The Practical Potter (A step-by-step handbook)
- London: Hermes House; 1999.
- 256 p.: (pbk.) 25 cm. ill;
Includes Bibliography references and index material.
This book is a comprehensive practical guide to learning and improving pottery and ceramic-making skills. The book introduces readers to the full process of working with clay, beginning with design ideas and basic materials and then explaining major techniques such as hand-building, mould making, wheel throwing, glazing, decoration, and kiln firing. It teaches fundamental pottery methods—including pinching, coiling, slab building, hollowing, extrusion, and clay relief—through clear step-by-step instructions supported by hundreds of photographs. The book also includes more than 30 practical projects, ranging from simple hand-formed pots to wheel-thrown cups, moulded plates, jugs, and decorative sculptural pieces, helping beginners gradually develop their skills while inspiring experienced potters to explore creative designs. Overall, the book serves as both an instructional manual and a source of artistic inspiration, showing how technical knowledge and creativity combine to produce functional and decorative ceramic works.