(Part 2) Best products from r/Pottery

Clay and Glazes For the Potter is the best resource for glaze formulation. An older edition can be picked up pretty cheaply. I think I paid $15 for my copy. http://www.amazon.ca/Clay-Glazes-Potter-Daniel-Rhodes/dp/0873418638

The ceramic spectrum is also pretty good as well http://www.amazon.ca/Ceramic-Spectrum-Simplified-Approach-Development/dp/0873418212

Ive used body liquid latex like this https://www.amazon.com/Ammonia-Liquid-Latex-Paint-Ounce/dp/B006GDPLL8/ref=sr_1_14_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1523903997&sr=8-14&keywords=liquid+latex

If thats similar it works really well! if you have a good brush and make it thick, it comes off in a clean line. The real advantage is that it peels off so you can put the latex where you want one color, peel it off and put another glaze over the whole thing. plus its fun to peel off.

Ceramics by Philip Rawson has been really helpful. It's a pretty well rounded book, giving you both a history to pottery, and principles by which to work by. It's also just a fun read. It's 13 bucks used on amazon, so pretty cheap too.

Offer to help your art teacher clean up or other tasks in exchange for giving you time in the studio, and to glaze your own pieces. If you end up loving clay then you can work towards building a home studio. However if you think you might go away after high school, you may want to hold off on your own studio, as the kiln and other equipment is not easily transportable.

Googling everything is going to take a long time to figure out what applies and does not apply to your work. I would recommend starting with a book, and using search to augment your information. Your library probably has this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Potters-Bible-Essential-Illustrated-Reference-ebook/dp/B01G8U33YK/

This is the ceramic blanket I purchased a few of. It doesn't mention naked flame though. Any idea if it is probably still okay?

For the screws, would something like this work okay in the soil? Would you recommend anything as a lining outside of the fiber blanket?

Thank you so much. Super duper helpful.

No you don't.

In my experience, a light box is difficult to work well with. Here's why, you need powerful lights to get a nice diffuse illumination in the box, shining through the fabric takes power. Sticking a camera through a hole will often show up in the reflection in shiny glaze and it looks horrible. Newer cellphones are good for this as they're so small.

I'm pretty satisfied now with a gradient backdrop and some backward facing umbrella lights. I never managed to take good photos with the light box, it now sits unused.

I use:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B003WLY24O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0000A4EZ4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I tried aprons that ceramic stores sell, but I found that just going to any store that sells cover-alls works best. Like a jump suit.

Then you can just wash that and not have to worry about your laundry.

I think you're right about the $15 price point.

Popular items -

• Regular mugs
  
• Travel mugs that include a silicone rubber lid
  
• Sock Monkey Mugs
  
• Yarn bowls
  
• Berry bowls
  
• Sponge holders (I sell those for just $10.)
  
  It seems to help to have a wide variety of items and colors. I'd like to develop to the point where I have a distinct look of my own and a 'coherent body of work' that might enable me to get into high end galleries, but in the meantime, variety seems to help me appeal to a greater number of people.
  
  

I love this, what a great gift. My only suggestion would have been to use the thick high temp wire for the nose ring. You stick in the wire while the clay is damp and the thicker high temp wire can easily go to Cone 10

I think he'd find this book quite interesting if he's into technical stuff. https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Pottery-Handbook-Revised/dp/1568365527

If he fires at home, getting him a glaze recipe book is always cool. I've got a book on Cone 6 glazes and I love to just look at the different example pieces. They usually have a lot of info on chemistry too.

I bend the tops or paddle the sides after I take it off the wheel and let it sit for 30 mins or so. Once it’s good to trim, I trim the bottom and then use a pottery hole punch like this: BCP Pack of 4 Stainless Steel and Wood Circular Clay Hole Cutters for Pottery and Sculpture https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A9STDEQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_gssqDbFP9E7GF Depending on the size you want. I then use a sponge and soften the hole punch marks so they are smooth.

My old instructor's book is very good for for all inclusive information. I didn't start ceramics until the middle of college and when he wasn't there to ask for help this book did provide a lot of aid. I used it (along with the internet) to teach myself how to throw since I only took hand building classes.

The instructor put two bats under the back legs of each stool, and also a bat on the seat of each stool. Not the best setup in the world, but easy enough to adjust to your body.

I eventually got a proper seat. I picked up a second hand shower stool, but shimpo sell a stool specifically for this purpose.

Shimpo Stool

I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say. Don't buy something like this: https://www.amazon.com/MindWare-68471-Pottery-Wheel-Beginners/dp/B012TT5KYU

It's not heavy enough, the motor is not powerful enough, you can't sit on it, it's rubbish. Nobody says OP should spend a lot of money; just that it's better to buy a good quality wheel second hand than buy a new one of amazon from an unknown maker. (There are some Chinese makers out there who are probably decent, and cheaper, but I'm no expert on that)

If you want to make something you will need usable tools. Also, from my own experience- I was lucky enough to have access to a wheel, and I started throwing without taking any lessons. It was frustrating, and I ended up taking lessons after a while. I wasn't able to learn this without help, maybe OP can, but taking lessons first is a good idea if at all possible. If only so that OP can work on some wheels and decide what type of pottery wheel he or she likes and does not like.

And I'm sorry, you mean well, but there is no reason to be so hostile to people who are trying to give advice.