Customer Reviews

The Ceramic Surface

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There is no doubt about it: this is a beautiful book. The paper, binding, print, photography is all first-rate. But I was disappointed, nonetheless. The book is basically a collection of pieces by many different ceramic artists, with equally different surface treatments. In essence: a coffee-table book. Not that I mind that so much, but I have to limit myself to the pictures - because I can hardly stand the "Artist's Statements" that accompany each photo (I can't stand being told what to think, and I heartily agree with Jean Cocteau: "An artist cannot speak about his art any more than a plant can discuss horticulture.") If you like that kind of thing, then this might be just the book for you.

One thing I did appreciate was the short paragraph on how the piece was made, but these frequently appear to be simply obfuscations and filler text, and I can't help wonder if these artists aren't more than a little insecure.

This beautiful book is a welcome addition to my collection. Its very simple format of one image per page and brief written description of the work, often by the artist, makes it an inspiring and yet relaxing book to flick through with your feet up on the couch. As far as technical information goes, this is more of a starting point - leading you to research further the surface finishes and techniques that most appeal to you.