Creative Pottery: Innovative Techniques and Experimental Designs in Thrown and Handbuilt Ceramics

by Deb Schwartzkopf

Overview

Take your work to the next level! In Creative Pottery, join ceramic artist Deb Schwartzkopf and grow as a functional potter, whether your background is in wheel-throwing or handbuilding.

Start off with a quick review of where you are in your own journey as a potter. If you need to brush up on the basics, help setting goals, or pointers on how to translate your inspiration into your work, you’ve come to the right place. The rest of the book is a self-guided journey in which you can choose the techniques and projects that interest you:

• Go beyond the basics and learn how to throw or handbuild a bottomless cylinder. Then explore seams and alterations for projects like an oval serving tray, altered cylinder vase, and dessert boat.
• Learn about small changes that make a big impact, making an asymmetrical slab plate, throwing plates, and creating a cake stand.
• Master bisque molds and use them to open a new world of possibilities. Make spoons, a goblet, a butter dish, and more.
• Add complexity for stunning forms, including a pitcher, juicer, teapot, and oil pourer.

With compelling galleries, artist features, and guided questions for growth throughout, this is a book for potters ready to learn new skills and unlock their creativity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631598258
Publisher:	Quarry Books
Publication date:	06/02/2020
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	277,083
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Deb Schwartzkopf is a studio potter, instructor, and active community member of Seattle, Washington. She has taught at Ohio University, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, University of Washington, and University of Georgia’s study abroad program in Cortona. She was named Ceramics Monthly and Ceramic Arts Daily's 2019 Artist of the Year, one of the most visible awards in the field. Deb has worked as an artist in residence nationally and internationally at the Archie Bray Foundation (MT), Mudflat Studios (MA), The Clay Studio (PA), Pottery Northwest (WA), Watershed (ME), Sanbao in Jingdezhen, China, and the Residency for Ceramics in Berlin, Germany. Since 2002, Deb has also taught widely at top ceramics centers including Penland School of Craft, Gaya Ceramics Center (Indonesia), and IARE (France). Her artwork is included in collections such as the Kamm Teapot Foundation, San Angelo Museum, and the WA State Arts Collection, among others. She has been included in numerous publications including Ceramic Monthly, Pottery Making Illustrated, and Studio Potter Magazine; has contributed to Red Clay Rambler Podcasts; is an active founding member of Objective Clay; has served as the Director of the Washington Clay Arts Association; and is currently a board member at Pottery Northwest. In 2013, Deb founded and launched what is now Rat City Studios, a community pottery studio where she offers adult classes, studio memberships, and opportunities for emerging artists: ratcitystudios.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword Josh DeWeese 6

Introduction 9

Chapter 1 Getting Started

The Journey of a Potter 14

Tools Used in This Book 16

Featured Artist: Robbie Lobell 20

Techniques Used in This Book 21

Making and Using Templates 27

Olivia Tani, On Process 30

Tips for Successful Seams 31

Beginning Alterations 32

Chapter 2 Growing as a Potter

Find a Fresh Viewpoint 36

Steve Godfrey, On Self-Critique 37

Finding and Using Inspiration 38

Defining Influences 44

Bottomless Cylinder 45

Oval Serving Tray 50

Altered Cylinder Vase 55

Large Vase 58

V-Shaped Bowl or Cone 64

Featured Artist: Jen Allen 67

Dessert Boat 69

Chapter 3 Small Changes for Big Impact

Asymmetrical Slab Plate 76

Featured Artist: Taylor Sijan 79

Throwing a Plate 80

Trimming and Tap Centering 83

Altering Plate Shapes 86

Featured Artist: Sue Tirrell 89

Cake Stand 91

Decorative Edges 95

Chapter 4 Exploring Bisque Molds

Bisque Molds 102

Small Spoons 104

Bud Vases 110

Throwing a Closed Form 114

The Cup 118

Goblet 126

Featured Artist: Hayne Bayless 130

Square-Footed Bowl 133

Butter Dish 136

Chapter 5 Adding Complexity

Coiling an Asymmetrical Mold 144

Pitcher 148

Featured Artist: Zak Helenske 156

Juicer 158

Teapot 163

Marty Fielding, On Process 168

Oil Pourer 172

Templates 177

Resources 184

Acknowledgments 189

About the Author 189

Index 190