May the Kiln Goddess Smile Upon You

Rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 17 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

The Clay Pit

Welcome to the Kiln Goddess' Clay Pit. Here you will find a great collection of clay, clay art, and pottery related links, books, and other resources. What ever your clay interest, I am sure you will find some great discoveries. Have fun exploring. Happy Potting...

This lens is still a work in progress, a lump of clay getting centered on the wheel waiting to become a vessel.

Clay Speak 

Lets start out speaking the same language so here are some resources to help you become more familiar with the vocabulary of clay art and pottery.
Basic Ceramic Vocabulary
A simple reference for common clay and ceramic terms.
Glossary
A good resource for definition of clay and ceramic terms.

Clay Art Books on Amazon 

Hands in Clay: An Introduction to Ceramics

Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2008)
List Price: $60.00

The Craft and Art of Clay (3rd Edition)

Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2008)
List Price: $57.00

Working with Clay (2nd Edition)

Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2008)
List Price: $71.60

Clay 

Clay and Clay Prep
The Kiln Goddess' clay pit about clays and its preparations.
Making Your Own Clay
The Kiln Goddess' clay pit for digging or mixing your own clays.

Clay Tools 

Clay Tools
The Kiln Goddess' Clay Pit about clay tools and equipment.

Looking for Clay, Tools, Supplies or Equipment 


www.DickBlick.com

Handbuilding 

Pinch pots, Coiling, Slabs, and More

Doesn't matter what technique you use, playing and working in clay is time well spent. Pinching, Coiling, Slab Construction no matter the method, handbuilding offers limitless creation. Humble pots and not so humble pots to awe inspiring sculptures.

Wheelthrowing 

I love throwing on the wheel. To feel the clay move under your hand as you push it torwards center and the rightness once it is there. Watching the walls grow as you guide the clay up. Your hand does all the work yet it still seems like magic.

Your Clay Experience 

To help the Kiln Goddess continue to add helpful content to her series of clay related lenses could you please tell me your level of clay experience.

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Great Books About Potters an Clay Artists on Amazon 

The Mad Potter of Biloxi: The Art and Life of George E. Ohr

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $62.05 (as of 07/06/2008)
List Price: $85.00

Usually ships in 24 hours

Magdalene Odundo

This is a beautiful photo book of Magdalene Odundo's work. If you love her work this is a must have.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $75.00 (as of 07/06/2008)
List Price: $75.00

Usually ships in 24 hours

Shoji Hamada (Ceramic Classics)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2008)
List Price: $72.30

Lucy M. Lewis: American Indian Potter

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $29.80 (as of 07/06/2008)
List Price: $45.00

Usually ships in 24 hours

Clay Bead Making 

Surface Design 

The Kiln Goddess' Clay Pit of Surface Design
Here you'll find methods for creating different surfaces on clay. This lens is ever growing hope you find something useful.

Glazing 

The Kiln Goddess' Clay Pit About Glazing
Here you'll find info and links about glaze and glazing. Topics cover: How to glaze, Glaze faults, How to make glaze and Glaze recipes.

Kilns and Firing 

Here you'll find a info about a variety of different kilns, what they look like, how to build them, where to buy them and much more.

Your Studio 

The Green PotShop
The Kiln Goddess' Clay Pit of Keeping it Green. A lens written for those potters and clay artists interested in reducing, reusing, and recycling in their studios. Lots of tips on recycling, reusing, repurposing, and reducing in your potshop.

Clay, Ceramic, and Potter Organizations 

The American Ceramic Society
A 100-year-old non-profit organization that serves the needs of the international ceramics community.
The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts
A professional association of individuals and organizations with a focus on the ceramic arts.
Potters Council
Bringing together potters and ceramics artists the world over.
American Craft Council
A national, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting understanding and appreciation of contemporary American crafts.

Schools 

Penland School of Crafts
Penland School of Crafts is a fantastic school for craft education located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
A renowned scool of arts and crafts located in Tennesse.

Competitions and Shows 

Strictly Functional Pottery National
A national competition of functional pottery.
The International Orton Cone Box Show
A ceramic show with an interesting limitation, the work must fit in an Orton Cone Box.

Clay and Ceramic Magazines 

Ceramics Monthly
A US magazine
Clay Times
A US magazine
Pottery Making Illustrated
A US magazine
The Studio Potter
A US magazine
Ceramic Review
Magazine from the UK
Ceramics: Art and Perception and CeramicsTECHNICAL
Website for these 2 Aussie magazines

Additional Publications 

NonClay Specific Magazines

The Crafts Report
A business magazine for the crafts professional.
Sunshine Artist
A US art show and festival magazine.
NICHE Magazine
A craft marketing magazine for featuring Business Strategies and Wholesale Crafts.
AmericanStyle Magazine
Informational magazine for craft enthusiasts and art collectors about the significance of handmade objects of art.

Get Your Magazines from Amazon 

Pottery Making Illustrated

Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 07/06/2008)

Clay Times

Amazon Price: $30.00 (as of 07/06/2008)

Ceramics Monthly

Amazon Price: $39.95 (as of 07/06/2008)

Ceramics Art and Perception

Amazon Price: $70.00 (as of 07/06/2008)

Online Ceramic Magazine 

Ceramic Arts Daily
An online clay art magazine. Read the informative articles on site or subscribe to get new issues in your inbox.

Forums 

Places to go when you got a problem, a question or just want to talk clay to someone.
The ClayArt Discussion
The granddaddy of all clay forums. Professional production potter and one of a kind artist call this place home.
ClayArt Discussion Archives
This is a great resource. The archived discussions of the ClayArt members. What ever topic you are looking for it is likely someone at sometime has asked or talked about it in the past.
Clay Forum on Wet Canvas!
A friendly forum dedicated to kiln fired clay as well as polymer, paper, and metal.
Mad Pots Forums
A forum with a variety of topic to post in.
Clayzee's World of Ceramics Forums
A place to discuss with other clay workers.
Ceramic Arts Technical Forum at Clay Station
Share and receive technical advice.
Clay and Ceramics Forum at GardenWeb
A nice hobbiest forum.

Clay Blogs 

I find learning about the art and life of other clay artist wonderful. Getting a glimpes in to the everyday going ons in the studio of another in interesting and educational. In these artists' blog you get to see the process of others' creativity, technical problems overcome, photos of their creations, great shots of kilns, a taste of the trials of being an artist, a hint of the business side of art and so many other aspects of life in the pot shop. Enjoy.
Wet Pots
A blog living up to its name, lovely just thrown wet pots can be seen here.
Potter's Blog
The blog of potter Gary Rith and his whimsical pots.
Old Canal Pottery
The blog of southern potter Gary Dexter.
Ceramics and Pottery Makers Blog
A question/answer pottery blog.
Blog of the Kasumi Pottery Studio
An interesting blog about clay art, potters and art shows.
Diary of a Potter
An interesting blog about a Florida potter. Check out the January 31 entry for a good look at a raku fired tile project with pictures of the process.
Wirerabbit Pots
Blog of a functional Texas potter.
This Artist's Life
California potter Whitney Smith shares her life in the studio.
Shambhala Pottery
A great blog featuring the building of June Perry's new clay studio and her soda fired pots.
Jeanette Harris: Clayartist's Blog
An interesting look at one artist's inspirational process and her work.
Page Pottery: Turning Mud to Stone
Pottery blog of J.R. Page. An eclectic mix of pots, art, and artists.
Pottery Blog: Emily Murphy
Blog of Chicago potter Emily Murphy featuring pots, testing, meandering, firings and a variety of clay topics. Very interesting.
Paper Clay
A blog dedicated to the discussion of Paper Clay as a ceramic art medium as well as discussion of studio pottery and other topics of interest to studio clay artists.
Wiseman Ceramics
Blog of Jesse Wiseman Hull, featuring pots, art, and useful info for the clay artist.

Gifts for the Clay Artist and Potter 

The Kiln Goddess' Clay Pit of Gifts and Gear
Looking for a gift for your favorite clay worker? Here I've highlighted some great books, studio tools, and fun wearables that would make your clay addict smile. Happy Shopping.

Related Links 

Here are some unclay links that might interest the clay artist and potter.
The Broken Shard
This is the Kiln Goddess' Clay Pit of Mosaics. I have shards, you have shards...Why cry over a broken bowl when you can create something new.
In Your Business
Here you'll find the Kiln Goddess' Clay Pit of Business and Legal. A source of information on selling, showing, and legalities of you and your art. Many art business topics are covered.

Comments and Suggestions 

I welcome your feedback. Would you like something added? Know a good link or book? Did I manage to misspell something? Did you find a dead link? Let me know, afterall this Kiln Goddess isn't all knowing ;-)

bdkz

Great lens. I love pottery! 5 Stars and a Squid Angel Blessing!

Posted March 20, 2008

LeslieBrenner

Oh, you link to the Mad Potter of Biloxi. His work was amazing. Believe Kenneth Price was inspired by him.

Posted March 12, 2008

sikiu

Thank you for the links, very useful info. It saved me time and money.

Posted February 07, 2008

ina_mar

Congratulations, very interesting lens!

Posted September 12, 2007

LaurasDreamWorld

Where were you when I needed you 25 years ago? When I was exploring and trying it. Took lessons, hand-built 3 small pots, practiced on the wheel and started buying every book I could find in the millions of used bookstores I found. It was a beautiful time. I like your page ... Thank You!

Posted August 17, 2007

More Great Clay Books on Amazon 

Pottery for Life: A Guide for Beginning Potters and Those with Special Needs (Ceramics Handbooks)

Amazon Price: $27.50 (as of 07/06/2008)
List Price: $27.50

Usually ships in 24 hours

The Complete Potter's Companion

Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 07/06/2008)
List Price: $27.95

Usually ships in 24 hours

The Complete Potter

A comprehensive overview for the beginning potter. Lots of photos. A nice introduction to the tools, supplies and techniques available to the potter.

Amazon Price: $19.79 (as of 07/06/2008)
List Price: $29.99

Usually ships in 24 hours

Ceramics: A Potter's Handbook

Amazon Price: $98.00 (as of 07/06/2008)
List Price: $108.95

Usually ships in 1 to 2 weeks

Look who made this lens!

KilnGoddess

KilnGoddess
The Kiln Goddess is an artist/potter. She loves working in clay as well as metals, mosaics, and nearly all mediums she tries. She especially loves wheel throwing and...  more