5 comments about 250 Tips, Techniques, and Trade Secrets for Potters: The Indispensable Compendium of Essential Knowledge and Troubleshooting Tips.

1. this was a gift for my mom, because she has been taking pottery classes and she loves it!



2. This is a super basics book for the newby to cermics & pottery. Great illustrations & ideas plus the things one needs to know to begin pottery - the wheel & kiln & glazes included.



3. I teach a high school class on ceramics and sculpture, and found this book to be a terrific reference for my classroom. Students have already found several new and interesting ideas for their ceramic projects. I had checked the book out of the library and liked it so much I ended up ordering it for myself!



4. I like this book, which is not for just a beginner. Any level can use this book. Recommendation to anyone.



5. Great overview for the potters, especially those that work from their own studios. Always handy to have a reference to utilize to remind you what is safe and good as well as the tips to help make your work better and easier.

5 comments about The Craft and Art of Clay.

1. I got this as a text for a college ceramics course, but it is far more than an ordinary text book. Not only is it informative on a variety of ceramic styles and techniques, but features lovely color illustrations of ceramics from a variety of times, places and artistic traditions. It is as much a coffee table book as a text.



2. This book is an excellent reference for different levels of clay/ceramics work. It is a beautiful "coffee table book" as well.
   It came in perfect condition.



3. I am really enjoying this book. It is full of information and covers just about every aspect of ceramics you can think of. I am teaching a youth ceramics class this summer and am looking forward to having this as a reference!



4. If you are just learning, or are stuck in a rut, this book is a great reference for potters of all skill levels.



5. This is a large book chock full of information, and provides an in-depth survey of ceramics. There are many photographs about techniques and many illustrations of beautiful artistic ceramics pieces. Also it contains lots of technical information, tables, etc.
   
   Since other reviews have covered the merits of this book quite well, I'll mention a few issues:
   
   First, there are lots of sample photos of different clay bodies under different firings and different glaze colors and combinations, etc., but they are all *way too small* to really see the characteristics of each sample. Also sometimes there is a series of photos, e.g. throwing a pot, building a kiln, and when they are all arranged on the page, each one is too small (and many are b&w, from previous editions?) Otherwise the book is very well illustrated with a wide variety of work.
   
   The glaze discussion does not cover the properties of glaze bases and coloring oxides much at all, which is something I would expect in a book of this comprehensiveness. It does spent some time on commercial fritted stains and Mayco glazes, which other books don't, and can be useful to some, especially for low-temp work. But if you really want to get into glazes, this is not the book.
   
   For many advanced topics, she has just a mention that leaves me hungry for more. E.g. lusters she briefly mentions using and making, but Rhodes has a much more thorough discussion of making lusters. Paperclay is mentioned briefly but not enough to really tell me how to make it or use it. For many of the topics in the book, more detailed discussions are possible and likely available elsewhere. However she has assembled lots of brief mentions of different and experimental work that you might not encounter in other ceramics survey books, so it is useful for knowing what else I want to look into.
   
   [This review pertains to the 4th edition, 2003.]

5 comments about Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques: Raku * Saggar * Pit * Barrel (A Lark Ceramics Book).

1. This is my favorite book of all my ceramic books and I have more than a few! If you don't want to spend the money for a high fire gas or propane kiln (and who does in this economy!) then this book will guide your exploration into different ways of finishing your clay creations. I tried the barrel firing (without the terra sigillata, just burnishing) by Linda Keleigh and was able to sell the resulting products. This is a good hands on book.



2. Well written with explicit instructions and photos explaining each technique. Inspiring to try new techniques!



3. Very informative book. There are so many ways to fire pottery that I didn't even conceive of. Excellent material for anyone who enjoys making things with clay!



4. Has some real nice photos, a few good Raku ideas that make the book worth wile.
   Gives the average person a very good overview in bare bones terms, and the experienced a couple of techniques to try.
   If you just looking at building a Raku kiln. I have found equivalent or better designs on the web. Enjoyable to read for a tech manual. Inexpensive well worth the price.



5. Got a wheel and don't have thousands of dollars for a kiln? Here's your solution. This book shows you how to make and use several inexpensive gas- and wood-fired kilns. If you live somewhere you can light a fire outdoors, you can fire your own work. The directions are clear, complete, and the photographs are excellent. There is also a photo gallery of works fired using the methods detailed in the book. Several of these pieces are absolutely stunning.
   
   The book also led me to a potentially wonderful feature. Lark Books maintains a list of suppliers for the materials used in their craft books on their website, but I can't make it work. For instance, you can't just search for "fire brick" to find a vendor near you--it seems to want the name of a company. Hopefully, Lark will improve this feature works. If it were easy to use, it would be a great asset. They should also allow Amazon customers to look inside their books. They have top-notch art and excellent content. I can't believe they don't utilize the full value of these as marketing tools.

5 comments about The Essential Guide to Mold Making & Slip Casting (A Lark Ceramics Book).

1. The book answered my questions and helped me to decide to give this art form a chance. I'm having a blast. The book is really good.



2. This excellent book is an ambitious and extremely thorough survey of mold making and slip casting. In re-reading sections of the book, I regularly uncover additional information that is useful as I gain more experience. In other words, this book keeps on giving: the more experience you have with the techniques, the more you can learn from Andrew Martin guidance and examples. Great trouble-shooting sections.
   
   Randy Porter



3. does a fine job with simple molds. I was hoping for a more advanced text on more complicated 3 and 4 piece molds.



4. This is an essential for anyone interested in mold making & producing molds from pieces you have made & would like to duplicate in uniformity.
   
   It also has good examples & photos to explain the process. I would have liked more on the area of the clay bodies used in casting and the unique properties and problems you may encounter vs. the properties of the plaster to make the molds. As references go, this is a probably the best I've read & would highly recommend it for anyone interested in casting.



5. Andrew Martin's "The Essential Guide to Mold Making & Slip Casting" is simply THE definitive book on the process of making molds. The first edition was a challange to the beginner, but this new edition with many photos of every step really helps bring the art of mold making to every skill level. I use this book in the studio and refer to it all of the time.

5 comments about Handbuilt Pottery Techniques Revealed: The secrets of handbuilding shown in unique cutaway photography.

1. This book is inspirational and very instructive. The photographic frames make the understanding of how each piece is built very helpful. For anyone just getting into pottery or instructing pottery.....it is a must have.



2. If you're a frustrated potter, with no wheel, no kiln, no tools and no room...lift yourself out of your depression. All you need is a few pounds of polymer air-drying clay, a sink, and a table. Anything else you might need (a rolling pin to flatten the clay) you will probably find around the house. But before all that, you need to get this book! It is the clearest exposition of any artistic process I have ever read, and loaded with tons of crystal clear photographs. You will learn how to make pots, (large and small) bowls, garden sclpture, baskets, boxes with lids and much more. You also get all the decorating techniques as well.
   
   Although the book was produced in England and deals with firing clay, the same procedures can be used with polymer air-drying clay. Polymer clay comes in several colors and can be fired as well (check the label). So, what are you waiting for? Now is the time to fulfill your lifelong dream. You too will be able to say: I can do that!



3. This book includes many photos of the hand-building process and examples of finished products. It's really nice to look at and inspires me to add new techniques to my hand-built pieces.



4. I teach alt ed. kids and this has been a great books for ideas and techniques. The pictures are outstanding. My students that are into ceramics love this book for ideas. :-)



5. I had to get some books for my ceramic class. then I researched these from the internet and all kinds of bookstores. I ended up finding several books after that. This is one of best books giving us great information for handbuilding techniques. Especially for beginner!!!It also shows you how to make each project step by step. then finished one w/ expraination for glazing and other stuff. You will love it.

No comments about 500 Vases: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Form (500 Series).

5 comments about The Art of Enameling: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration.

1. Wow. I the reviews are right. This book is fabulous. It tells you everything you need to know about enamel and enameling. I had no idea how much there is to it. There are tons of gorgeous photos and great information on safety as well. Whether you're a beginner or an expert or anything in between, don't hesitate to purchase this book.



2. I am new at this process, and as I am looking through this book, I think I can do it! The descriptions of materials and the processes seem to be very clear, I am anxious to get started on some pieces. The book is easy to read and the information is clearly stated. The photographs and examples are very exciting, and the possiblities are endless. It is a good purchase.



3. I was expecting the typical picture book, but Linda Darty proved to be generous with not only clear photos, but ample instruction and information about the various types of enameling styles.



4. In one heartfelt swoop, Linda Darty has gathered and confessed, "Enameling, the art of fusing glass onto metal to create colorful and imaginative designs, is one of the oldest methods used to decorate metal," by updating what should have already been known.
   
   Fortunately, Ms. Darty is one among few with enough confidence and experience to anticipate advancement of the field with more fact than fiction. Whether treated as an art, as a craft, or as a pastime, the act of enameling is fundamentally the same. The person committing the action determines the degree of commitment. The degrees to which one will delve into the alchemy, art and science is a matter of self-education requiring comprehension that opens all and closes no doors.
   
   This book is profoundly logical, extremely obvious and demystifying. Even with the passive pigeonhole edit, cut and clutter of Lark Book's editorial and art staff, the book and it's content presents more relevant information about glass on metal than has ever been put into print in a single volume. Very few basic points were missed in this rich new standard. There is something to be said about a picture being worth a thousand words.
   
   The bottom lie: If you want to know about the techniques of enameling in details, then you'll want to get this book.



5. I cannot express how amazing this book is. Everytime I pick it up I find something new. It totally demystifies the process of enamelling to the point where it seems simple - and it really isn't!!! Great pictures, great explanations, LOADS of information on different techniques and lots of different artist visuals to inspire you as you work. It is totally absorbing, to the point of being a great read, full of inspiring ideas, regardless of what your artistic leaning is. I have a lot of craft books, and I can honestly say that this is one of the best. Well worth the money (can't believe it is so cheap!). Amazing :)

5 comments about The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes: Glazing & Firing at Cone 10 (A Lark Ceramics Book).

1. You can stop looking - this is the best ^10 glaze book out there. I have been a potter for over thirty years and tested many glazes. This is the most organized and user friendly information around. It is arranged by color in a way that allows you to easily see the difference between similar recipes. Unless you want to start form scratch (which I have no desire to do)this is where to look. You may need to adjust a little, as "glazes don't travel well" because of differences in water, chemicals, clay body and firing but this is a good place to start. I have given this book to at least six other potters!



2. 
   
   You will not only enjoy the great photos, but the simple layout of formulas
   makes your life easier!



3. I haven't read the entire book yet. I am a beginning pottery student and I am finding the book to be an excellent reference for learning more about different types of glazes. I am starting to understand more about how to create my own glazes using a basic glaze formula and altering it depending on what I want the glaze to do. The book has probably about a hundred (I could be a bit off) glaze recipes. I have tried several of them with success. I think the importance of this book is not the recipes but the discussions that go with them, that allow for understanding of how to create glazes. The book also discusses the fire cycle (just a little bit) in relation to different glazes.



4. If you are getting a BFA and your specialization is Ceramics THIS BOOK IS A MUST!!!! If your a beginner in ceramics, THIS BOOK IS A MUST!!! If your a master potter and don't have this book, THIS BOOK IS A MUST!!! So much info as well as Glaze recipes to try (there are tons).
   
   My ceramics instructor has this book and I remember copying recipes from it to test. If you have a copy of this book and you walk into a Community studio, expect to have it taken from you.



5. A MUST HAVE for anyone working at Cone 10. Pictures of the glaze samples are unusually clear and the text by Britt (truly a master potter) is clear, precise and accurate. For what you are getting as a potter, this volume is a steal and a real tweak for the imagination.

5 comments about The Polymer Clay Techniques Book.

1. This book is an excellent overview of what can be done with polymer clay. It has lots of ideas and shows a few techniques from the 5000 ft. level. It was my "gateway" into polymer clay. As my interests with clay evolve, I have invested in books that are more specific to my interest (it's a very versatile material) but this is an excellent starter book.



2. I have hundreds of craft books in my hobby areas of sewing, photography, and jewelry making. I read them all, carefully, and with a pen in hand. I circle photos of projects I might like to try, underline key points, and write occasional comments, like "cool!" "try this!" or "amazing!". Well, I just had to drop by Amazon and write this review because I'm halfway through this book, and it is completely covered in ink. I've underlined half of every paragraph! I can't believe how much useful information the author was able to pack into limited space. Each page is a masterpiece, describing one particular technique, with each building on the next. If you have a friend who is in a funk, bring her some polymer clay and a cookie cutter and try the simple millefiori technique on page 34. It is impossible not to be delighted.



3. This book is one of the best books ever on polymer clay! I have been a clayer for three years, and have taken a lot of classes and read a lot of books and have come up with some fun techniques on my own... but I still refer to this book frequently (to remind myself of some technique or review a new one I'm lerning or simply for inspriation and/or to get my creative juices flowing). For new clayers or old pros, there is a lot to be learned from this book!



4. I got into polymer knowing nothing. This book gives a wonderful overall look at what tools you need and what you can do with the clay. As a first learning book I think it is great.



5. The projects included are more or less useful and fun but the instructions are not. They are often incomplete or badly thought out and written. The publisher, North Lights,should have had a decent editor check the galleys with the author and these errors would have been corrected- not a big deal, a few sentences on pages 25, 40 and 91, and maybe a few things added and clarified. Also, in common with many polymer clay books is the confusion over its safety. They claim that polymer clay is non-toxic but warn you do not have it near food. Okay, but then they give food accessory projects! Also they practically scream at you not to burn it as it emits very toxic fumes- this appears to be a poisonous product. I really wish that they would decide about the clays toxicity then let us know. People create and bake the clay in their kitchens at home, children use it at home and at school and they all know it. I really can not hardily recommend this book but it may give you a few project ideas.

5 comments about The Complete Potter.

1. I recently got this book for my dad, a new potter, who absolutely LOVES it. He takes classes several times a week at a local potter's guild, but uses this book often to supplement as a teaching aid for more in-depth instruction. The pages are colorful and glossy, and the instructions/techniques outlined are easy to understand. I'm so glad I took a chance and purchased this book!!



2. this is thee greatest book you ever want to own if you are doing pottery it is a very helpful book to own and it has many great ideas and tips . it also has great building plans for kilns and it has some interesting things in it iv learned a lot from this book



3. This book would make an excellent textbook for a beginning ceramics class. It covers a wide breadth of topics and is clearly written and easy to understand. For experienced potters it is a good choice for a overall studio resource. One of the things that I like most is that the examples of artists works shown have a decidedly European bent; it is nice to see the work of different artists.



4. I have been taught and produced pottery for 35 years. I found this book to be a great informative reference for those just learning the craft and for those who have applied it for years. It was well thought out and full of exact information. It is an excellent resource.



5. This is a great book from cover to cover. I would recommend it for anyone interested in pottery/ceramics. It's loaded with full color photos. And it provides a lot of great how-to's. It covers everything from handbuilding to throwing, and slipcasting. Most topics are not covered in great depth, but the author does provide plenty of info to get you going. It has some good recipes for colored slip, and a great reference in the back. The example images alone are worth the price of this book.