Best Pottery & Ceramic Craft Books of 2026

"Amazing Glaze: Techniques, Recipes, Finishing, and Firing (Mastering Ceramics)" by Gabriel Kline is a must-have for potters looking to expand their knowledge of ceramic surfaces and glazes. Kline's guidance takes an engaging look at what a glaze is, then why and how to use it, with a strong emphasis on planning ahead. The book offers dozens of tried-and-true recipes for both mid-range and high-fire glazes, and teaches layering with slip and underglaze, resist work, and combining techniques for unique results. The author's approachable writing style and stunning gallery work from top artists will leave readers inspired and ready to get glazing."

Complete Pottery Techniques: Design, Form, Throw, Decorate and More, with Workshops from Professional Makers is the perfect guide for both beginners and experienced potters looking to expand their skills. The book covers every technique from throwing pottery to firing, glazing to sgraffito, with step-by-step photographs and expert tips to help you master each technique. What makes this book unique is its contemporary design and ideas, which enable the modern maker to unleash their creativity. Overall, this book is an excellent companion for pottery classes of any level or a go-to guide for potters looking to perfect their skills.

The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes is an essential studio guide for potters who glaze their pieces at mid-range temperatures. With hundreds of recipes, the book explores mixing, application, specific firing and cooling cycles, and all the factors that make glazes work. The author, John Britt, is a renowned glaze expert and a frequent contributor to leading ceramics publications. He explains complex concepts in simple terms, making this book accessible for potters of all levels. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for every potter's bookshelf, packed with information that will expand the frontiers of mid-range glazing.

Mastering Hand Building: Techniques, Tips, and Tricks for Slabs, Coils, and More (Mastering Ceramics) is a comprehensive guide for ceramic artists looking to improve their hand building skills. Sunshine Cobb covers everything from foundational techniques to advanced methods, including designing templates, using molds, and decorative techniques. The book also features inspiring galleries and work from top artists in the field. The expert insight, step-by-step photos, and compelling projects make this book a must-have for artists who never stop learning. Overall, Mastering Hand Building is a valuable resource that will help artists take their hand building skills and artwork to the next level.

Mastering the Potter's Wheel is a must-have book for potters who want to take their skills to the next level. It covers everything from the basics of wheel-throwing to advanced techniques for creating large objects, alterations, darting, and paddling. The book also features galleries of work from some of today's top artists, providing inspiration and insight into their creative processes. Written by Ben Carter and published by Voyageur Press, this book is a valuable addition to any potter's library. Overall, this book stands out for its comprehensive coverage of wheel-throwing techniques and its wealth of inspirational content.

The book "Wild Clay: Creating ceramics and glazes from natural and found resources" is a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in using wild clay for their pottery. The authors draw on their experience from the US and Japan to provide tips on how to locate, collect, assess, and process local clays. The book also explains how to adapt a clay's properties by blending appropriate materials to achieve the desired effect. The beautiful illustrations and technical descriptions make it easy to understand the formation of various clays and their unique properties. This book is an ideal starting point for both novice and experienced potters who want to create a closer bond between their art and their surroundings.

Handbuilt: A Modern Potter's Guide to Handbuilding with Clay is a comprehensive beginner's guide to working with clay without a pottery wheel. Author Lilly Maetzig offers clear step-by-step instructions to create a collection of 23 stylish homewares using three core techniques: coiling, pinching, and slab building. The book covers the basics of working with clay, as well as decoration, glazing, and firing techniques. The stunning lifestyle photography and Lilly's expert tips make this book the ultimate modern guide to this popular and ancient craft.

This book, "How to Price Crafts and Things You Make to Sell" by James Dillehay, is an excellent guide for any crafter looking to turn their passion into a profitable business. The author, with years of experience as a master craftsman and marketer, provides practical strategies for pricing handmade products that can help maximize profits. The book covers various topics, including pricing strategies, ways to stand out from other sellers, and spotting trends to skyrocket profits. The book is a must-read for anyone looking to optimize their online venture and earn what they deserve.

The Beginner's Guide to Hand Building is an essential read for anyone interested in ceramics. The book covers all the necessary fundamentals, including a thorough discussion of clay and helpful tips for keeping your body and mind in top shape. With sculptural and functional projects for all levels, the book provides a complete course of instruction that will enable even the most novice of ceramic sculpture artists to produce functional and decorative works. The conversational instructions and tips make it easy to follow, and the gallery work from some of today's top artists inspire potters of all levels. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to explore and develop their hand-building skills in ceramics.

The Ceramics Bible Revised Edition is a comprehensive guide to making ceramics that has been updated to include new techniques, terms, images, and artist profiles. This book is a valuable tool for makers and artists of all levels, with step-by-step instructions and a visually-rich format. It also features a diverse array of contemporary artists and a comprehensive guide to the best ceramics galleries, suppliers, residencies, workshops, and studios all over the world. With gorgeous full-color photographs, this book is both beautiful to behold and easy to use. It's perfect for art and design students, makers, craftspeople, ceramics artists, and pottery enthusiasts. Overall, this revised edition captures the technological and social changes that have shaped the practices and products of working ceramics artists.