The beginner's guide to wheel throwing A complete course for the potter's wheel

Weber, a full-time time studio potter, has created an excellent guide for those aspiring to take up pottery making. Weber presents, in a very concise and organized manner, the knowledge needed to work with clay successfully. There's information about clay's composition, how to create different forms on a wheel, and how to fire pottery in the kiln. From beginning to end, the book is peppered with step-by-step photographic illustrations accompanied by clear text. Weber demonstrates how to center the clay, how to begin a pot, and the techniques to form various pottery shapes such as cylinders and bowls. Once the budding potter has completed some projects successfully, the book explains and demonstrates the finishing processes: drying the pot, loading and firing a kiln, glazing, and firing again at a higher final temperature. For inspiration, there are many illustrations of works by a range of ceramists. Weber has successfully created a how-to book for pottery making that will leave readers with the general knowledge needed to work with clay. While nothing can replace hands-on instruction, this book comes close. VERDICT Libraries, teaching studios, and aspiring potters should all have this book on hand.--Sandra Knowles, formerly at South Carolina State Lib., Columbia