A comprehensive detailed, artistic approach to the art and technique of soda firing in contemporary ceramics.

Soda glazing is the environmentally safe alternative to firing a salt kin.

"Covers the history of salt glazing and the technical considerations--particularly kilns--that set this form of glazing apart from all others ... also showcases the work of leading salt glaze artists"--Front flap of jacket.

"With recipes for mixing, testing, applying, and firing hundreds of high-fire glazes, this fully illustrated reference will help all ceramists gain a better understanding of glazes and the factors that make them work."--Book Jacket.

According to Ceramics Monthly, most potters glaze their pieces at mid-range temperatures--and this complete studio guide eliminates the guesswork from the popular process. Along with hundreds of recipes, it explores mixing, application, specific firing and cooling cycles, and much more. See how to boost colors, achieve results that equal high-fire glazing, and stretch your boundaries with new techniques.

With over 500 brilliant color photographs, this book highlights the work of 100 innovative ceramic artists who still use the labor intensive, and sometimes unpredictable, process of wood-firing. Throughout the book, artists share several examples of their work, ranging from small pots to monumental installations, as well as their stories about their inspiration, influences, and techniques. The artists also relate how they have adapted various methods of wood-firing to their own needs and environments, using fast-fire, Naborigama, Anagama, and other kilns. Kiln drawings, information about firing logs, clay, glaze and slip formulas, and wood firing resources are also included.The artwork is representative of the diversity of styles, from glazing techniques to the often unique creations based on placement within the various kilns. This book is an essential for all who appreciate or practice ceramic art today.

Every day, ceramic artists encounter techniques, processes, materials, problems, and more that leave them with questions such as: How? Why? Where? Clay: A Studio Handbook answers those questions with authoritative, comprehensive coverage of topics ranging from studio safety, finding, making, and improvising tools and equipment, firing processes and theory, and much more. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in ceramics, Pitelka has created the most practical, all-inclusive studio handbook for students, studio artists, educators, and all those interested in the art of clay. Ten chapters, addressing the full range of ceramic processes, bring a lifetime of ceramic knowledge directly into the hands of potters. Written with concern for safe and efficient studio operation, diligent attention is paid to safety practices. A thorough table of contents, glossary, and index make finding answers quick and convenient. Numerous step-by-step illustrations guide readers through the many techniques.