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

Susan Peterson was my postgraduate ceramics professor when I was a student at Hunter College in New York many years ago. My little clay brick in books! We learned clay/glaze chemistry and more. For those who want one of the best books on clay, here it is. Her husband was also a ceramics engineer (if I remember correctly) so her information and experience was paramount. She also knew a lot about historical ceramics. For those doing work that required a thorough understanding of the properties of

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…

An excellent book for anyone who wants to work with clay. The book is clearly written for prospective and current studio potters. The book was originally published in 1992 and is now in its fourth edition. And having mentioned some security issues, there are plenty of tutorials on sculpting clay and the tools to use. There are manual building sections: pinch, serpentine and panel building. Then there is a lot about the technique of "throwing" the clay on the potter's wheel with good photo…