A Potter's Workbook (Paperback)

~ (Author), Charles Metzger (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"No other book has the specific focus of this one. Clary Illian addresses what are perhaps the most difficult and probably the most important aspects of pottery making: the questions of shape, structure, form, and forming. The practical exercises are particularly valuable, as are the discussions of learning to see as well as to make." -- Val Cushing, professor emeritus of ceramic art, State University of New York College of Ceramics at Alfred University

Product Description

In A Potter's Workbook, renowned studio potter and teacher Clary Illian presents a textbook for the hand and the mind. Her aim is to provide a way to see, to make, and to think about the forms of wheel-thrown vessels; her information and inspiration explain both the mechanics of throwing and finishing pots made simply on the wheel and the principles of truth and beauty arising from the traditional method.

Each chapter begins with a series of exercises that introduce the principles of good form and good forming for pitchers, bowls, cylinders, lids, handles, and every other conceivable functional shape. Focusing on utilitarian pottery created on the wheel, Illian explores sound, lively, and economically produced pottery forms that combine an invitation to mindful appreciation with ease of use. Charles Metzger's striking photographs, taken under ideal studio conditions, perfectly complement her vigorous text.

Clary Illian was an apprentice at the Leach Pottery in 1964 and 1965, where she helped produce a line of standard ware shapes; in this book she pays tribute to Bernard Leach as the creator of the modern studio pottery movement. A Potter's Workshop is designed to help students who are just learning to throw pots, potters who know how to throw but who feel the need for greater understanding, and skilled craftspeople who enjoy thinking about the objects they love.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 124 pages
• Publisher: University Of Iowa Press; 1 edition (July 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877456712
• ISBN-13: 978-0877456711
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #67,627 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #22 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Painting
  #29 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Ceramics
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Potter's Workbook, December 1, 1999

By	margaret towne (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

I have been teaching ceramics for over 20 years and have been looking for a book like this one to share with my students. I am also a studio artist and have and will find it an invaluable tool when considering the importance of form while I work. Clary Illian is a fabulous potter. She has a great love of the material and her instincts and knowledge about beauty in functionality in pottery is clear and lovely.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for Potters, February 9, 2000

By	John C. Wilson (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

Clary Illian has given the ceramics community an amazing gift by writing this book. Not only is she thoughtful and clear, she inspires potters (whether beginners or professionals) to make better, more personal pots. Filled with examples -- beautifully photographed by Charles Metzger -- which add flesh to her supurb text. Every potter should consider this must-reading.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book for the 2nd Leg of Your Pottery Journey, September 12, 2005

By	mercy me (saratoga ca) - See all my reviews

Once you have some skill at basic throwing, this is the book you need! Clary examines aesthetic principles of pottery. If you have wondered aloud just what has happened to your pot as it emerges on the wheel, you can get your answer here. Why does your pot look cumbersome while the person next to you has double the clay and yet their creation is light and airy? If you have pondered the question, you need a course in the matter. There are no colored pictures because the book is about form and not about glazes or other embellishment. No more bowlng pin vases for me. I am on to lovlier pots!