Book excerpt: This book is a basic introduction to pottery. It covers everything the beginner needs to know to start making beautiful ceramics. Step-by-step photographs and clear instructionsguide you through the techniques for making, decorating, and firing pottery and twelve simple projects allow you to put your skills into practice. Chapters include an introduction to types of clay, basic modelling methods such as throwing, pinching, coiling and turning. Key techniques are taught for biscuit and glaze firing. Each progressive project develops a new skill, and then teaches you how to add texture and decorate your vessels using inlays, slips, sgraffito, feathering, burnishing and resist techniques.