About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Mainly of interest to intermediate and advanced potters and ceramists. Includes how-to demonstrations, but these are more in line with achieving an effect as opposed to projects. Great breadth in covering the subject of ceramic surfaces and surface decoration.



Pros

• Really does the job of showing many potentials for clay surface decoration.
• Explores a broad range of techniques, from slip painting to photo sensitive polyner plates.

Cons

• Can be overwhelming to try and read all at once.
• Not for those just beginning to work in clay.
• May be redundant if you have back issues of "Ceramics Monthly" and "Pottery Making Illustrated."

Description

• Paperback, 8.5 by 11 inches, 136 pages, well-illustrated, edited by Anderson Turner.
• Compilation of 33 articles drawn from past issues of "Ceramics Monthly" and "Pottery Making Illustrated" magazines.
• Not a book of basic how-to's, but rather a presentation and demonstration of surface decoration possibilities.

Guide Review - "Surface Decoration" Reviewed

Surface Decoration: Finishing Techniques is a compilation of articles drawn from past issues of Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Making Illustrated magazines.

I greatly appreciate editor Anderson Turner's last sentence in his preface: "In a very real sense, knowledge is power when it comes to surface decoration." If you have ever wanted to expand your surface decoration repertoire or wanted to explore your clay surfaces in a more conscious manner, this book is a great platform to launch that expansion and exploration.

Many of the article writers (who are potters and clay artists, not merely journalists) demonstrate how they achieve a certain surface effect; several also share recipes for glazes, slips, and clay bodies. In other articles, techniques or methods may be explained, but without a detailed demonstration. Each article is well-illustrated, so that you are able to get a visual understanding of the various surface decorations presented.