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Complete Pottery Techniques: Design, Form, Throw, Decorate and More, with Workshops from Professional Makers
Discover how to develop your pottery design skills and bring your ideas to life from start to finish.
Covering every technique from throwing pottery to firing, glazing to sgraffito, this pottery book is perfect for both hand-building beginners and potting pros.
Step-by-step photographs - some from the potter's perspective - show you exactly where to place your hands when throwing so you can master every technique you need to know. Plus, expert tips help you rescue your pots when things go wrong.
The next in the popular Artist's Techniques series, Complete Pottery is the ideal companion for pottery classes of any level, or a go-to guide and inspiration for the more experienced potter looking to expand their repertoire and perfect new skills.
With contemporary design and ideas, Complete Pottery Techniques enables the modern maker to unleash their creativity.
Covering every technique from throwing pottery to firing, glazing to sgraffito, this pottery book is perfect for both hand-building beginners and potting pros.
Step-by-step photographs - some from the potter's perspective - show you exactly where to place your hands when throwing so you can master every technique you need to know. Plus, expert tips help you rescue your pots when things go wrong.
The next in the popular Artist's Techniques series, Complete Pottery is the ideal companion for pottery classes of any level, or a go-to guide and inspiration for the more experienced potter looking to expand their repertoire and perfect new skills.
With contemporary design and ideas, Complete Pottery Techniques enables the modern maker to unleash their creativity.
- GenresNonfictionArtCrafts
256 pages, Hardcover
Published August 27, 2019
44 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Publishing
9,123 books2,073 followersDorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 18, 2023
This was a gift from my boyfriend and he chose well lol. It took me a while to get through this book but once I finally hunkered down and focused I learned so much. I have been doing pottery for 3 years and this book had so many random helpful tips that I wish I learned at the beginning (ex. Using a funnel to pour glaze on bisqueware, or why you should compress clay, especially on a plate). The photos were beautiful, clear and well laid out. There wasn’t too much text and was straight to the point so it’ll be easy to refer back to without it being intimidating. I loved the examples and found them inspiring. I do think there are more things you should learn more in depth if you’re new to pottery that aren’t included in this but it’s a great foundation. I also loved that they have glaze ingredients knowledge as that tends to be skipped over in a lot of books. I would highly recommend this to beginners or to people who are intermediate too.
March 18, 2024
I spent some time in a friend's pottery studio recently and needed to learn more! It's kind of overwhelming, as pottery is an ancient and global art and the creativity is unstoppable. I had many of my questions answered and even more raised while learning about techniques in this book. Nothing substitutes hands-on learning but this is a great introduction to the medium.
August 17, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Complete Pottery Techniques is a tutorial and instruction guide for pottery techniques by DIY/how-to experts DK and pottery makers in a class style format.
Due out 27th Aug 2019 from Penguin/RH on their DK imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover format. As almost always with DK's offerings, I was blown away by the detailed, clear, and solidly expert photography. Every photo is well rendered and easy to follow. The supportive text is also clear and spare.
The book follows a logical layout. The instructions presuppose no previous experience on the reader's part. The book begins with an introduction which covers tools and supplies. It includes recipes and definitions for everything from setting up a studio space, to health and safety, to sourcing and preparing clay, slip, moulds, and slip casting.
Roughly the next third of the book covers forming techniques: pinching, slabbing, coiling, and throwing. Each of the methods of forming are covered clearly and well from beginning to more advanced techniques. Readers of most levels will find useful information and tips.
A chapter on decorating (surface manipulation, sprigging, carving, burnishing, etc) is followed by a chapter on finishing with different glazing and firing options. The book does include a glossary, cone chart, and index along with short artist's statements/bios about the teachers included in the volume. The included artist credits led me down a rabbit hole of online searches to see their beautiful art and I probably spent about as much time looking at the artists' studios and products as I did reading and reviewing this book.
Really lovely job. I think that a keen aspiring potter could make a lot of progress armed with only this book and the necessary supplies and tools listed.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Complete Pottery Techniques is a tutorial and instruction guide for pottery techniques by DIY/how-to experts DK and pottery makers in a class style format.
Due out 27th Aug 2019 from Penguin/RH on their DK imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover format. As almost always with DK's offerings, I was blown away by the detailed, clear, and solidly expert photography. Every photo is well rendered and easy to follow. The supportive text is also clear and spare.
The book follows a logical layout. The instructions presuppose no previous experience on the reader's part. The book begins with an introduction which covers tools and supplies. It includes recipes and definitions for everything from setting up a studio space, to health and safety, to sourcing and preparing clay, slip, moulds, and slip casting.
Roughly the next third of the book covers forming techniques: pinching, slabbing, coiling, and throwing. Each of the methods of forming are covered clearly and well from beginning to more advanced techniques. Readers of most levels will find useful information and tips.
A chapter on decorating (surface manipulation, sprigging, carving, burnishing, etc) is followed by a chapter on finishing with different glazing and firing options. The book does include a glossary, cone chart, and index along with short artist's statements/bios about the teachers included in the volume. The included artist credits led me down a rabbit hole of online searches to see their beautiful art and I probably spent about as much time looking at the artists' studios and products as I did reading and reviewing this book.
Really lovely job. I think that a keen aspiring potter could make a lot of progress armed with only this book and the necessary supplies and tools listed.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
December 13, 2019
Like all books from DK, this is a beautiful and intelligently laid out book. It is a travel guide through the world of Pottery. This covers every aspect of pottery making, although not in great detail. It contains enough information for a good evaluation of techniques or processes. I have forty years of experience in pottery and I found this book filled with helpful tips, reminders, and inspiration to maintain my interest. Although each technique is explained it is not a textbook on any particular technique.
This is a book filled with beautiful examples of pottery that illustrate the technique being explained. I would recommend this for a person either beginning in pottery or someone who is considering entering the world o pottery making. Additionally, it is a good book for experienced potters to find new areas of interest to pursue. It presented a number of techniques, with enough of an explanation of the process, that I could evaluate if I wished to investigate learning more and possibly trying the technique out.
Overall this is more than a pretty coffee table book but without too much detail that can be explained more thouroughly in other works. Inspirational and informative but still very readable and a good book of anyone with an interest in art or pottery specifically.
This is a book filled with beautiful examples of pottery that illustrate the technique being explained. I would recommend this for a person either beginning in pottery or someone who is considering entering the world o pottery making. Additionally, it is a good book for experienced potters to find new areas of interest to pursue. It presented a number of techniques, with enough of an explanation of the process, that I could evaluate if I wished to investigate learning more and possibly trying the technique out.
Overall this is more than a pretty coffee table book but without too much detail that can be explained more thouroughly in other works. Inspirational and informative but still very readable and a good book of anyone with an interest in art or pottery specifically.
April 21, 2020
"Complete Pottery Techniques" is a very through introduction for anyone wanting to try their hand at pottery. It provides and overview of the different steps of the process and the many different techniques. It was put together to include a variety of pieces to inspire potters.
However, I highly recommend taking a real intro to pottery class if you can. Because the book is not detailed enough to allow someone to teach themselves. Instead it is more of a reference to look back at techniques or explore new ideas.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.
However, I highly recommend taking a real intro to pottery class if you can. Because the book is not detailed enough to allow someone to teach themselves. Instead it is more of a reference to look back at techniques or explore new ideas.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.
January 30, 2024
This book provides step-by-step instructions on how to create Pottery at home by creating a pottery studio.
When you think of creating Pottery, you might think of the sexy scene between Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in the movie ”Ghost”.
But you can't make good work that way! Once you lose concentration even for a moment, the shape will collapse.
If you want to learn ceramics in earnest, I think it's best to actually learn from an instructor at a culture school and try it out, rather than learning from books.
When you think of creating Pottery, you might think of the sexy scene between Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in the movie ”Ghost”.
But you can't make good work that way! Once you lose concentration even for a moment, the shape will collapse.
If you want to learn ceramics in earnest, I think it's best to actually learn from an instructor at a culture school and try it out, rather than learning from books.
June 29, 2019
Excellent reference for the new potter! After a couple of classes at my local pottery guild, this book was a great refresher for what I learned in class and I learned so much more. This covers everything from setting up a studio space and basic clay handling skills to finishing pieces and advancing skills.
Thank you to DK and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to DK and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 30, 2019
I found this book to be very detailed and informative if you love pottery techniques this book has very valuable information. I believe many impressive pieces can be achieved even y a novice with the projects I this book. I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review and I found this book to be a great find for a pottery enthusiast.
March 16, 2021
Must buy
April 10, 2022
A good book for any beginner!
January 3, 2024
Super helpful. Easy to follow. Perfect book to just learn the basics. (:
February 23, 2024
Extremely informative and filled with inspiring photos
January 4, 2025
Great, comprehensive intro to pottery with well written explanations and instructions, and lots of ideas and prompts to develop artistic expression through clay.
December 31, 2019
Great topics for those who want to dive into this. A nice introduction to materials and techniques from health and safety, workspace to kilns.
February 6, 2021
Very helpful and engaging for new potters. Recommended for anyone looking to learn the basics of pottery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2023
Clear and concise overview of all of the basics of pottery - cute as a gift but more useful as a coffee table book. Even as a beginner I was hoping for a more detailed how-to.
November 2, 2020
I started doing pottery in 2012, I mainly use the wheel, but I attended also some hand-building classes and I was happy to receive and advanced copy of The Complete Pottery Techniques: Design, Form, Throw, Decorate and More, with Workshops from Professional Makers. I think it is a good book for beginner and intermediate potters.
It is a good book because it explains almost all the different techniques for creating and decorating ceramics. There are chapters about wheel throwing, pinching, slabbing and coiling techniques. It is explained how to decorate with glazes, engobes, slip etc. There is also a chapter for the different firing techniques. Everything is written very clearly and with a lot of photos.
In my opinion though I would consider this book as a good book for a beginner potter because it gives a very good panoramic of the different techniques and it gives the opportunity to learn the terminology.
So, if you want to know more about pottery and if you are thinking to take a class but you want to start prepared this is your book!!
Thank you to NetGalley and DK for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
It is a good book because it explains almost all the different techniques for creating and decorating ceramics. There are chapters about wheel throwing, pinching, slabbing and coiling techniques. It is explained how to decorate with glazes, engobes, slip etc. There is also a chapter for the different firing techniques. Everything is written very clearly and with a lot of photos.
In my opinion though I would consider this book as a good book for a beginner potter because it gives a very good panoramic of the different techniques and it gives the opportunity to learn the terminology.
So, if you want to know more about pottery and if you are thinking to take a class but you want to start prepared this is your book!!
Thank you to NetGalley and DK for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews