Forget Harry Potter. Be ‘Practical’ Feel like throwing something? Put it to good use and “throw” some clay! Making pottery is one of the oldest creative forms dating back 35,000 years. That means if you take up a piece of
Forget Harry Potter. Be ‘Practical’
Feel like throwing something? Put it to good use and “throw” some clay! Making pottery is one of the oldest creative forms dating back 35,000 years. That means if you take up a piece of clay and form something—anything — you are carrying on what our ancestors did generations and generations ago, long before civilization ever existed!
Pretty neat, yeah? And there are many talented ceramic artists right here on Kauai! (Hi, Keith!)
Regardless of whether you don’t know the first thing about creating pottery or you are already an experienced potter, “The Practical Potter: A Step-by-Step Handbook” by Josie Warshaw, is well-worth the read!
With 256 full-color pages, “The Practical Potter” covers every single area of the art of turning clay into whatever your mind can imagine.
Not only are we treated to a brief history of ceramics and a fascinating introduction to clay (the fundamental ingredient), there are six bountiful chapters devoted to the following: Design, Handbuilding, Making and Using Molds, Throwing, Glaze and Decoration, and Kilns and Firing. In addition, there are sections discussing chemical formulas, and even suggestions on how to sell your work! With these subjects, “The Practical Potter” gives you every lesson and tool you need to discover the artistic talents that lie within you!
A vase for Valentine’s? A dining set? No problem!
How ‘bout a monster drinking-mug for your honey? You got it!
Or a romantic pottery-making date? (“Ghost”, anyone?) Yeah!
A multi-colored rendering of a half torso with pelican wings and frog-fingers? Hey, there is a way!
The more you know, the possibilities become endless!
There is perhaps nothing more rewarding than seeing your own creativity and ideas realized in a physical form. It is an experience like no other. So, pick up the book, pick up some clay, and watch what happens!
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Ed and Cynthia Justus are owners of The Bookstore in Hanapepe.
