Complete Pottery Techniques

[annieb123]

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.