No Kiln, Handbuilding Clay Projects: 50 Elegant Projects To Make for the Home

Handbuilding projects with self-hardening clay is one way to avoid using a kiln, wheel, or lathe. Designer/stylist Vannier’s (Contemporary Ceramic Art) book demonstrates how self-hardening clay can be utilized in techniques such as pinching, slab building, coiling, molding painting, creating textures, and glazing, which can all be adapted to other kiln fired and polymer clay. The book starts with an explanation of the basic slab process and progresses to tutorials on how to make bowls, coasters, and trinkets. More than 50 projects are included in this work, along with a glossary of terms and basic supplies. There are detailed step-by-step instructions with vibrant photographs, plus suggestions on ways to personalize projects or try new techniques. Finishing methods—gesso, paint, and coffee or seed textures—are discussed. The book also indicates how metal wire or wooden rods can be used to shape and support a piece, especially large objects. This work emphasizes inlaying different materials to give self-hardening clay pieces a distinctive quality. The book warns that this type of clay is not waterproof, but it encourages readers to apply lessons learned from this work to create their own custom creations.