Simon Leach's Pottery Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Throwing Beautiful, Functional Pots - Softcover

Leach, Simon; Dehnert, Bruce

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1617690228 ISBN 13: 9781617690228

Publisher: STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book, 2013

Synopsis

In Simon Leach’s Pottery Handbook—a book-and-DVD package—the world-renowned ceramicist and YouTube sensation presents clear tutorials and loads of original instruction on all the core techniques, including studio setup, basic throwing, applying appendages, trimming, glazing, and firing.
 
“Among how-to books, this volume stands out. This gem is as carefully honed as the skills it seeks to share.” —American Craft
 
At one time or another, every potter gets frustrated at the wheel. Whether struggling to center the clay or attach a handle with precision, potters of all levels crave advice and answers, and Leach has plenty to give. Topics covered include:

• Setting Up the Studio
• Handling Clay
• The Basic Cylinder
• Cylinder Variations
• Trimming Pots
• Assembling Complex Forms
• Decorative Techniques
• Glazes
• Kilns and Firing
• And more!

For each technique, detailed step-by-step photography by Bruce Dehnert and Jared Flood captures the subtle, intricate movements that typically fly by too fast to be learned when watching a video lesson; callouts then lead readers to the relevant video on the DVD so they can see the technique demonstrated in real time—an ideal combination that makes learning from the master easy.
 
Leach writes in his introduction, “As you dive into this book, try to enjoy the sheer pleasure of working with your hands—an act I believe gives balance to our lives, and is a good antidote to too much intellectualizing. . . . Keep practicing! Soon enough, the walls of your pots will be consistent, the lips will be even, and you’ll see that the creations emerging from your hands get better and better with time.”
 
Useful for beginners and full of information for experienced potters, this is a full-color, how-to manual that will be read and reread.
 
“For those of us who learn best with a combo of text and demonstrations, Simon Leach’s new book is the perfect fit.” —Ceramics Monthly
 

About this title

About the Author

Simon Leach is an internationally celebrated third-generation ceramicist, descended from the renowned Leach family of Cornwall, England. He can be seen online, demystifying techniques at his potter’s wheel in his more than 800 YouTube videos. He also teaches hands-on workshops throughout the country. He lives in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania.
 
Bruce Dehnert is the head of the ceramics program at Peters Valley School of Craft in New Jersey.

Reviews

Third-generation potter Leach, with technical and photographic assistance from Bruce Dehnert and Jared Flood, capitalizes on his celebrity with an amazingly detailed, step-by-step text for all major processes in ceramics. The in-depth perspective starts with his directions for making simple tools (a wire tool and a sponge stick) and is bolstered by charts and information-packed sidebars (e.g., for removing air bubbles and troubleshooting your first pull). Every topic that novices must master is covered, such as working basic shapes (cylinder and variations dishes) trimming, decorating and glazing, and firing. Color photographs illustrating the techniques are small but suffice. --Barbara Jacobs

Edition details

• Publisher: STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1617690228
• ISBN 13: 9781617690228
• Binding: Spiral-bound
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240