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Mastering the Potter's Wheel: Techniques, Tips, and Tricks for Potters (Mastering Ceramics)

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Arrives Tuesday, Jun 4
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Format: Hardcover


Description

Take your skills—and your work—to the next level. Mastering the Potter's Wheel starts with an introduction to wheel-throwing, from centering to creating the basic forms. What pushes this book beyond the competition, however, are the techniques offered in the chapters that follow. From a variety of methods for throwing large objects such as pitchers and platters, to alterations, darting, and paddling, this book offers potters a world of possibilities. With galleries featuring today's top working artists, including Kyle Carpenter, Sam Chung, Chandra DeBuse, Julia Galloway, Martha Grover, Ayumie Horie, Forrest Lesch-Middleton, Kristen Kieffer, Kathy King, Matt Long, Alex Matisse, Lorna Meaden, Doug Peltzman, Mackenzie Smith, Shawn Spangler, and many more, you'll also find page after page of inspiration. The Mastering Ceramics series is for artists who never stop learning. With compelling projects, expert insight, step-by-step photos, and galleries of work from today’s top artists, these books are the perfect studio companions. Also available from the series: Mastering Hand Building and Mastering Kilns and Firing. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Voyageur Press; Illustrated edition (June 1, 2016)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 208 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0760349754


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 55


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.45 x 1 x 10.35 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #44,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2 in Ceramic Art #3 in Pottery & Ceramic Craft (Books) #60 in Crafts & Hobbies Reference


#2 in Ceramic Art:


#3 in Pottery & Ceramic Craft (Books):


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • A Masterful Book About Throwing On The Wheel
My copy of Ben Carter's Mastering the Potter's Wheel book showed up today. I was planning to flip through the book, check out a little of what he covered in the book, then set it aside to look at more thoroughly tonight or this weekend... An hour later, I realized my quick flip through wasn't nearly so quick after all! I am thoroughly impressed at the amount of helpful knowledge he included in one book. Each topic flows effortlessly into the next in a sensible order. My very first pleasant surprise was the fact that Ben tackled studio safety immediately instead of as an afterthought at the back of the book. In addition to the standard parts about material safety, he also discusses how to prevent aches and strain on the artist's body through posture choices as well as exercises. The text was easy to understand without being simple. The book reads like he is talking directly to the reader. He shows exactly how to achieve a variety of forms using photos and illustrations coupled with smart descriptions about why you need to take those steps. He provides important tips and tricks that many experienced potters take for granted and he tackles philosophical topics like the implied curve of the form and the positive-negative space correlation. From the foot of a pot to the knob of a lid and all of the shapes of thrown forms in between, he's got it covered. Sketched profile examples, pictures of pots cut in half to reveal a cross-section, and tons of step-by-step photos fill the book from cover to cover. It's been quite a while since such a comprehensive and well-considered book on wheel throwing has been written. Thank you, Ben! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2016 by Anne M Bracker Anne M Bracker

  • Just like learn how to ride a bike or swim, you don't need and can't learn form the book.
A for effort, but learning pottery wheel is like learning how to bike, easy to say but the fact is all about self taught and learned. Nothing wrong with the book and the techniques in there, however you likely won't go back to the book for posture correction. It is like learning how to swim by reading a book: step1: stroke, step2:breath and step3:not sink. How to achieve that is from your muscle memory and the instant feedback/correction from the in-person teaching. If you've already taken one or two days of pottery workshops this books is not needed, but can't really blame the author on this. Techniques, Tips and Tricks are all very common and can be found more on Youtube. The book teaches you how to throw cups, plates, bowls but does not include how to throw a tall vase. First time I read I learn nothing new, came back for 2nd time few months later to see if can correct my problems and found nothing useful. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2021 by Jo.

  • Almost better than an online video.
Excellent discussion of the basics of handling a rotating blob of clay to achieve its submission to your desires. Then the author goes into a useful discussion of basic pottery. Highly recommend. Excellent photographs. Be sure to get the hardback version, the pictures alone are worth the price plus you will want this book in your studio for the rest of your life. I don't think his discussion of body mechanics was very accurate; talk with a physical therapist or kinesiologist for the best medical information. But his heart was in the right place (every pun intended). And check out the other books in this "Mastering" series about ceramics for a comprehensive review of the craft. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2020 by clydesdale_bill

  • Excellent!
I almost didn't by this book, thinking I could learn all I needed to learn on YouTube, but I'm so happy that I did. This book goes far beyond a how-to book and goes into how to approach the design of your pieces, what to consider, and why. It discusses larger concepts about creating pottery than just how to throw. There's valuable information here that you don't find in simple instructional videos although those certainly also have an important place in my education. I'm only 1/4 of the way through this book but have already learned much more than I have online or in my pottery class. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2018 by J. Dessel

  • Great Refresher info for Potters
This book is a great refresher for experienced potters and good for beginners as well. I've learned something new and relearned how to do things again. Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2022 by MT

  • A good book to learn a lot of general concepts and ...
A good book to learn a lot of general concepts and methods for throwing pottery. I'm trying to self teach after having taken classes many years ago. While this is a good resource that I like to spend some time with before a throwing session, I'm still looking for that "teacher in a book" that can help me troubleshoot very specific problem areas. However, I did learn a number of general concepts that I've enjoyed trying, or am looking forward to trying. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2018 by sagebrush

  • Beautiful book that is thoughtfully compiled and constructed - sewn ...
Beautiful book that is thoughtfully compiled and constructed - sewn binding instead of glued. In terms of content to actually help one "master" the wheel, I feel it's lacking and many books cover the subject more extensively with most of the same content. Troubleshooting common errors or problems seems to be non existent. There are lots of beautiful photographs of other potter's gorgeous work which is where this book seems to miss the mark living up to its title. At times it feels more like a 500 (insert form here) book with a little bit of instruction thrown in here and there. I own over 40 pottery/ceramics books and if I was lending one to someone wanting to "master the wheel" this would be near the bottom of the list of the books I have that address the wheel. Again, beautiful book. More for a coffee table than propped up next to a wheel to work on your skills. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2016 by jbridge

  • Great book!
I bought this book for my artist daughter-in-law. I love the illustrations!
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2021 by paul moore

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