The perfect resource for individuals wishing to take the next step in their involvement with clay. Written by Steven Branfman, The Potter's Professional Handbook covers topics ranging from determining what a professional is to equipment selection, setting up shop, marketing your work, and much more. This book provides descriptions of the items necessary for a beginning professional potter and includes visual examples of items including sales slips, purchase orders, invoices, credit slips, and even floor plans of well-known potters studios.
Are you considering a change in how you practice your pottery craft? Perhaps a move from hobbyist to professional potter? If so, you'll appreciate this expert advice from Steven Branfman, a consummate professional who has distinguished himself as an artist, teacher, and businessman.
Steven offers friendly and useful guidance for everything from determining what a professional is to setting up shop and selling your work. His practical tips will help you make the move to professional potter with confidence. You'll also find comprehensive listings of resources for supplies and materials, workshops and schools, computer resources, magazines and journals and much more!
This book is so comprehensive and has answered so many of my initial questions regarding the start of a pottery studio and business. Steve writes in a language the layman and advance potter can both understand. The chapters are coherently laid out with the pertinent topics such as vendors, supplies, electrical needs, studio set-up, equipment making and purchasing, space needs, floor plans; the list goes on and on for the whole book. The back of the book has many vendors, suppliers and web links for reference. Although the web pages of many have changed, it is a great start on connecting with the pottery world. I highly recommend this book. --an Amazon Reader
Product Details
Paperback: 236 pages
Publisher: The American Ceramic Society (February 1, 1999)
Steven Branfman (born 1953, L.A. California) grew up in N.Y.C. and credits a rich cultural childhood as being the influence that led him to an art career. He was further influenced by a dynamic high school art teacher particularly in the area of sculpture. Branfman studied art at Cortland State University, New York with Gerald Diguisto (sculpture) George Dugan (drawing) and John Jessiman (pottery). He received his graduate degree at Rhode Island School Of Design working under Norm Schulman and Jun Kaneko. He says of RISD, "The time spent at RISD was the most influential and important experience in my development as an artist. The teachers were dedicated, the students were serious, and the atmosphere was exciting and productive."
Branfman has been an independent studio potter since 1975. In 1977 he founded as his studio, The Potters Shop which has become a nationally known studio, school, and artists workspace, and he now enjoys an international reputation as a potter, teacher, and writer. He is the author of four books, Raku: A Practical Approach first and second editions, published by Krause Publications, The Potters Professional Handbook published by The American Ceramic Society, and the forthcoming Mastering Raku: Making Ware-Glazes-Building Kilns-Firing published by Lark Books. Steven has delivered numerous workshops and presentations and his work has been exhibited in many one person and group shows throughout the U.S. Steven has been the subject of, and has authored many articles on clay. Articles about, or by him have appeared in Ceramics Monthly, The Crafts Report, Clay Times, Boston Globe, Studio Potter, and Pottery Making Illustrated, among others. His clayworking techniques, examples of his work, and personal profiles appear in many books on pottery and ceramics as well as Who's Who In American Art and Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Steven's time is spent working in his studio, The Potters Shop and School in Needham, writing, traveling to present workshops and demonstrations, and Thayer Academy in Braintree Massachusetts where he teaches pottery. Steven and his wife Ellen live in Newton Massachusetts.
"My concern is to make good pots, pots that hold up to thousands of years of ceramic history. My work is about vessels and the characteristics that make the vessel come alive: volume, texture, color, and scale. One of my objectives is, through my vessels, to preserve the connection between contemporary ceramic expression and pottery's origins as functional containers, not to transform and abandon it. Though my forms are not functional as in domestic ware, they do suggest function and are certainly containers."
Branfman's work appears in private, corporate, and museum collections and has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Selected workshop presentations and guest artist appearances include: Raku Ho'olaule'a, Honolulu; Clay Art Center, NY; Appalachian Center For Crafts, TN; El Olvido Ceramica, Mexico City; Burlington Art Center/Fusion, Toronto; Concordia College, MI; California Association of Clay Artists, CA; Long Island Potters Guild, NY; Triangle Potters Guild, NC; Guilford Handcrafts Center, CT; Munson Williams Proctor Institute, NY; El Camino College, CA; Alfred University, NY; Wesleyan Potters Guild, CT;, Oak Ridge Art Center, TN; Walnut Creek Civic Arts Center, CA; Nottingham Center For The Arts CA; Silvermine Guild School Of Art CT; Campus Brookgreen, SC; Raku Rhody-O, Providence; Oregon College Of Art And Craft; National Council On Education For The Ceramic Arts; Kalkspatz: German Potters Association, Munich; Lehmhuus AG, Basel Switzerland; Atelier Cirkel, Brasschaat Belgium; Keramikos, Haarlem Netherlands.
Exhibitions include: Kreft Center For The Arts MI; Esceula De Artesanias Mexico City; Gallery at Keramikos, Netherlands; Dowd Fine Arts Center NY; Fuller Craft Museum MA; Museum Of Art, Rhode Island School Of Design; Fitchburg Art Museum MA; Craftsmans Gallery NY; Society Of Arts And Crafts MA; Susan McLeod Gallery FL; Art Complex Museum MA; Surroundings Gallery NY; Currier Art Center NH; American Museum Of Ceramic Art CA; Qartz Gallery, Belgium.
Collections include: Rhode Island School Of Design Museum Of Art, American Museum Of Ceramic Art, Fuller Craft Museum, Schein-Joseph International Museum Of Ceramic Art, Frederick R. Weisman Art Musem, Concordia College, Canadian Clay And Glass Association, Everson Museum, Crocker Museum.
This review is from: The Potter's Professional Handbook (Paperback)
This is the book I have been looking for. I'm building a clay studio and wanted advice and tips on how to set it up. This is the only book I've found that gives really in-depth information on these topics. He also covers other topics you would want to know if you're going to be a professional potter.
Not only does he share some of his own horror stories (so you won't repeat them yourself!), but he also includes insets of the stories of other pro potters and their studios. Very helpful. He covers studio needs, selection, etc.; working with suppliers, vendors, contractors; equipment selection; and business practices, marketing and self-promotion (the hardest part of the business for me - and I think for most artists!). He also talks a bit about teaching and it's effect on your work (pro and con). The subtitle of the book says it all: "The complete guide to defining, identifying, and establishing yourself in the craft community".
This book is a must have for any professional potter and will be found very helpful even to hobbiests.
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This review is from: The Potter's Professional Handbook (Paperback)
This book is so comprehensive and has answered so many of my initial questions regarding the start of a pottery studio and business. Steve writes in a language the layman and advance potter can both understand. The chapters are coherently laid out with the pertinent topics such as vendors, supplies, electrical needs, studio set-up, equipment making and purchasing, space needs, floor plans; the list goes on and on for the whole book. The back of the book has many vendors, suppliers and web links for reference. Although the web pages of many have changed, it is a great start on connecting with the pottery world. I highly recommend this book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: The Potter's Professional Handbook (Paperback)
It is comforting to know that there is a book out there that is well written and primarily intended for people like me, who earn a living from clay. Naturally, most of us have already knocked our heads and come up with some soluations - discussed by Steve, but the confirmation of having made "right" decisions, etc., takes a load off and builds confidence. Had I been able to read a text like this six years ago, I would have had less bruises to my head and my ego! His other book, Raku: A Practical Approach is also a treasure which I notice is not listed here on Amazon - uhhmmmmm! Would be nice to have that as an Amazon selection.
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