The Spirit of Clay: A Classic Guide to Ceramics [Paperback]

Robert Piepenburg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1998

A clear and definitive text on the making, glazing and firing of contemporary ceramics. In addition to containing an extensive wealth of detailed instruction it celebrates the art of ceramics and the gift of the human spirit. Uniquely concerned with the miracles of the creative process and the emergence of a more connected self, it offers the beginner and experienced potter alike a bold new bridge between spiritual development and the clay experience.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Categorically and without reservation, The Spirit of Clay is the best book of its kind this reviewer has ever seen! Thus, if you are in the market for a instruction manual/textbook that lucidly explains all you need to know about clay, forming clay and ceramics, look no further than The Spirit of Clay. Additionally, if you seek a book that contains splendid photographs of beautiful and delightful clay works of art, choose The Spirit of Clay. -- Metaphysical Reviews, April 1997

From the Publisher

Robert Piepenburg is an instructor, an inspirational workshop leader, a best-selling author and internationally known artist. Just as this book went to press Robert was selected by his college and colleagues as Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 444 pages
• Publisher: Pebble Pr; Rev edition (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096284814X
• ISBN-13: 978-0962848148
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #702,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My wife Gail took this 2009 photo just after purchasing my John Carlo look-alike hat in Porto Venere, Italy. It's striking enough that I'm tempted (well ... almost) to write another book just to put it on the jacket. Just so you know, John Carlo is the consummate Italian gentleman whose camaraderie we had the pleasure of sharing with our cherished friends (and Italian traveling companions) Jan and David Roberts. If you're looking for a profoundly impressive ceramic book, check out the new edition of "David Roberts, Painting With Smoke" for which I had the honor of writing the forward.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Spirit of Clay, September 2, 2001

By 

Karen L. Peterson (Mukwonago, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spirit of Clay: A Classic Guide to Ceramics (Paperback)

This is absolutely the best book on pottery/clay that I have read. It is clearly written, thorough and most of all inspirational. Scott Piepenburg weaves the importance of the reader's personal and spiritual self in relation to working with clay with easy to follow instructional text. Highly recommended!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book out there!, November 30, 2007

By 

P. Lindemann "potterpat" (Black Hills, SD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirit of Clay: A Classic Guide to Ceramics (Paperback)

This is one of my favorite books that has ever been written about clay! Art is not just about skill, it is about heart and soul, and this book addresses that from the very first paragraph.

* Covers technique from handbuilding to refined throwing
* Tons of information about glazing, firing and making
* Written with the emotional side of the artist in mind

If you are just beginning in clay, boy are you in for a treat! This book is the only clay book I have ever come across that up front deals with the idea that art is not just a bunch of techniques that we are trained to use, or an assortment of skills that we mix in some kind of a recipe- instead Robert Piepenburg recognizes from the first page that artists are soul driven people, looking to make what is in their heart visible.

"I now know that clay can be a fertile growing ground of the spirit. I 've seen this same spiritual birthing scenario occur time and time again with students of min who were new to clay. What I didn't know then, but have come to know now, is that you don't actually find your self with clay...you make yourself with clay." ~Robert Piepenburg -from introduction of The Spirit of Clay

The author is a teacher, so if you are a teacher, you will relate to the various exercises and experiments in clay. If you are just learning clay, you will have fun just plunging in and experiencing clay!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite book on ceramics, November 13, 2000

By 

Dexter1 (IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spirit of Clay: A Classic Guide to Ceramics (Paperback)

Very well written, complete coverage of contempory craft ceramics. It's the one book I keep going back to. Nice discussion of the emotional/spiritual side of creating in clay which most books ignore. Excellent presentation graphically & visually too.