Customer Reviews

Ceramics for Beginners: Hand Building (A Lark Ceramics Book)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For years I've been wanting to work with clay. This book is filled with beautiful full color images of finished work that continuously inspire me. The step by step projects are easy to understand especially with the accompanied photography that visually illustrates the assembling process. You will learn the basics and beyond as this book teaches you about the medium itself and how to make handbuilding with clay a fluent vocabulary to use with your own artistic creations.

As an artist I do all kinds of art. I have been making ceramics for years. Little did I know that I had been doing many basic techniques incorrectly. This book clearly laid out a new foundation for me. The language is clear and well written so that simple ideas and complex concepts are easy to understand. Clay is still a challenge for me but it's less of a mystery. Now I know why things were not coming out right and I have been able to change my approach to get much better results.

Aside from the technical aspects of the book, the author did a great job of inspiring the reader to be creative and try new things. All of the formulas in the book are easy to personalize so that each project is unique to me. I feel really good about my work for the first time in ages. Instead of fumbling my way through an idea I can visualize what I want to make and figure out the steps ahead of time... whew... what a difference.

I especially enjoyed the introduction. I would write more about this book but it's time for me to play with my clay and get my hands dirty.

Ceramics for Beginners: Hand Building (A Lark Ceramics Book)This book is well-written and offers easy to understand explanations of basic ceramics terms and techniques. It will be an asset to any beginning or intermediate handbuilder and a good reference for more advanced ceramic artists. I will recommend it to all my students.

Well written, easy to follow instructions, step by step with being too much of hand holding, ready projects which can be changed easily, and a lot of info, for a beginner, coils, slabs, stamps, about glazing, firing, clay, kilns,and setting up the studio. Even though I will not have a kiln, or real studio, (doing ceramics for pleasure), this is a wonderful how-to book, and a good reference. Pictures following instructions are great,and samples of ready project too. Diverse artwork by professionals are feast for the eyes.This book fully satisfies my needs as person who wants to make ceramics for personal enrichment, but it will be smart enough for an artist who never tried ceramics, and would like to expand his/her experience in another, new area.

As a neophyte student of ceramics, I was thrilled to discover such a wonderfully presented and explicit account of turning clay into beautiful and functional works of art. Whether one is looking for instructions or inspiration, Shay's book satisfies. The wording is clear, concise, and carefully crafted to lead and reveal without being tediously pedantic. Each chapter builds sequentially and is complemented, supported, and underscored with outstanding graphics. Kudos to Shay, her photographer, her editors, and her publisher for such a stellar work of art in itself. I really love this book and plan to give several as gifts to family and friends.

This book is great even if you are experienced with ceramics. great ideas and techniques and fantastic for teachers! recommended!

This is a very well-written little manual on handbuilding clay. Very informative, easy to understand and loaded with tips and good ideas. I am far beyond the beginning stage of handbuilding, but it was good in terms of review and also offers additional techniques not covered in the handbuilding classes I attended. Definitely a 'keeper.' Highly recommend for beginners.

shay amber has written not only a beautiful and elegant book but also a very precise instructional book.
this book will inspire beginners while also giving seasoned clay artist's great new ideas and techniques to work with.

In particular I enjoyed the whimsical enchantment of projects and the gallery section is directly after each chapter, which is very helpful.
One gets the feeling of being in a cozy one-on-one workshop.

- so curl up in a comfortable chair with a cup of tea.
this book is bound to become a well loved favorite, and one that i know i will personally refer to and keep near.

Excellent resource for beginners and intermediates. I learned a lot of new handbuilding techniques. Lots of beutifiul color photos for inspiration.

I purchased this book because I wanted to know more about handbuilding. It bills itself as being for beginners and I should have given that more weight in my decision to buy it. If you have done some hand building skip this book.