A Glaze of Color: Creating Color and Design on Ceramics (Paperback)

by Jane Davies (Author), John Polak (Photographer) "DECORATING POTTERY is a richly rewarding medium that offers an endless variety of creative expression, whether you're a novice or an experienced artist..." (more)
Key Phrases: contemporary ceramics studio, bisque surface, manual kiln, Kristen Mills (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The development of paint-your-own ceramics studios, at which ready-made bisqueware and studio time for decorating it are sold, has made pottery decoration accessible to a wider public than ever before. Ceramics artist Jane Davies demonstrates how to decorate the surface of ready-made bisqueware and tiles using commercially produced decorating colors known as underglazes and other materials to create beautifully colored pieces. Practical step-by-step demonstrations of a variety of application methods-including brushing, shading, sponging, masking, sgrafitto, spattering, stamping, stenciling, marbling, majolica, and underglaze pencils-provide inspiration for decorating tiles, plates, cups, bowls, lamps, vases, and decorative platters. Davies also explores the creative possibilities of colored glazes, as well as decorating pieces after firing with acrylic paint and paper collage.

About the Author
Jane Davies sells her work at regional and national craft and gift shows, and licenses her designs to manufacturers of tableware and other products, including Susan Sargent Designs. She lives in Rupert, VT. John Polak is a commercial, wedding, and portrait photographer based in Chicopee, MA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; illustrated edition edition (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082302119X
• ISBN-13: 978-0823021192
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #342,507 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jaded but inspired, October 15, 2004

By	An editor (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Over the past couple of decades I have edited art instruction books too numerous to count, including this one. I've been indifferent about many I've worked on that've found success anyway and enthusiastic about others that haven't necessarily found favor in the marketplace. So my personal preferences certainly haven't made me an authority about public reception or perception (or sales figures).

I don't give praise lightly. But when I edit something that offers me truly useful and valuable information, that really makes me want to revisit my old practicing-artist self, I can't help but express my enthusiasm. And A Glaze of Color made me enthusiastic. It really inspired me to take up the craft of painting again, to just indulge myself in working with color again, no matter what the medium.

So, discount my positive prejudice here if you must, but next time you're in a book store searching for some kind of artistic inspiration, for yourself or for your kids or for anyone, please look for Jane Davies's book A Glaze of Color, even just to thumb through it.

(Hey, I'm a freelancer, so have no stake in encouraging profits for the publisher, author, or, least of all, myself.)

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful book, well presented!, January 24, 2005

By	Dean Nimmer "deandart" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As an art teacher, I'm often looking for books that will benefit (inspire) my students. I highly recommend "A Glaze of Color" for artists, students and hobbyists who want a clear, step by step guide to the techniques used in hand-painted ceramics. This book is well written and has wonderful illustrations. I think that it is equally useful to those studing painting as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, July 10, 2006

By	Megan K. Pierce "Megan" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am fairly new to ceramics and this book was a wonderful read. It explained had a lot of information regarding glazes and different techniques to using glazes. There were a lot of great pictures in the book to that gave me some good ideas for some of things that would be fun to make.