Handbuilt, A Potter's Guide: Master timeless techniques, explore new forms, dig and process your own clay

Description

In Handbuilt, A Potter's Guide, pottery expert Melissa Weiss shows you the basics of crafting without a wheel, how to harvest and work wild clay, and using natural glazes. Handbuilt pottery is the perfect way for new potters to dive into this unique medium because it doesn't require access to a potter's wheel. In Handbuilt, A Potter's Guide, Melissa Weiss takes an organic approach to harvesting and working with local clays, and even shows you how to mix your own glazes to use on functional pottery for use at home. Students of pottery the world over have traveled to North Carolina to attend Weiss's classes. Now you don't have to! In this book, Melissa provides you with a solid course on slab and pinch-pot techniques that allow beginning students to master the basics and progress through finished wares. Looking to go a little deeper? Melissa also offers her unique knowledge of how to dig and process local clays for use in pottery, and for the techniques she has developed for creating unique glazes with ash, salt, and other dry materials. Melissa will also introduce you talented contemporary potters, who will share their work, tips, advice, and techniques. Learn the basics of handbuilding and more with this engaging guide. Cover Half Title Title Copyright CONTENTS INTRODUCTION MY WINDING PATH TO STUDIO POTTERY TOOLS AND MATERIALS RULES VOCABULARY 1 IN SEARCH OF WILD CLAY Finding, Digging, Testing, and Processing Local Clays Guest Potter Interview: Mitch Iburg Guest Potter Interview: Lindsay Rogers 2 SLIPS AND GLAZES Finding My Way to Glazing Making and Using Slips and Glazes Basic Process for Making Glaze and Slip Guest Potter Interview: Michael Hunt and Naomi Dalglish of Bandana Pottery 3 KURINUKI Kurinuki Pots Make a Kurinuki Footed Cup Make a Lidded Salt or Treasure Box Make Kurinuki Snack Serving Dishes Guest Potter Interview: Nicholas Danielson 4 MOLDS Steps for Making Hump Molds Guest Potter Interview: Nancy Green 5 COIL AND SLAB METHODS Creating Slabs Three Ways Slab Dishes from a Bisque Mold Coil Methods Make a Coil Bucket Make a Serving Tray Guest Potter Interview: Lindsay Oesterritter 6 BUILDING POTS FROM MULTIPLE VESSELS Make a Moon Vase Make a Vase with a Coil Neck Pitcher from Two Slab Bowls Make a Pitcher with a Coil Neck Guest Potter Interview: Candice Methe-Hess 7 HANDLES Making Handles Disc Handles Pulled Handles Guest Potter Interview: Catherine White and Warren Frederick 8 DECORATING TECHNIQUES Types of Decorating Techniques Guest Potter Interview: Shawn Ireland 9 FIRING METHODS Firing and Cones Bisque Slip About Kilns The Heart of the Studio: Elijah Cody Ferguson RESOURCES RECOMMENDED READING ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR INDEX A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S V W Y