Lessons with clay Step-by-step techniques for colorful designs in hand-thrown tableware

In pottery, "patience is a virtue and perseverance is the key that leads you to creative fulfillment," according to ceramicist Dora in her intro to the craft. Budding potters will learn the basics of hand-building, which doesn't require a wheel, via projects including a charming rustic bud vase, simple side plates, and an easy pinched bowl. For those who have access to a wheel, more complicated touches are on the table, such as adding a curved-edge base to a bowl. Dora offers clever tips for creating an environmentally sustainable studio--a "slurry" bucket can hold water and clay "accidents" to be reused, for example--and she's thorough in her notes on clay preparation, suggesting a "cut, slam, and repeat" technique for potters who want to combine different clay types before forming an object. As well, Dora provides tips for glazes (a simple test for whether glaze is food safe: squeeze lemon juice on a finished product--if it doesn't changed the color of the glaze, it's good to go) and kilns ("to protect your kiln shelves from glaze accidents, apply a coating of bat wash" made from alumina and silica). This one-stop-shop for potters in the making hits all the marks. (Sept.)

Working with clay can be challenging. It is a complex medium that requires one to fully master the various stages of the process. Dora, a ceramic artist based in the UK, has provided clear step-by-step instructions outlining the techniques for forming and building one's pieces, using a potter's wheel, firing, and glazing. She shares instructions for different hand-building methods, throwing on the wheel, clay reuse, and glaze mixing. She illustrates the differences in clay bodies that are available and explains how the different ones can influence the final outcome. Clear color photographs illustrate the various steps in each lesson. Working mainly with functional pottery, the author guides readers in making dinnerware. Following the lessons, she concentrates on sharing her knowledge of kiln firing, setting up a studio, and best practices for selling one's work online and in person. A glossary aids with understanding the terminology. VERDICT While this is best for those who have access to studio facilities, Dora's guide is a clear and orderly introduction to pottery making that will benefit anyone interested in pursuing the craft.--Sandy Knowles