Learning
NCECA is a learning experience you’ll never forget, and if you didn’t make it this year, then perhaps you can attend it in Houston in 2013 or Milwaukee in 2014. Fortunately for all of us, the conference is held in vibrant ceramic communities around the country to accommodate the many potters unable to travel far and also to showcase the local talent.
Thanks to all those readers who visited the booth or stopped to chat with us at the conference. Your comments and support, as well as your thirst for learning, continue to inspire us to deliver great ideas to your mailbox. —Bill Jones, Editor
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Pottery Making Illustrated March/April 2012
Finding Your Voice
Former Poet Laureate Billy Collins tells aspiring poets that “your voice is hidden in the voices of others.” He explained that to find your voice, you need to identify the poets you like and read their poetry. You’ll soon discover poems you wish you had written, and you’ll become jealous and competitive. As you emulate the poems and improve on them, your voice will emerge over time and the individual influence of other poets will no longer stand out. The same thing happens in pottery as you identify techniques and pots you like. When you learn the techniques of other potters, you’ll discover ways to improve on them to make them your own; and eventually, your voice will emerge. —Bill Jones, Editor
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Pottery Making Illustrated January/February 2012
Theme: Seattle and Northwest Artists
Mistakes–If there’s one thing all of us potters have in
common it’s our ability to make mistakes and keep going. Whether it’s
an S-crack through a bottom, a crawling glaze, or getting wax resist in
the wrong place, the only rational thing to do is say “oh, well” (maybe
after an expletive) and move on. Why do we do it? Because not working
in clay is worse. —Bill Jones, Editor
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Pottery Making Illustrated November/December 2011
Personal Touches
As the holiday season approaches, I’m doing a lot of thinking about what gifts I’ll be making this year, and as usual, I look through some of the past issues of PMI for ideas. What I find are not just ideas about how to make or decorate something, but also some bits of inspiration to think about in general. A good example is in this issue with Sarah Jaeger, our featured artist. She thinks a lot about the person who will use a piece she forms, glazes and decorates, and imagines how they will hold and view the work. By altering her thrown forms she adds a tactile quality to an otherwise plain bowl. And with her decoration, she even adds a little design work inside the foot that reveals itself when the bowl is in the dish rack. —Bill Jones, Editor
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Pottery Making Illustrated September/October 2011
Theme: Surface Decoration
The holiday season may seem a long way off as we enjoy the last days of summer, but it closer than you think. If you’re planning on trying out some new techniques for gift ideas this year, now’s the time to get started. And do we have some great ideas you can start with! We’re happy to have Jason Bige Burnett, Kristin Pavelka, Connie Norman and Kate & Will Jacobson as our featured contributors in this surface decoration issue, and we’re sure you’ll enjoy every new technique. —Bill Jones, Editor
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Pottery Making Illustrated July/August 2011
Theme: Choices
Even the beginner knows that ceramics is filled with choices. Choices of forming techniques, materials, firing options, decorating styles, and on and on. And that’s why even in our 14th year of publication, we’re still at it – there’s just so much to choose from.In this issue you’ll get to take a look at throwing a bowl upside down, throwing a box, making and decorating a tile with piece missing, and even building your own tabletop slab roller for under $150. Beyond these featured choices, you’ll also get a glimpse of a product called Pyrofoto, a couple of stellar DVD reviews, making handles with plaster dies, using lusters, making a jewelry dish and some design ideas for flower pots. Where do you start? You’ve got a lot of choices – go ahead and choose. —Bill Jones, Editor
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Pottery Making Illustrated May/June 2011
Theme: Endless Techniques
When Geoffrey Chaucer said back in the 15th century “The life so short, the craft so long to learn” he could have been speaking in the 21st century. Pottery making is an art and craft that has no limits for learning, and this is borne out once again in this issue of PMI. Just when you think you’ve mastered enough techniques, we roll out some more, which we think is a good thing. We take a look at some cool throwing techniques and tips in this issue we know you’ll enjoy.
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Pottery Making Illustrated March/April 2011
Theme: Part of the Story
When we artists reveal their techniques in Pottery Making Illustrated, we often run out of room. But we’re more than happy to accommodate them when they have more to share. In this issue, we welcome back Paul Barchilon to give us some tips on using die-cut stencils and Bowie Croisant shares his technique for mold making and slipcasting. On the flip side we have Martina Lantin and her Crown Jars but she has more for a future issue.
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Pottery Making Illustrated January/February 2011
Theme: The Synergy of Techniques
When it comes to challenging techniques, even the most complicated ones can be broken down into a series of simple steps. In this issue, you’ll get a bonus because each artist takes you step-by-step through a series of techniques to create a work of art. For example, Magda Glusek’s unusual sculpture uses sculpting techniques and decorating with both fired and non-fired finishes. Peter King describes how to handbuild large cylinders you can finish on the wheel and Margaret Bohls makes plaster texture molds as a starting point for her elegant vases displayed on lattice stands. In each article, you’ll find plenty of ideas to inspire your next piece.
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Pottery Making Illustrated November/December 2010
Theme: Functional Tableware
Remember the rule about form following function? Well, here’s an issue that really illustrates that your forms can be highly creative and still get the job done. Annie Chrietzberg writes about Paul Donnelly’s excellent cup and saucer combinations in our featured project for this issue, and she’s joined by other equally creative takes on the idea of functional creative forms. Martha Grover demonstrates how to make a stunning lidded form, and Joan Bruneau and Arthur Halvorsen provide two entirely different takes on ways on making exciting flower holders. You’ll enjoy all four projects and much more in this issue.
