Review on The Craft and Art of Clay: A Comprehensive Guide by Susan Peterson (2000-01-01) by Amber Perez

I received this book as a Christmas present from my boyfriend in 2003 as I had just started casting molds in September. I'm still taking courses and this is the best and most comprehensive guide I've seen. I've bought and reviewed quite a few books but nothing I've seen compares to this one. But I have a word of warning for budding potters; There is absolutely no substitute for studio experience and practice. My instructors rightly told me from the start that the art of making sound takes many hours of practice. There's no way around it. This book is not intended for independent use. Maybe it could have been for a more experienced potter. But for a newbie like me, it's a great reinforcement of what I'm learning in class. It also gives me great ideas for glazing, types of pots to throw, etc. I have to work with my teacher on most things, but I still find it extremely helpful. The book explores topics that we don't really discuss in detail in class. It's about things like: what are glazes (composition and origin) and how does the chemical process work? What are the main glazing technologies? What types of tones are there and where do they come from? How to choose tone for work? Because the art and history of clay making varies from culture to culture, many different styles and techniques are included, what makes this book a comprehensive book. Many parts of the book are very technical (a little intimidating to me) and probably best suited to the "master" tone painter. Still, I find it very useful. It really is the Oxford Dictionary of clay modelling. This book should definitely be part of any serious pottery library (but not the only book!)