The beginner's guide to hand building : functional and sculptural projects for the home potter

First Title Value for Searching:

Personal Author:

Cobb, Sunshine

Physical Description:

176 pages : color illustrations ; 23 cm.

Series:

Essential ceramics skills

General Note:

Includes index.

Summary:

"The Beginner's Guide to Hand Building is a friendly, contemporary take on the classic hand-building book - perfect for new and returning ceramic artists"--

Contents:

Introduction -- Section 1 Welcome to the studio. Body and mind ; How to use this book ; Clay ; Tools ; Miscellaneous terms and concepts ; Foundational skills ; Surface development ; Gallery -- Section 2 Sculptural projects. Flora ; Creatures ; Wall tiles/hangings ; Clouds ; Soap dish ; Mobiles ; Candelabra ; Gallery -- Section 3 Functional projects. Scoops ; Citrus reamer ; Butter box ; Tapas plates ; Basket ; Coffee pour-over ; Match striker ; Gallery -- Templates -- Resources.

Subject Term:

Pottery craft

Publication Info:

Beverly, MA : Quarry Books, an imprint of The Quarto Group, 2022.

Subject:

Pottery craft

Pottery making (Handicraft)

SAILS ISBN:

9780760374764

Available:

Library	Shelf Number	Shelf Location	Status
Searching... Mattapoisett Free Public Library	738.1 COB 2022	NONFICTION	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Norfolk Public Library	738.12 COBB	NONFICTION	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Join the home pottery revolution!

Whether you have access to a communal studio or not, hand building projects can travel just about anywhere . Take your clay outside or work at the kitchen table , with instruction from best-selling ceramics author Sunshine Cobb . In this book, you'll find all the necessary fundamentals , including a thorough discussion of clay as well as helpful tips for keeping your body and mind in top shape . Then pick the path that's right for you in the chapters that follow.

Develop new skills and unlock your own creativity as you explore:

Sculptural projects like miniature animals and plants. Functional items like scoops, a citrus reamer, and a coffee pour-over vessel. Mixed media projects including a candlestick holder, mobile, and a soap dish. All along the way, skill-building is front and center, with conversational instructions and tips to help you make pieces you're proud to show off. Gallery work from some of today's top artists are sure to inspire potters of all levels. What will you make first?

For beginners and those returning to ceramics, the Essential Ceramics Skills series from Quarry Books offer the fundamentals along with fresh, contemporary, and simple projects that build skills progressively.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Ceramicist Cobb (Mastering Hand Building) marries form and function in her masterful debut, a look at "the mysterious and magical world of clay." She begins with an overview of best practices for posture and breathing at the wheel, as well as stretches to warm up one's hands for working clay. Once the preliminaries are out of the way, on come the projects. There are 16 of them, equally divided into sculptural and functional sections, and ranging from handheld to heftier items: "Creatures" offers a fox sculpture perfect for a cottagecore aesthetic; "Mobiles" pieces together raindrops and clouds for a darling ceiling piece; and "Candelabra," the star of the sculptural section, is an intricate challenge. Cobb posits that "beauty can impact our daily life," and that sentiment is reflected in her functional projects: a rustic scoop for measuring ingredients, a citrus reamer ("use your hand size... to help inform the handle shape"), and a match striker to complement the candelabra. With ideas ranging from beginner to advanced, this inimitable guide is one for the long haul. (Sept.)

Library Journal Review

Cobb's (Mastering Hand Building) slim volume provides a basic introduction to tools, supplies, and techniques necessary for hand building ceramic sculptures and functional objects. Readers will learn about appropriate home studio space, a beginner's tool set, stages of clay texture and workability, basic techniques, and safety precautions. Pages addressing body posture, ergonomics, and stretches emphasize the importance of avoiding injury. Kiln firing is briefly mentioned with the assumption that readers will have access to a ceramics studio. Glazing is touched upon as well, but the author notes that she intentionally kept this section short. The book showcases sculptural projects, some of which are purely decorative, such as plants or animals, which utilize various techniques. Functional objects such as scoops, coffee pour-overs, soap and butter dishes, and candleholders are also featured. The projects are heavily illustrated with photos of ceramics by various artists. Readers are encouraged to use their own creative instincts to make pieces that reflect their vision. Templates are included for the more complicated shapes, along with instructions for enlarging them. VERDICT Geared toward the absolute novice, this book will appeal to those interested in working with clay but are not looking for glazing or firing instructions.--Rebecca Brody

Foreword	p. 6
Introduction	p. 8
Section 1 Welcome to the Studio	p. 11
Body and Mind	p. 12
How to Use This Book	p. 21
Clay	p. 23
Tools	p. 34
Miscellaneous Terms and Concepts	p. 43
Foundational Skills	p. 45
Surface Development	p. 55
Gallery	p. 59
Section 2 Sculptural Projects	p. 65
Flora	p. 66
Creatures	p. 74
Wall Tiles/Hangings	p. 78
Clouds	p. 84
Soap Dish	p. 88
Mobiles	p. 94
Candelabra	p. 98
Gallery	p. 103
Section 3 Functional Projects	p. 109
Scoops	p. 110
Citrus Reamer	p. 117
Butter Box	p. 122
Tapas Plates	p. 132
Basket	p. 138
Coffee Pour-Over	p. 144
Match Striker	p. 150
Gallery	p. 155
Templates	p. 160
Resources	p. 166
Acknowledgments	p. 168
Dedication	p. 170
About the Author	p. 171
Index	p. 172

Available:

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Library Journal Review

Table of Contents