Pottery on the Wheel

By Elsbeth S. Woody

Book Overview

In Pottery on the Wheel, Elsbeth S. Woody provides step-by-step instruction for the novice potter in the art of throwing basic ceramic forms. In simple and precise language accompanied by over 250 black-and-white photographs, Woody discusses the tools of the trade and illustrates how to wedge clay, how to throw cylindrical and open shapes, and then how to trim them. With sections for specialized and advanced throwing, throwing specific forms such as teapots and pitchers, as well as appendixes on clays, glazes, kilns, and firing, Woody provides all the elements necessary for the beginner to develop fully his or her own signature style.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374512345
• ISBN13: 9780374512347
• Release Date: January 1975
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 205 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.5" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

The only book you need

I bought this book for my wife who had just finished ten weeks of throwing lessons. She read the book and was able to improve her work in just a few practice sessions. She is so pleased with her new knowledge and skill. The fine detail and the pictures of sectioned pots were easy to follow. The accompaning text was clear and the summeries allow for quick reference.We can only recommend this fine book to anyone that wants to improve their skill.

Every Potter should have this book

The text is detailed, but easy to understand and the pictures do an excellent job of reinforcing the concept. I have been throwing for about a year, but reached a point where I was "stuck" and couldn't seem to move forward. After only ONE day of using the techniques in this book, I was able to double the amount of clay I could successfully throw and the results were better than anything I had previously produced. This is the best book there is on throwing.

THE book for the beginner wheel potter

As a student potter, I've looked at a lot of beginner's books. I bought one when I bought the wheel, some at the local bookstore, and some more at the local ceramics supply store. This one I got from the library and liked it so much I ordered it to keep as a reference. It has all the stuff in the detail that I wish the others had - detail sufficient to be of immediate use, but not so complex as to be difficult to understand. There is even more detail that will be of value when I gain more experience.The book points out typical beginner's errors - I made 'em all - and how to prevent them. It discusses the sequence of pulling the clay to make a pot while maintaining center. Each chapter also has an outline at the end of the main points/steps that were the focus of the chapter so the reader will be sure to learn the most important considerations of that particular topic.The text is clear, easy to read and understand, and the many photographs, in my opinion, could not be better - they are close-up, in focus and large.

This book's a must for learning wheel-thrown pottery.

I'm a professional potter, who's also a pottery teacher for Technique Ceramics, Scottsdale Az. "Pottery on the Wheel" is by far the best book that I've found for teaching wheel-thrown pottery. Ms. Woody covers a wide range of pottery techniques, from centering clay, making bowls, plates, lids, cylinders, pulled handles, and more. This book is also filled with wonderful photographs of each step. Ms. Woody slices each clay project in half to show the correct position of the potter's hands while forming the pot. This is the book that I credit my success as a potter to, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is really serious about learning pottery on the wheel! Buy it, you will not regret it!