The Bottom Line
If you are a beginner to intermediate potter, I would say that this book does have a lot to offer. For the more experienced potter, there may be a few ideas that haven't been explored yet, but probably not too many.
All in all, I think you can find most of this information, with greater coverage (i.e. firing) in other books that are available. I would not recommend it as a Must-Have. It is a great companion book, however.
Pros
- Packs a lot of information into a small space
- Very well organized and optimized for easy of understanding
Cons
- The title and cover blurb are a bit pretentious and may be off-putting
- A few subjects could have been covered in more depth or illustrated
- Does not cover firing as a seperate subject area
Description
- 250 Tips, Techniques, and Trade Secrets for Potters; softcover; 8.5 x 11 inches; 160 pages; ISBN: 978-0-7641-4116-4.
- Major sections: Materials, Tools, and Equipment; Design; Making Techniques; Useful Information (incl. glossary and directory)
- Contents incl. instructions, artist examples, techniques, comparisons of options, step-by-step photos, and "insider secrets".
Guide Review - 250 Tips, Techniques, and Trade Secrets for Potters
As you can gather, my first impression of this book was a negative one. However, when I delved between the pages, I found a huge number of ideas and information packed tightly within. And surprisingly, given the density of information, it remained clear and understandable.
Given how many topics author Jacqui Atkin covered, she did a credible job in giving depth to the subjects. Although as an older potter I have used most of the techniques she covers, I did find her decorative wares directory rather exciting. I had never seen the information presented in that format before, and it was quite intriguing.
Overall, I believe this could be a very useful book to help "younger" potters and to spark ideas for more experienced ones. Her information is solid, the photographs are clear and well-captioned, and the sectional layout makes grasping the information easy. My one serious complaint is the lack of depth in firing tips and techniques.