By My Hands: A Potter's Apprenticeship

by Florian Gadsby

'Every page made me wish I was a potter' —Nigel Slater

Florian Gadsby has devoted his life to pottery, refining his technique towards the point of perfection—and as his skill has grown, so has his social media following, which today numbers in the millions. Based at a studio in North London, he releases three new collections per year, characterized by simple forms and sharp edges, which sell out in a matter of minutes.

In By My Hands, Florian tells the story of his artistic awakening, his education in England, Ireland and Japan, and of the sheer discipline which has led him to become the cultural sensation he is today. Arguing for the value in dedicating yourself to a craft, Florian weaves anecdotes about particular pots and processes into the narrative of his life, exploring what he has learnt from specific pieces he was taught to throw during his apprenticeships and how they have informed his philosophy and approach to his work.

By My Hands is an ode to the beauty of small things, such as a simple hand-thrown mug or bowl, which can brighten life's daily rituals and make them more meaningful—as well as an inspiring testament to the power of perseverance.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Memoir, Crafts, Biography

389 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2023

Reviews

[Caitlin O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed Florian on social media for years now, and always took the time to read his 2-5 paragraph descriptions of his posts. I did this because I thought he described ceramics making in such an intricate way and I found it fascinating. This book has taken the beautiful, detailed descriptions I love and added them to a story about finding his path in ceramics. It’s really inspiring to see someone with such creativity and passion succeed at their craft and write about it in such lovingly descriptive words. The way Florian writes about ceramic pieces created in this book left me searching for the next photograph in hopes to see the beauty he was describing. Truly inspiring, amazing, and masterfully written!

[Henry Hoopes · Rating 5 out of 5]

truly one of the best books i’ve read. so inspiring and beautifully written. anyone working in ceramics must read and i recommend it to everyone else too. i am so sad i’ve finished it and i wish it was ten times longer. the beautiful photographs are a bonus as well

[Meg Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Precise, elegant, warm, and beautiful, just like his pots. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and learned a ton about ceramics, too!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following Florian for years now and those who are familiar with his work, know what buzz it creates every single time there's a shop update. And what frustration it is to miss out every single time because the shop is sold out within a minute or 2. :) Owning his book might be a comfort for those who want to follow his journey up close. The book starts in his teenager gamer years and ends at finding his latest studio.

The book is inspiring for both potters and those who love to read biographies. His words are poetic and thoughtful, it's so well written it's as if you are right there next to him. What I will remember the most about this book is the discipline he has as a potter. The effort and working hours he puts into his skills, the days without real sleep or the months without other hobbies.... it all comes down to doing the work. Do the work and your skills will grow.

It motivates me to get started with the wheel again after a long sabbatical. Throwing one after the other, getting picky about the good ones, destroying the rest and do it all over again. And the discipline to keep going, day after day, month after month, year after year. To keep going, accepting the frustrations with grace and remind myself what I love about throwing so much. He really gave me the nudge to go for it again. Thank you Florian!

[Elizabeth Schlatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could, I'd give this book 5 stars and a chef's kiss -- it's that good!! It's ideal for me right at this moment, because it's the story of how Gadsby, a YouTube & Instagram ceramicist "superstar" became who he is today. That is, via a hell of a lot of work, thanks to a 2-year formal study program, a 2-year fellowship with a professional potter in London and a six month fellowship with a potter in Japan. All three of those experiences sounded GRUELING yet incredibly rewarding. Not to mention his early start at a Waldorf school, which he admits has issues in terms of its founder and pedagogy. Nonetheless, it served him well and helped him start his life's journey so far with clay. He's a very clear and engaging writer, and he throws in a lot of technical information about technique and pottery, which I LOVE. And, he ends with him getting his first studio in London to start working for himself. I'm looking forward to the sequel to this book! Oh, and it was SO well designed with loads of beautiful photos, not surprising as that was how he got his fame via a beautiful photo aesthetic for social media.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled upon Florian on YouTube at some early point in the pandemic and spent many a lonely lunch watching his videos in my empty art classroom. I adore him for the soothing stories he weaves as well as the lessons he imparts. When this book was announced. I thought “ok he can pot, but can he write?”. I read the preview of it available on Amazon and ordered it immediately. Then it sat on my desk untouched for the entire school year (I had put it standing on display thinking that some students might recognize his name and be interested - they didn’t). Finally at the end of June as I was cleaning off my many layers, I rediscovered it and brought it home to read. And what a wonderful way it was to commence summer vacation, slipping into this biography of clay and potter - a balm for frayed end-of-year nerves and subtle reminder that teaching matters.

I also learned things, making a list in the back as i read of points to remember later as well as people and things to investigate.

[Cynthia Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

By My Hands - A Potter's Apprenticeship (A Memoir) - by Florian Gadsby is a love letter to pottery that will be appreciated by all potters, whether a novice or highly skilled. There were so many passages that spoke to me but one that especially resonated was “Potters have a universal language .….. Clay connects us and we can appreciate each other’s pots and describe the features we like just by running our hands over them;”

This is a book that not only follows the author’s professional growth but shares his passion for the craft. I think that this author’s story will not only resonate with other potters, they will feel a definite kinship. (I received an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.).

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learnt about Florian Gatsby on pure accident (YouTubes recommendations) not long before this book was published, and was so intrigued about his journey through the apprenticeships he did, which he briefly talked about in at least one video on this topic.
I wanted to know more, learn about what many of the things he talked about mean - and this book satisfied that itch.
I also really enjoy the style of Florians explanations and stories, so it was a real joy to read. And a beautiful one to display, even though my only other contact with ceramics is the use of them, really.

[Sara Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a reader whose knowledge of pottery really doesn’t stretch beyond The Great Pottery Throw Down, Florian Gadsby writes a really detailed, but engaging, account of nine years of pottery apprenticeship, explaining throwing techniques and glazes and firing processs. Seriously impressed by his work ethic - the hours and hours of repetitive practice that go in to developing a skill, and the patience and dedication of the hours of cleaning and prepping involved in being an apprentice. Might need to join his millions of followers on YouTube and Instagram.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Every page made me wish I was a potter' is part of Nigel Slater's quote for the book and it absolutely rang true for me as well.

This is the memoir of a lad's journey from a standard Call of Duty playing goblin in his teens to becoming a full-fledged ceramicist. It's absolutely packed with information on the process of creating pottery but is placed within the narrative of his journey. It can get a bit in the weeds with details at times but I always found it captivating and loved every moment of it.

[andre mariño · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retrato de su vida como aprendiz, el libro termina con la búsqueda, y encuentro, de su primer taller. La pasión por el oficio en cada página. Narra sus primeros pasos en el torno, esmaltados, la búsqueda de la propia voz, las horneadas eléctricas, a gas, con soda, con Shino... bellísimos los detalles de las horneadas en Big Mother y en el horno a gas durante 6 días!!!!
Hilvana esas experiencias con los saberes aprendidos y detalles técnicos de cada proceso.
Es adictivo, y resulta casi imposible leerlo sin imaginar la voz de Florian una y otra vez explicando cada proceso

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly insightful. Gadsby is a great visual storyteller, and the way that he describes and discusses his craft is precise and with an intimate understanding that is wonderful to read. There is quite a bit of repetition though (as there is with pottery I suppose). This has given me an appreciation and respect for pottery, the process, and the world of ceramics that I had not had before. Also his work is stunning.

[ritik · Rating 4 out of 5]

After following Florian's work as a potter on social media for a few months, it's clear that he's not just a wizard at social media marketing but also at writing in general. The way he describes pottery and the journey/emotions he felt is crazy impressive (I have such a bad memory) and also a testament to his writing prowess. There are definitely some points that I skimmed because it was too much depth for me but overall, a great read!

[Carol Smith-Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully designed and written book. It offers a glimpse into the lengthy and challenging process of learning a craft that is interesting, compelling and with loads of humor. It has made me look at the humble medium of clay with new interest. This book is delightful and I highly recommend it.

[Pedita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just loved reading his story intertwined with details a (fledgling in my case) potter would appreciate. His passion for the art, the creative process and his mentors is evident. I don’t think you have to enjoy the craft to appreciate his writing, he speaks to taking chances and following passion and crossing cultural divides. Highly recommend to most anyone.

[jo carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was wonderful.
as a potter, not only did it inspire & excite me, but challenged me and reminded me of just how much i still have to learn. florian's writing is engaging and the photos are absolutely stunning. full of tender and funny moments, this is a book i'd recommend to anyone, not just potters.

[noisy penguin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm new to pottery but I still found this book to be very accessible and informative. The weaving together of narrative and information was fantastic, and the pictures brought everything to life. I'm not sure when, if ever, I'll have access to gas or wood firing for my pottery but it's fun to learn about all the things Gadsby learned on his journey with clay.

[Patrick Haga · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone relatively new to pottery and the processes involved, I really enjoyed this book. You learn a lot about Florian and about the different techniques and styles that have helped form his own voice in ceramics.

As an added bonus, because I've been watching Florian's videos for a while now, I couldn't help but hear his voice in my head as I read, which, as always, was very calming.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because I am an amateur potter trying to learn as much as I can about making. Following FG’s educational journey was fascinating and I learned a lot, especially about things like kiln firing, which aren’t covered in my urban community studio. Ultimately, the writing isn’t great, but you can easily look past that - and the photography is beautiful too.

[Flavia Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm totally hooked on this book! Florian spills all the deets about his life, making me feel like we're old pals. It's like getting a backstage pass to his world, and I'm here for it. Major thanks for letting me peek behind the curtain!

[Saar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspirational read for anyone interested in pottery. Florian tells his story with such passion that it's an immense joy to follow along as he discovers pottery and spends his apprenticeships gaining knowledge and expertise. It's beautifully written and illustrated.

[Al Mal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely written book easy to read in the style of his YouTube video narration, very calm and detailed. Much like his pottery. Good to hear about the details of his varied apprenticeships and a few helpful potting tips throughout.

[Aditya · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a person who is starting his pottery journey Florian’s YouTube videos are a treasure. When I saw his book I had to read it. Was an absolute pleasure to read about his journey as a potter. There is a lot to learn and take inspiration from if you are interested in pottery.

[Lindsay Talmud · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Real Potter

Florian's is multi-talented and it comes through in this book: potter and writer. It flows so easily, taking you into the world of 'learning the trade' if you are serious about it. Love of the material and the activity shines through. A real joy!

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Florian's journey as an apprentice, and his different experiences at schools and studios, shaping the work he makes today. The writing was easy to follow and punctuated with beautiful photos.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone interested in ceramics should read. It is truly inspiring to learn how dedicated people are in their craft. I follow the artist on social media as well as some of his mentors, and can appreciate the precision, thought, and time he has put into his art and his book.

[Lorenzo Paoliani · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautifully crafted, as expected. I felt part of the journey, from Ireland to Japan.

[Maxi Köhler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Herrlich

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! Perfect book I wanted to learn more about potters’ experiences. Most books abt pottery are more technical so this nice.

[Alyssa Bernhardt · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a hobby potter, I was really excited to learn more about Florian Gadsby. Unfortunately, I found this book extremely challenging to get through despite my interest in the author and subject matter.