'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.

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.

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

"A book of advances wheel techniques and inspiration for potters who have basic skills but would like to learn more about throwing large forms, lids, handles, darting, and more"--

Contains creative techniques for a number of ceramic tile projects with detailed information and instruction on basic tools and materials, glaze application, and techniques for making slab tiles.

My purpose in writing this book has been to present in as clear and understandable form as possible the important facts about ceramic materials and their use in pottery. The ceramic medium has a rich potential. It is so various and adaptable that each culture and each succeeding generation finds in it a new means of expression. As a medium, it is capable of great beauty of form, color, and texture, and its expressions are unique not only for variety but for permanence and utility as well. To make full use of the medium, the ceramist or potter not only needs skill, imagination, and artistic vision, but he also needs to have a sound knowledge of the technical side of the craft. This knowledge has not been easy to come by, and many of those seriously engaged in pottery have learned through endless experimentation and discouraging failures. It is hoped that the present work will enable the creative worker to go more directly to his goal in pottery, and that it will enable him to experiment intelligently and with a minimum of lost effort. While technical information must not be considered as an end in itself, it is a necessary prerequisite to a free and creative choice of means in ceramics. None of the subjects included are dealt with exhaustively, and I have tried not to overwhelm the reader with details. The information given is presented in as practical form as possible, and no more technical data or chemical theory is given than has been thought necessary to clarify the subject. This work is organized as follows: Part One—Clay Chapter I. Geologic Origins of Clay Chapter 2. The Chemical Composition of Clay Chapter 3. The Physical Nature of Clay Chapter 4. Drying and Firing Clay Chapter 5. Kinds of Clay Chapter 6. Clay Bodies Chapter 7. Mining and Preparing Clay Part Two—Glazes Chapter 8. The Nature of Glass and Glazes Chapter 9. Early Types of Glazes Chapter 10. The Oxides and Their Function in Glaze Forming Chapter 11. Glaze Materials Chapter 12. Glaze Calculations, Theory and Objectives Chapter 13. Glaze Calculation Using Materials Containing More Than One Oxide Chapter 14. Calculating Glaze Formulas from Batches or Recipes Chapter 15. Practical Problems in Glaze Calculation Chapter 16. The Composition of Glazes Chapter 17. Types of Glazes Chapter 18. Originating Glaze Formulas Chapter 19. Fritted Glazes Chapter 20. Glaze Textures Chapter 21. Sources of Color in Glazes Chapter 22. Methods of Compounding and Blending Colored Glazes Chapter 23. Glaze Mixing and Application Chapter 24. Firing Glazes Chapter 25. Glaze Flaws Chapter 26. Engobes Chapter 27. Underglaze Colors and Decoration Chapter 28. Overglaze Decoration Chapter 29. Reduction Firing and Reduction Glazes Chapter 30. Special Glazes and Glaze Effects

In A Potter's Workbook, renowned studio potter and teacher Clary Illian presents a textbook for the hand and the mind. Her aim is to provide a way to see, to make, and to think about the forms of wheel-thrown vessels; her information and inspiration explain both the mechanics of throwing and finishing pots made simply on the wheel and the principles of truth and beauty arising from that traditional method. Each chapter begins with a series of exercises that introduce the principles of good form and good forming for pitchers, bowls, cylinders, lids, handles, and every other conceivable functional shape. Focusing on utilitarian pottery created on the wheel, Illian explores sound, lively, and economically produced pottery forms that combine an invitation to mindful appreciation with ease of use. Charles Metzger's striking photographs, taken under ideal studio conditions, perfectly complement her vigorous text.

A reference and practical book demonstrating the craft of making and using all types of moulds whether they are made of plaster, Styrofoam or wood. Step-by-step directions and photographs illustrate their use and two calculators - one of volume and mix and another a shrinkage compensating devise - accompany the book.

For potters, mold making is invaluable because it allows them to slip-cast identical multiples of their work-and this newly revised, now in color edition of Andrew Martin's classic is the definitive guide to the craft. No other volume has shown the processes in such how-to detail. It's overflowing with hundreds of photos, key techniques, projects, master artist profiles, and troubleshooting tips. A thorough introduction addresses materials and tools, and presents Martin's simple, unique template method for making clay prototypes. Create easy one-piece molds to make tiles, bowls, and platters, or multi-piece molds for more complex forms. An extensive overview covers slip formulation, while offering highly desired slip recipes for low-, mid-, and high-fire clay bodies. This will be the standard reference in every ceramist's library.

"Scotchie gives us an insider's look at [how to] assemble vibrant, creative studio spaces. Floor plans are provided...The photographs are excellent."--Library Journal Take a photographic tour of 10 beautiful ceramics studios, and discover exactly how and why each design so perfectly meets the artist's particular needs. Author and ceramist Virginia Scotchie covers all the practical decisions about equipment, workflow, and safety that go into setting up a new studio, from using the space effectively and dealing with lighting, electrical, and ventilation needs, to establishing a small business office. Every ceramist will find inspiration in Michael Sherrill's spacious and adaptable studio, so suited to his large-scale sculptures; Alice Munn's intimate and tidy atelier; and Ben Owen III's highly organized layout, arranged for volumes of production work and featuring a separate gallery.