Creative Pottery

With Creative Pottery, master new techniques as you learn how to make innovative functional forms, from teapots and juicers to serving trays and cake-stands. Hand-builders and wheel-throwers welcome!

Take your work to the next level! Join ceramic artist Deb Schwartzkopf for a journey that will help you grow as a functional potter, whether your background is in wheel-throwing or hand-building. Creative Pottery begins with a quick review of where you are in your own journey as a potter. If you need to brush up on the basics, help setting goals, or pointers on how to translate your inspiration into your work, you've come to the right place. The rest of the book is a self-guided journey in which you can choose the techniques and projects that interest you:

• Go beyond the basics and learn how to throw or hand-build a bottomless cylinder. Then explore seams and alterations for projects like a vase, sauce boats, dessert boats, and a citrus juicer
• 'Flatter Forms' takes your throwing and trimming horizontal. Make beautiful plates and learn how to make the jump from plate to cake stand.
• Master molds and use them to open a new world of possibilities. Make spoons, platters, and asymmetrical shapes like an out-of-round serving dish with molded feet and a thrown rim.
• Compose with multiple shapes to make two-part forms like a butter dish or a stacking set of bowls. Make a pitcher out of two simple forms and then take it further by exploring handles and spouts for a proper teapot.

With compelling galleries, artist features, and guided questions for growth throughout, this is a book for potters everywhere that want to go beyond the basics, learn new skills, and unlock their creativity.

About the Author

Deb Schwartzkopf is a studio potter, instructor, and active community member of Seattle, Washington. She has taught at Ohio University, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, University of Washington, and University of Georgia's study abroad program in Cortona. She was named Ceramics Monthly and Ceramic Arts Dailys 2019 Artist of the Year, one of the most visible awards in the field. Deb has worked as an artist in residence nationally and internationally at the Archie Bray Foundation (MT), Mudflat Studios (MA), The Clay Studio (PA), Pottery Northwest (WA), Watershed (ME), Sanbao in Jingdezhen, China, and the Residency for Ceramics in Berlin, Germany. Since 2002, Deb has also taught widely at top ceramics centers including Penland School of Craft, Gaya Ceramics Center (Indonesia), and IARE (France). Her artwork is included in collections such as the Kamm Teapot Foundation, San Angelo Museum, and the WA State Arts Collection, among others. She has been included in numerous publications including Ceramic Monthly, Pottery Making Illustrated, and Studio Potter Magazine; has contributed to Red Clay Rambler Podcasts; is an active founding member of Objective Clay; has served as the Director of the Washington Clay Arts Association; and is currently a board member at Pottery Northwest. In 2013, Deb founded and launched what is now Rat City Studios, a community pottery studio where she offers adult classes, studio memberships, and opportunities for emerging artists.