9 Ceramics Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Julia Claire Weber, a seasoned studio artist and educator with deep roots in ceramics, brings her hands-on experience managing Clayspace and teaching nationwide to this guide. You’ll learn essential wheel-throwing techniques, from centering clay to trimming and attaching handles, detailed through clear projects like mugs and plates. The book also delves into decoration methods like image transfer decals, giving you skills to create pieces with personality. If you’re starting pottery or revisiting the wheel, it walks you through the craft’s fundamentals with practical examples and inspiring artist galleries, setting realistic expectations for your creative journey.

The methods Ben Carter developed while teaching ceramics transform basic wheel-throwing into a versatile craft. Starting with foundational skills like centering and simple forms, this book quickly moves into advanced techniques for creating large and complex pieces, such as pitchers and platters, through methods like darting and paddling. You’ll also find inspiring galleries showcasing work from leading contemporary artists, which provide real-world context and motivation. This book suits potters who want to deepen their technical skills and broaden their creative possibilities on the wheel, rather than beginners seeking only the basics.

This personalized book offers a thorough exploration of ceramics, tailored specifically to your background and goals. It covers wheel throwing, hand building, glazing, and materials science in a way that matches your experience level, ensuring you focus on what matters most to your creative journey. By integrating diverse ceramic techniques, the book reveals how these methods interconnect, deepening your understanding of form, function, and surface treatment. The tailored approach lets you move beyond general guidance by addressing your unique interests, whether mastering the potter's wheel or developing glaze recipes. This focused coverage provides both foundational knowledge and advanced skills, empowering you to refine your craft with confidence and enthusiasm.

When Deb Schwartzkopf first realized how much potters struggle to bridge basic skills and creative expression, she crafted a guide that goes beyond mere technique. This book invites you to assess your current abilities and then choose from a range of projects that push boundaries—from throwing bottomless cylinders to mastering bisque molds for spoons and goblets. You'll discover how small tweaks, like asymmetrical slab plates or altered vases, can transform your work. If you want to grow as a functional potter while exploring innovative forms, this book delivers practical insights and artist features that inspire fresh ideas without overwhelming you.

Sunshine Cobb, a seasoned ceramic artist and professor, offers a thorough exploration of hand building techniques that move beyond basic clay shaping. You’ll find detailed guidance on constructing forms ranging from simple pinch pots to intricate coiled boxes and soft slab tableware, with chapters devoted to designing templates, creating lidded vessels, and using molds. The book also dives into decorative methods and encourages experimentation, supported by inspiring examples from contemporary artists like Bryan Hopkins and Shoko Teruyama. If you’re aiming to deepen your hand building skills and explore creative possibilities in clay, this book provides a focused resource that balances foundational lessons with advanced craftsmanship.

Jacqui Atkin's extensive career as a studio ceramicist with works housed in UK galleries informs this focused guide on crafting functional pottery. You’ll find detailed instruction on creating everyday items like stackable plates, well-fitting lids, and durable handles, with clear explanations of design decisions, clay selection, and construction methods such as throwing and hand-building. For example, chapters on spout design teach how to pour cleanly without drips, while glazing sections emphasize food-safe finishes. This book serves potters who want to blend aesthetics with usability, particularly those refining their skills beyond beginner level.

This personalized book explores focused actions to accelerate your wheel throwing and hand building skills, tailored specifically to your background and goals. It covers essential techniques and creative approaches, revealing how to develop core pottery abilities efficiently within a 30-day plan. By matching your interests and skill level, this guide emphasizes practical progress through hands-on exercises, reflection, and incremental challenges. With a tailored focus on both wheel and hand methods, it examines common hurdles and growth opportunities, helping you deepen your understanding of clay behavior, form control, and finishing touches. This personalized pathway turns the complexities of ceramics into an accessible journey shaped just for you, bringing expert knowledge straight to your practice.

What happens when a professional studio ceramicist with years of hands-on experience shares her craft? Jacqui Atkin, drawing on her role as editorial consultant for ClayCraft magazine and her extensive pottery background, presents an accessible yet richly detailed exploration of pinch pottery. You’ll learn everything from selecting the right clay and mastering hand-forming techniques to firing and decorating your pieces, with 35 projects ranging from functional bowls to sculptural forms. Each chapter guides you through options for surface decoration and style variations, making it suitable for beginners eager to start their ceramics journey and for experienced makers looking to expand their repertoire. It’s a focused, practical dive into a timeless technique that proves pinch pots deserve equal standing among pottery methods.

Sunshine Cobb’s decades of teaching and studio practice culminate in this approachable guide that brings hand building to home potters with clarity and warmth. You’ll learn foundational skills in clay preparation, shape construction, and mixed media techniques, with projects ranging from functional kitchen tools to delicate sculptural forms. Cobb doesn’t just show you how to make objects; she grounds you in understanding clay’s properties and maintaining your well-being through the creative process, making it accessible whether you’re setting up at the kitchen table or a communal studio. This book suits beginners eager to develop steady skills and more experienced makers seeking fresh inspiration without the pressure of wheel-throwing mastery.

What started as a deep dive into local landscapes turned into a meticulous manual by Matt Levy and his collaborators, Takuro and Hitomi Shibata. You’ll learn how to identify, extract, and test wild clay properties—shrinkage, water absorption, plasticity—to determine their best use, whether for sculpture, tile, throwing, or glazing. The book’s illustrations clarify complex processes like test-firing and blending clays, making it accessible for novices and seasoned potters alike. If you want to connect your ceramic work intimately with nature’s materials and expand your creative palette, this guide offers the technical grounding and inspiration you need.

Forrest Lesch-Middelton brings decades of hands-on experience to this book, which dives into the entire journey of creating and installing custom ceramic tile. You’ll find detailed guidance on everything from shaping and decorating tiles—with techniques like cuerda seca and image transfer—to planning your space and mastering installation challenges, including surface prep and grouting. The book also features insights from prominent tile artists, offering diverse perspectives that enrich your understanding. Whether you're a ceramic artist aiming to expand your craft or a homeowner looking to personalize your space, this book equips you with practical knowledge grounded in real-world practice.