Decorating Techniques (Ceramics Class) (Hardcover)

by Joaquin Chavarria (Author) "It is not difficult to understand how ceramic artists in ancient times first came to decorate their pieces..." (more)
Key Phrases: metal modeling tool, cuerda seca, transparent glaze (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Starting with an introduction to materials and tools, this idea-packed book then shows arts and crafters myriad techniques for transforming standard ceramic pieces into beautifully ornamented, one-of-a-kind treasures for personal or gift use.

The book is divided into five sections, each devoted to techniques designed for the category of ceramic to be decorated: damp and unfired ware; leather-hard ware; dry ware; dry bisque-fired ware; and glazed ware. Explained and shown in detail are decoration methods such as incising, carving, casting, sgraffito, engobes, colored pastes, fillettes, reserves, waxes, and many other ways to enhance the surfaces of ceramic pieces.

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; 1st edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823005941
• ISBN-13: 978-0823005949
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 9.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #62,990 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #25 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Decorative Arts
  #44 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Pottery & Ceramics
  #69 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Decorating

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing but still useful, October 22, 2002

By A Customer

I bought this book for decorating techniques (that is the title, after all), but found that a good part of the book covers handbuilding to the detriment of covering decorating in detail. For example, there several pages on using engobes, but nothing explaining engobes v. slip. In another section on using engobes and oxides, percentages aren't given, nor are details given about preparing tobacco water. As a general overview of decorating techniques, this book is ok; I did get a couple of new techniques from it making it worth the purchase price, but I expected more.

One additional note: the publisher should make sure books like this have an index. With no index, I can't find the all the techniques that use oxides or slips, etc.

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent instuctions, wide variety of techniques, September 5, 2001

By	Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Continuing the excellent Ceramics Class series, this is a fantastic book for those wanting to decorate ceramics. There are excellent step-by-step instructions accompanied by lots of demonstrating pictures, plus any formulas you need.

Decorations can be applied at various points in the creation process. The book starts out with decorations for soft damp pieces. I love the sculptures and jewelry using an Egyptian paste. Other pieces shown use texture application, paddling, inscribing and an agate look. Next, leather-hard pieces are decorated using fluting, faceting, carving, cloisonné, englobe painting, paper resist, combing, marbling, burnishing and encrusting. The openwork bowl, relief jug and mishima tray in this section are simply gorgeous.

Decorating dry pieces is then covered. This includes using oxides, sgraffito and using resists. Bisque-fired pieces are next. Here, underglazing, using resists, overglazing and superimposing glazes are shown. An Indian design using the cuerda seca technique, in which different glazes are used to prevent them for mixing, was my favorite.

There is a helpful glossary of terms in the back. With so many wonderful techniques and a wide variety of projects, there is something for everyone here.

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable tool, October 25, 2001

By	Shirley A. Potter "the potter" (Boise, ID United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was looking for a book--to share with my students--that would give an overview of decorating techniques in a concise manner. This is definitely THE book. Packed into this slim 64 page book are easy to understand written instructions and wonderful color photos showing step-by-step approach to any style and/or method of decorating available. I originally bought this book to use as a starting reference point, but have concluded that until all the the techniques Mr. Chavarria demonstrates have been tried and experimented with, no more searching is necessary. I especially like his idea that there are no hard and fast rules to the creative process. My students have enjoyed this book, but more importantly, so have I.