Beginner's Guide to Pottery & Ceramics: Everything you need to know to start making beautiful ceramics

I have recently taken up pottery having done it at school 20 years ago. I attend a class, but there is limited input from the teacher in terms of ideas for what to make and so found myself looking at books for help.

This book teaches you about all the various creating and decorating techniques as do many other books. This book gives more information that the two others I have so far read on tools and their uses. It gives some info on use of kilns, but in my opinion, not enough... this is the only negative in a plethora of positives.

The big selling point for this book though, is that it gives detailed projects involving all the various techniques to help you on your creative journey.

The images are clear. Some of the directions take reading a couple of times to get your head around, but once it clicks, it all seems so simple. I also have learnt more about glazes from reading this book than I have in 20 weeks of pottery classes.

There's even a glossary which I very much approve of! As well as a list of suppliers in the U.K. with their websites.

I absolutely recommend this book.

This book is invaluable if you want to learn anything about working with clay.
It takes you step by step in a language that's easy to follow with clear pictures describing techniques, tools, methods types of clay, types of equipment and the simplest ways to use them.
Each aspect of pottery and ceramic is simply explained and it made me want to crack on with making something!

Having tried my hand at ceramics a few years ago, I wanted to reacquaint myself with this wonderfully relaxing and rewarding hobby and thought this book, being a 'Beginners Guide' would be a good place to start. I was not disappointed - this book takes you through everything a beginner needs to know, including what tools to use ,types of clay needed, kiln firing and basic forming methods such as pinching, coiling, slab work and throwing through to a large section on decorating techniques. Everything is well explained in step by step, clearly written instructions and illustrated with large colour pictures throughout. Having read and taken so much inspiration from this lovely book, I cannot wait to to restart this great new hobby and make some fabulous pots.

This book is very informative and written in a language that is easy to understand. As someone new to pottery it is a helpful guide to getting started and has useful project ideas.

Amazing book for somebody wants to learn about pottery and start a new hobby

Learn all the skills you need to start making beautiful ceramics. Everything you need to know presented in a step-by-step format with beautiful photos and easy to follow instructions. Find the core techniques to develop your creativity. From types of clay to basic techniques such as pinching and coiling right up to throwing, glazing and firing, you'll discover enough about the subject to get hooked. Superb practical projects from planters, to small tray to teapot and more, that you will really want to make. If I were looking for a pottery teacher, I would choose Jacqui, this book is the next best thing. I met her once at Fire & Earth, lovely lady. Recommended.

Jacqui Atkin is a practising ceramicist and has taught pottery in colleges and occupational therapy classes for several years. She now runs private courses on low-fire pottery techniques from her home in Shropshire, which include smoke-firing and Raku. She has contributed to several pottery books as a project maker and gallery artist, and is the author of several books including Pottery You Can Use.