joyce on tue 5 aug 08
Jamie asked about books on glazing...........
In the first few months of my journey with clay I stumbled upon
Robin Hopper's books and videos! His videos are the best around
when it comes to detailed information for the beginning potter .... right
on through to the much more experienced artist. His Ceramic
Spectrum and other pubs are valuable adjuncts; however for a total
novice (which was my case) his videos are the best.
However, there are many, many others now that are also professionally
presented. I tivo Bill Van Gilder's how-to shows. I have all of them
now and re-run them often..... wheel work, handbuilding, glazing
techniques, design, layering, tools, firing tips and much more.......
all offered in an easy-listenin' style which must be a reflection of his own
kinda' lanky personality. Just observing him moving around his studio,
loading the kilns, applying glaze ...... is enlightening and inspiring.
He isn't on Clayart, to my knowledge, but does write regularly for
Clay Times with the same detailed offerings that one can view on his
shows.
I don't know where you are on the continuum of pottery skills, but
Tom Turner's videos are another very valuable resource for me......
beautifully done.... he takes questions and comments from the
group to whom he's presenting on the tape ..... which often are
the very questions I would have asked........ very helpful. AND his
work is incredible (running out of adjectives here).
Pottery Making Illustrated sometimes offers how-to articles on
glazing. They are well worth the price of a subscription. I know
potters much more experienced than I who await their issues
eagerly .... it's not solely for the novice. I'm in the middle there
somewhere and I learn from every copy. My big regret is not having
ordered the very first issue which sold out immediately.
And John Britt's "High Fire Glazes" is so well thumbed that I now
have a copy for the garagio as well as one for the house. This is
definitely NOT a cookbook. It's an incredible array of just about
everything to know concerning high fire glazes, glazing and firing.
Britt's section on Application (of glazes) offers pictures following
the narrative on dipping, brushing, spraying, pouring, as well as
info on the use of resists. His selection of pots from other potters
is pure eye-candy! Green glazes section, as an example, includes
Shaner's oribe with jars from Ben Owen III...... talk about to die
for!.......... he writes about copper greens, chrome greens, iron green,
titanium green, nickel green ... and then we move on to Blue Glazes.
John's book is indeed "The Complete Guide to High Fire Glazes"
and makes me right this minute want to go work with the yellows
and ash............. or start to work with them...... I know that will require
a lifetime all by itself........... but that's the joy of pottery, is it not?
What a wealth of information we have today........ I'm grateful to live
through both the transportation age and now at least knocking on
the door of the information age...........
Joyce
In the Mojave desert of California U.S.A.
June on tue 5 aug 08
Joyce, I have to concur with your rave review of John Britt's book. When I got a copy I couldn't believe the amount of information in that it contained. I wish it was in print 35 years ago when I started working in clay. It's a treasure house for anyone working or looking to work in high fire glazes. It even contains recipes and pictures of flashing and other slips for those of us who soda or salt fire.
Not only does it have the features you mentioned, but it charts various firing schedules for many of the glaze recipes shown as well as giving specific gravity for the glaze, etc. I also like the side by side listing of various formulas and the way they are grouped according to type and color.
That book, in my opinion is very under priced. The eye candy alone is worth the price!
Regards,
June
http://www.shambhalapottery.com
http://shambhalapottery.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sodasaltfiring/
----- Original Message ----
From: joyce
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Tuesday, August 5, 2008 1:41:56 PM
Subject: books/videos
Jamie asked about books on glazing...........
In the first few months of my journey with clay I stumbled upon
Robin Hopper's books and videos! His videos are the best around
when it comes to detailed information for the beginning potter .... right
on through to the much more experienced artist. His Ceramic
Spectrum and other pubs are valuable adjuncts; however for a total
novice (which was my case) his videos are the best.
However, there are many, many others now that are also professionally
presented. I tivo Bill Van Gilder's how-to shows. I have all of them
now and re-run them often..... wheel work, handbuilding, glazing
techniques, design, layering, tools, firing tips and much more.......
all offered in an easy-listenin' style which must be a reflection of his own
kinda' lanky personality. Just observing him moving around his studio,
loading the kilns, applying glaze ...... is enlightening and inspiring.
He isn't on Clayart, to my knowledge, but does write regularly for
Clay Times with the same detailed offerings that one can view on his
shows.
I don't know where you are on the continuum of pottery skills, but
Tom Turner's videos are another very valuable resource for me......
beautifully done.... he takes questions and comments from the
group to whom he's presenting on the tape ..... which often are
the very questions I would have asked........ very helpful. AND his
work is incredible (running out of adjectives here).
Pottery Making Illustrated sometimes offers how-to articles on
glazing. They are well worth the price of a subscription. I know
potters much more experienced than I who await their issues
eagerly .... it's not solely for the novice. I'm in the middle there
somewhere and I learn from every copy. My big regret is not having
ordered the very first issue which sold out immediately.
And John Britt's "High Fire Glazes" is so well thumbed that I now
have a copy for the garagio as well as one for the house. This is
definitely NOT a cookbook. It's an incredible array of just about
everything to know concerning high fire glazes, glazing and firing.
Britt's section on Application (of glazes) offers pictures following
the narrative on dipping, brushing, spraying, pouring, as well as
info on the use of resists. His selection of pots from other potters
is pure eye-candy! Green glazes section, as an example, includes
Shaner's oribe with jars from Ben Owen III...... talk about to die
for!.......... he writes about copper greens, chrome greens, iron green,
titanium green, nickel green ... and then we move on to Blue Glazes.
John's book is indeed "The Complete Guide to High Fire Glazes"
and makes me right this minute want to go work with the yellows
and ash............. or start to work with them...... I know that will require
a lifetime all by itself........... but that's the joy of pottery, is it not?
What a wealth of information we have today........ I'm grateful to live
through both the transportation age and now at least knocking on
the door of the information age...........
Joyce
In the Mojave desert of California U.S.A.
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