Clary illian pottery studio for kids

“It is a wondrous thing that long after it has ceased to be necessary, people still want to make pots on the potter’s wheel.” — Clary Illian

A Potter’s Workbook by Clary Illian is one of the best resources on making pots.

Published in 1999, the book is full of images, drawings, and texts that illuminate and illustrate the how and why of making pots. It’s one of my favorite pottery resources, and I regularly share photocopied sections of the book with my students.

With just over 100 pages and 12 chapters, the book is full of information but not overwhelming. It starts with a a few short essays on the ideas of pots and then proceeds to cover practical aspects of each part of a pot, such as the foot and neck (the “Beginnings and Endings” chapter), cylinders, pitchers, bowls, lids, and then a few chapters on training your eye and finding your own style and voice.

There is much practical information, along with more theoretical questions, such