Glazes from Natural Sources Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am a self taught potter who is still very much a student when it comes to the craft. I have read a great many books on the subject and this one is very well done. It is packed with solid and useful information. It is a great technical book on any form of glaze testing, it only focuses on natural sources.
I gave it 4 of 5 stars for a few reasons.
It was a little difficult to understand in places and I wanted more examples. It does a good job of spelling things out for the reader, but it could have gone further I think.
Also, I wish the examples were in metric units, (ml instead of pints) because I find those easier to understand, but that could just be me.
I wanted many more photos of line blend tests! I'd have loved to see what kinds of things to expect and what the outcome is likely to be. Some rocks and common blends are bound to be fairly typical. I wanted to see pictures of those. Some more insight on what to blend with what when testing would have been good as well. Do I mix my rock with clay or whiting? I know I can try it and see, but some expert suggestions are always nice.
Some of the more complex blending patterns seemed to be a bit silly, like the author was showing off somewhat and I found them difficult to understand.
I have always mixed my glazes dry, but the author suggests it is better do mix them wet, having each material suspended in water to start with. I had many questions about this method that were not addressed in the book, but many that were. It was informative enough to prompt me to try it.
Over all, this is a great book on the subject and a great book for anyone interested in glaze development. It doesn't have much needless text, which is nice. Short and too the point.

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Any real education in ceramics must involve, from the outset, an appreciation of the source materials—the rocks around us. While good, throwable clay may be a regional commodity, there is no part of the world that will not yield potential glaze materials in abundance. Potters therefore need to know how to exploit the special properties of local rocks quickly, reliably, and methodically. This new revised and updated version of Brian Sutherland's classic book on making glazes from natural sources explains how to locate glaze material and construct, test, and use the glazes created.Glazes from Natural Sources discusses rock types and other likely sources of supply, the making of test pieces, and the use of blend systems and constructions. The author also clarifies the Seger system of glaze presentation for those who, like himself, have found it difficult to grasp and apply. He covers, and supplies, formulae for glazes for all temperatures—from raku to stoneware and porcelain—and includes sample recipes. The book emphasizes careful planning and control to ensure results that are repeatable. This makes the science behind making glazes from natural sources both understandable and feasible.Glazes from Natural Sources is fully illustrated, with diagrams of techniques demonstrated as well as images of the finished works of potters to show the results of these natural glazes. First published in 1987, this book is considered a classic by ceramicists. This edition includes a new chapter by glaze expert Nigel Wood.

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