To many potters glaze recipes are like manna from heaven, appearing from nowhere, or holy writ, once committed to paper never to be changed or questioned. Potters use recipes that are passed from one to another and do not understand why the same recipes do not work for everyone. In this book the mystery and involved chemistry are replaced with a practical, straightforward approach to glazes and their application. Chemical formulae are avoided as far as possible. There are many books which cover the chemistry of glazes in depth, with information on oxides and other materials, and do it well. This book is about a personal journey developing and discovering glazes. Author Daly shows how simple it can be to develop a glaze and a color. You need no previous experience - only a passion for exploration and discovery. If you are looking for glaze recipes you can turn to Chapter 6. It will be like viewing a friends travel video - seeing but not experiencing. If you are looking for a better understanding of glazes, color development and surface finishes, begin at Chapter 1. A glaze recipe from a book is only part of what creates the finished surface. You may now be searching for what you believe is an elusive recipe, but you already have the recipe; what you are really seeking is how to control the other factors that determine the final result - clay bodies, kilns, temperatures, kiln atmospheres and the way you apply your glaze material. This book is about a journey of discovery and understanding; so that the development of color and surface finishes becomes not mysterious at all. This book provides approaches and observation skills which will give an overall view of what happens to materials in glazes, how oxides give different colors with varying base glazes and how application methods can alter everything. The development of glazes and color should be fun.

Glazes and Glazing Techniques: A Glaze Journey

Daly, Greg

Arts & Photography

Gentle Breeze Pub Co

Wherever the skills of the potter are taught today, it is likely that the ubiquitous bisc will make its appearance. Twice firing is common practice in almost every field of ceramics, despite the fact that it is historically a relative newcomer. In this book, Fran Tristram explores the older method of single firing, both through its history and through its practice. The reasons for its demise are revealed and explained, the myths surrounding it examined, and practical problems resolved. Although it is true that, like any other technique, single firing will not suit everybody, this book, drawing as it does on the long experience of many well-known single firers (e.g. Lucie Rie, Clive Bowen, Josie Walter), should give confidence to those who are willing to try.

Single Firing: The Pros and Cons

Fran Tristram

Other Media

Impressing and incising have been used as methods of decoration by potters throughout history. Today, these same techniques continue to be used by potters and ceramic artists worldwide, in creative and innovative ways. In this book, Coll Minogue describes the working methods of several of these ceramicists. The range of international work illustrated - including contemporary, historic and pre historic pieces - is indicative of the verstility of impressing and incising and demonstrates the scope for personal expression which is possible using these techniques.

Impressed & Incised Ceramics

Minogue, Coll

The technique of lustre has been the inspiration for some of the most beautiful pottery in the world. During the thousand years since its first use on ceramics in early ninth-century Iraq, its secrets have often been confined to a small circle of initiates. In this respect, as well as in its symbolism and its potters quest to produce wares possessing the qualities of gold, it has strong links with alchemy. Alan Caiger-Smith, a potter with an international reputation who has made a special name for himself by successfully reviving the art of lustre, covers the whole subject from Abbasid Iraq to the late twentieth century. He concludes with a chapter on alchemy and symbolism and three substantial chapters on technique: two of them describe past and present methods of producing lustre, and in the third, Frank Hamer, the well-known ceramic scientist, answers a series of questions on the science of lustre.

Lustre Pottery

Alan Caiger-Smith

This book should appeal to a wide range of people but particularly those who would like to have a go at pottery without having to spend a lot of money on a kiln.

Smoke Fired Pottery

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Perryman, Jane

Crafts & Hobbies

This book is short, concise and FULL of excellent information. Includes information on model and mold making techniques, water to plaster ratio, bloc, case and working molds, molding template techniques, tools, materials, rubberized case mold and more.

Plaster of Paris: Techniques from Scratch

Harvey, Reid

Kiln Building

Gregory, Ian

A new studio manual for the operation and maintenance of fuel-fired kilns. 90 pages of fact-filled information on the firing process-oxidation, reduction, fuel and efficiency. Questions are answered on burners, stalling, stacking and sources. Bonus: Includes complete plans for building the Minnesota Flat-top.

Art of Firing

Lou, Nils

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Books by Gentle Breeze Pub Co