Starting with the basic question, What is pottery?, this work investigates why and how ceramics have been made throughout the world ever since humans first began manipulating clay during the Stone Age, over 12,000 years ago. Drawing on the ceramic collections of the British Museum, and the work of its scientific staff, 25 contributors examine the evidence for more than 30 pottery traditions. These range from prehistoric Japan, ancient Egypt, and pre-Hispanic Peru through classical Greece, Ming China and medieval and Renaissance Europe, right up to contemporary Africa and India.

'I always keep a copy of Art & Fear on my bookshelf' JAMES CLEAR, author of the #1 best-seller Atomic Habits 'A book for anyone and everyone who wants to face their fears and get to work' DEBBIE MILLMAN, author and host of the podcast Design Matters 'A timeless cult classic ... I've stolen tons of inspiration from this book over the years and so will you' AUSTIN KLEON, NYTimes bestselling author of Steal Like an Artist 'The ultimate pep talk for artists. ... An invaluable guide for living a creative, collaborative life.' WENDY MACNAUGHTON, illustrator Art & Fear is about the way art gets made, the reasons it often doesn't get made, and the nature of the difficulties that cause so many artists to give up along the way. Drawing on the authors' own experiences as two working artists, the book delves into the internal and external challenges to making art in the real world, and shows how they can be overcome every day. First published in 1994, Art & Fear quickly became an underground classic, and word-of-mouth has placed it among the best-selling books on artmaking and creativity. Written by artists for artists, it offers generous and wise insight into what it feels like to sit down at your easel or keyboard, in your studio or performance space, trying to do the work you need to do. Every artist, whether a beginner or a prizewinner, a student or a teacher, faces the same fears - and this book illuminates the way through them.

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.

Step-by-step instructions complete with color photographs. Includes a chapter on bisque firing, waxing, and glazing. 4 basic pottery projects for the beginning potter.

#1 New Release in Pottery & Ceramics ─ Crafting Pottery for Daily Use An introduction to pottery. It's never too late to pick up a new hobby, especially when you have a guide this simple to get you started. Potter and entrepreneur Jon Schmidt coaxes us into the world of pottery with a promise that we do not have to know everything about the complicated chemistry behind making pottery to enjoy it! By taking us back to the basics, Schmidt offers an introduction to pottery and a guide to creating functional pieces, along with insights into the business side of creating and selling your art. Focus on functionality. While pottery pieces can be detailed and intricate, Schmidt finds the beauty in more practical pieces. From mugs to bowls, Schmidt shows us a host of functional pieces that we can create using our very own hands. As a coffee shop owner, Schmidt uses handmade items for everything. And, he uses this pottery book to demonstrate how we too can create beautiful pieces for daily use, and potentially profit from them. Endless ideas for beginners to experienced throwers. This is the book for those who have never wielded pottery tools before and those who consider themselves experts with the pottery wheel. Whichever category you fall into, you'll find endless possibilities for making beautiful works of functioning art with your own hands. By offering an array of ideas and techniques, Schmidt's book captures the interest of a wide audience of creatives like you, no matter your experience level. Dive into Practical Pottery and find... A guide for getting started in pottery and ceramics that doesn't require expensive equipment, clay, and glazes Numerous tips and tricks for creating functional pottery, such as mugs, bowls, plates, teapots, beer steins, and more! Projects that will push you to craft functional art and turn your work into bonus income Readers of Mastering Hand Building; Potter's Bible; and Handbuilt, A Potter's Guide will love Jon Schmidt's Practical Pottery.

Create cups, mugs, bowls, and more pieces that are perfect for you Everyone who owns a beloved mug that has just the right handle, an agreeably "deep" cereal bowl, or a plate that fits perfectly in the dishwasher knows that once you've found these pieces, you wish you had more of them. In Making Pottery You Can Use, you'll learn how to create the pieces that will work best for you. Each element of the creative process is explained, including: Deciding the function of the item Working out proportions and making basic drawings Choosing the right clay and tools Design decisions, techniques to consider, variations to contemplate Picking the best method: throwing, slabbing, or coiling Choosing food-safe glazes, and more Successful teacher, designer, and author Jacqui Atkin explains how to throw and hand-build pieces that are beautiful and practical, from plates, cups, and saucers to casserole dishes, pitchers, and tureens. Get started today and you'll have pieces that marry beauty, form, and function, and are perfect for all of your needs.

This book is a basic introduction to pottery. It covers everything the beginner needs to know to start making beautiful ceramics. Step-by-step photographs and clear instructionsguide you through the techniques for making, decorating, and firing pottery and twelve simple projects allow you to put your skills into practice. Chapters include an introduction to types of clay, basic modelling methods such as throwing, pinching, coiling and turning. Key techniques are taught for biscuit and glaze firing. Each progressive project develops a new skill, and then teaches you how to add texture and decorate your vessels using inlays, slips, sgraffito, feathering, burnishing and resist techniques.

This book combines findings from archaeology and anthropology on the making, use and distribution of hand-made pottery, the rhythms of mobility involved and the transformations triggered by such processes, discussing different theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches.

Advanced Pottery describes and illustrates the latest pottery techniques, particularly for making large or complex pots, with examples from leading potters from the UK and abroad.

Articles on pottery techniques chosen from the early issues of Pottery making illustrated.