques I had not ever seen. The main sections are Design, Handbuliding, Making and Using Moulds, Throwing, Glaze and Decoration, Kilns and Firing as well as Chemical Formulae and other references.
This book features excellent photos that display methods and techniques used in today's clay realm. The basics are shown for a wide variety of projects that will inspire and keep the beginning or intermediate clay artists creating for some time. Closeup photos show finger positions that work to create wheel thrown projects. This book is a general overview text that would fit well into a beginning classroom for potters. The step by step photos are the gem of this book. I recommend this book to my students dispite the following drawbacks: Due to the large variety of topics, space does not permit in-depth detail discussions on all of the topics. A pyrometric cone chart is not included, but would be helpful. Overall, it's a great book for beginners and inspiring for intermediate levels.