The Spirit of Clay: A Classic Guide to Ceramics (Paperback)

by Robert Piepenburg (Author)

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

Product Description
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.

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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: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,181,376 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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 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 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

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.