Mastering Hand Building: Techniques, Tips, and Tricks for Slabs, Coils, and More

by Sunshine Cobb

From pinch pots to coiled boxes to soft slab tableware, mastering hand building is a lifelong pursuit. In this book, Sunshine Cobb covers all the foundational skills, with lessons for constructing both simple and complex forms from clay.

Ceramic artists will also find a variety of next-level techniques and tips : designing templates and replicating pieces, lidded vessels, using molds, a variety of decorative techniques, and other avenues of exploration are all inside.

Artist features and inspirational galleries include work from today's top working artists , such as Bryan Hopkins, Lindsay Oesterritter, Liz Zlot Summerfield, Bandana Pottery, Shoko Teruyama, Courtney Martin, Sam Chung, Deborah Schwartzkopf, and many more. 

Take your hand building skills—and your artwork—to the next level with  Mastering Hand Building .

The Mastering Ceramics series is for artists who never stop learning. With compelling projects, expert insight, step-by-step photos, and galleries of work from today’s top artists, these books are the perfect studio companions. Also available from the   Mastering the Potter's Wheel  and  Mastering Kilns and Firing .
 

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Crafts

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 16, 2018

Reviews

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of techniques...just think maybe so many of them should not be used on one project. Still, read, check out the illustrations, and adapt to own use.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is perfect for the beginner. You'll find easy tutorials on how to build pots, plates, vases, from mass, slabs, templates and so on. There is also a short chapter on firing and glazes, sadly nothing is converted for Europe, so no C degrees but Fahrenheit and cones instead. A few recipes are included but no pictures, so you don't really know what to expect.

Being a potter for a few years now, the thought of templates spoke to me... a way to create faster! I also like the idea of rolling stamps. Most things in this book were not new to me, although I must say they are very generous with tutorials based on their own signature style (instead of basic plain pots). "Developing content" was most interesting to me, sometimes the simple reminders are what we need the most.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers a lot of great techniques in hand building ceramics. There are many great photos and artist highlights and interviews which I find very helpful seeing another artists insights and backgrounds. Section 5 in this book is my favorite as it covers finding and keeping inspiration and developing into your own ceramic artistry. This section was very helpful to me for motivation towards producing more artistic pieces and it was written in an easy to understand, realistic way. Loved it!!!

[Denna Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very rare for me to read through the entire book of instructional, but Cobb's step by step instructions have been priceless for me as I've gained access to a pottery studio during a pandemic with no access to in-person training.

I've learnt a lot and even attempted (and failed... but learned why) my first coil vase. Excited to apply some more of my learnings in the studio soon. Thank you!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best hand building book I’ve found yet! Sunshine is a master and the photography is beautiful and clear. Concise written accompaniment to the photos make this book super helpful for learning or improving in all areas of handbuilding.

[Amanda Leeber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is an amazing reference book for a beginner ceramics artist. There are amazing examples, beautiful photographers, great projects and wonderful tips and tricks. A real keeper to reference again and again. I highly recommend it!

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! As a new potter, it helped with basic getting started details such as supplies for hand building. Also the basics of handbuilding and beautiful photos.

[Juanita Pipkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Very helpful
For new novice potters. The explanations and visual guides provide the reader with the tools necessary to begin creating practical and artistic works

[Christopher Hachet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was helpful. Took a class in hand building pottery and this was good prep for the class.

[Rachel Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think there are tidbits in here that can be useful to every potter regardless of how long they've been working with clay for. It's a good reference book.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intersperses instruction on hand building technique with artist profiles for inspiration. Mix of functional and artistic ware. Excellent resources at end.

[Ambur Taft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book, incredible artwork throughout. More advanced than what I was looking for to motivate me back into creating pottery, so not for my collection but definitely worth the read.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome beginning and continuing book. She gives a ton of information from simple to more complex, but she never talks down or hops over anything.

[Pierre-Luc Landry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great visual explanations of different hand building techniques.

[Nancy Mccarron-lubisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for your Pottery Library!

I highly recommend this book for the novice or intermediate level artist wishing to explore hand built work. It is a pleasant read with lots of great tips and advice. I learned some great tips for handling some of the challenges of working in clay. The interviews with different artist was interesting and inspiring. Lots of great resources for galleries, publications and merchants in the index. Sunshine Cobb welcomes you in to her clay world in this great book. You almost feel like you are sharing her studio with her.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book on hand building. Although the approach is straightforward, the technique and results are quite nuanced. Well written and the pictures with instructions are a gold mine. A highly valuable addition to my development in pottery!

[Edith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. Excellent straightforward book on about every aspect of hand building, with excellent galleries of photos and interviews with hand builders. Very enjoyable.