Practical Pottery: A Complete Guide to Getting Started in Making Beautiful & Functional Bowls, Plates, Vases & More on the Wheel

An accessible step-by-step guide to creating beautiful pottery cups, bowls, vases, and more on the wheel.

Beginning potters will learn to make plates, bowls, vases, and other fine, useful items on the wheel with this accessible guide. This book is an informative and practical handbook for anyone who wants to try their hand at clay and experience the joy of creating fine, useful things by hand.

Here's what you'll learn about making pottery on the wheel:
• mastering the fundamentals of shaping and designing with clay
• the necessary tools and types of clay
• how to throw, knead, and turn your pottery
• and all about a variety of finishing processes—drying, glazing, and firing.

As you master the basics, you’ll apply them to creating a series of progressively more difficult items—cups, bowls, plates, pitchers, vases, and platters. Using more-advanced ceramic techniques, you’ll learn to add features like spouts and handles. And you’ll explore modifying shapes, designs, and colors to design your own pottery and make each piece your own.

Learning pottery techniques takes time, practice, and patience. But truly, there is nothing better than creating your own pottery and then drinking coffee from a cup that you have turned yourself. With this book, you can easily master the techniques—and enjoy the meditative experience of working with clay.

Susan Liebe graduated as a ceramicist from the Danish Design School in 1999. She has designed products for the home with a focus on ceramics. In 2008, she started the "Liebe" store in Kompagnistræde, producing collections of ceramic objects.  She is based in Copenhagen. See more at www.liebeshop.dk. 

Sus Borgbjerg is a 2000 graduate of the Danish School of Design. She and her partner, Jette Tosti Ibfelt, founded JE;SU Graphic Design for web design, art direction, illustration, packaging, and other graphic design disciplines. She is based in Copenhagen. See more at www.jesu.dk.