Hand Building Techniques (Ceramics Class) [Hardcover]

Joaquim Chavarria (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ceramics Class | Publication Date: May 1, 1999

This volume begins with the modeling of cubes, cones, spheres, and other basic volumes. Students then learn coiling, pinching, using strips, slabs, and lumps and how to apply them to bowls, bottles, cups, boxes, and sculpture, with information on kilns, firing, and finishing processes included.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joaquim Chavarria, a professor of ceramics and sculpture at the Escuela Massana in Barcelona, Spain, is also the author of the best-selling The Big Book of Ceramics.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823005917
• ISBN-13: 978-0823005918
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #438,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to hand-build, wonderful projects, July 12, 2001

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hand Building Techniques (Ceramics Class) (Hardcover)

Another installment in the excellent Ceramics Class series, this is an excellent book for beginners who need detailed instructions a want great variety of projects.

The book starts out explaining the properties and types of clay as well as clay mixtures, maturing temperatures, porosity and tools used. Twenty projects follow using a variety of techniques including creating pinch pots, and building with coils, strips and slabs. For each technique there are four projects with clear step-by-step instructions. There is a color photo for each step that really helps show you what to do.

Some projects include a textured spherical vase, a coiled rectangular bottle, a cup built with strips and a slab-built wall. My husband collects rhinoceroses so I was thrilled to find instructions for building a detailed rhino sculpture. I liked an organic looking bowl and abstract giraffe shaped piece as well.

A brief explanation of kilns and firing as well as a glossary are included in the back. This book concentrates on the building process and is the perfect companion to the Glazing Techniques booking the same series.

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something for everyone, January 8, 2003

By 

MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hand Building Techniques (Ceramics Class) (Hardcover)

I do pottery, mostly bowls and was pleasantly surprised at how informative this book was for someone like me who has been doing clay work for decades. I like the clear instructions and the fact that kilns were discussed since so many books on clay work I have read or own, do not discuss what one needs as far as kiln size, safety etc.

If you are the least bit curious and want to try your hand at clay work see if the library has the book or order it from Amazon where the price is extremely reasonable.

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good techniques to incorporate to your style., January 27, 2000

By 

rafael geraldino - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hand Building Techniques (Ceramics Class) (Hardcover)

I was surprised to see how 64 pages could be filled wth lots of valuable information. All of which are short and to the point. In the clay section he offers two different clay recipes for each type of clay discribed. In the project section, each project is throughly explained with "how to" photographs. Most of the projects are worth the time doing since the techniques can be incorporated into the potters style.