The Beginner’s Guide to Hand Building: Functional and Sculptural Projects for the Home Potter

Cobb’s (Mastering Hand Building) slim volume provides a basic introduction to tools, supplies, and techniques necessary for hand building ceramic sculptures and functional objects. Readers will learn about appropriate home studio space, a beginner’s tool set, stages of clay texture and workability, basic techniques, and safety precautions. Pages addressing body posture, ergonomics, and stretches emphasize the importance of avoiding injury. Kiln firing is briefly mentioned with the assumption that readers will have access to a ceramics studio. Glazing is touched upon as well, but the author notes that she intentionally kept this section short. The book showcases sculptural projects, some of which are purely decorative, such as plants or animals, which utilize various techniques. Functional objects such as scoops, coffee pour-overs, soap and butter dishes, and candleholders are also featured. The projects are heavily illustrated with photos of ceramics by various artists. Readers are encouraged to use their own creative instincts to make pieces that reflect their vision. Templates are included for the more complicated shapes, along with instructions for enlarging them.