Book · 708 pages
30 chapters with clickable contents and bookmarks, and references collected at the end of the book, grouped by chapter. Explanations of what to look for in the clay and which factors to weigh before deciding the next step.
SENSECRAFT LIBRARY · ENGLISH DIGITAL EDITION
Ceramics by Hand
Foundations and Techniques Without a Wheel
From choosing the clay to the fired piece: a book to consult and a workbook to organize what you learn.
30 chapters on handbuilding, with explanations, tables, diagrams, worked examples and references. The bundle includes the Book and the Exercises and Worksheets Workbook.
US$29 book-and-workbook bundle
One-time purchase · 2 English PDFs · Digital download
Buy the Book + WorkbookDownload the free English sample
Full contents and all of Chapter 1, with the chapter's references · PDF · 37 pages
Digital product. No printed copy, video course, materials or tools are included.
Covers of the two PDFs in the digital bundle. No printed books are included.
WHAT YOU GET
A reference book and a practice workbook, side by side.
Workbook · 207 pages
Exercises with worked answers, and printable worksheets aligned with the book for recording your clay body, clay states, measurements, drying and firing. Links at the start of each chapter lead to its worksheets and to the matching chapter of the book.
THE PATH OF THE CLAY
The 30 chapters
- Getting Started in the Studio
- Clay Bodies
- Clay Consistency
- Designing the Piece
- Joints, Support, and Handling
- Pinching and Hollowing
- Coil Building
- Studio Extrusion
- Preparing Slabs
- Slab Walls
- Vessel Bottoms
- Feet and Supporting Bases
- Handles and Knobs
- Lids and Lid Fit
- Vessel Openings, Spouts, and Pouring Paths
- Support Molds
- Plaster Molds
- Slip Casting
- Collapsible Molds
- Finishing Unfired Work
- Textures, Relief, Stamps, and Applied Decoration
- Slips and Decoration
- Glazing
- Drying
- Firing
- Investigating Defects
- Sculptural Modeling and Hollow Forms
- Larger Work and Complex Geometries
- Small-Batch Production
- Original Projects
WHERE THE CONTENT COMES FROM
Bibliographic review and teaching synthesis.
The book organizes what technical sources, manufacturers, teaching materials and ceramic artists have documented, with references you can follow up.
Worked examples are not universal parameters. Materials, equipment and working conditions call for their own assessment. Reading the book does not certify the physical performance or safety of a piece, or its suitability for contact with food.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Frequently asked questions
What language is the bundle in?
Both PDFs are in English: the Book, with 708 pages, and the Workbook, with 207 pages. A Portuguese edition, Cerâmica à mão, is sold separately.
Is it a video course or a printed book?
No. You receive two PDF files. Videos, printed copies, tools, materials and one-to-one support are not included.
Does the book cover the wheel or cold porcelain?
No. The focus is handbuilding in ceramics, without a wheel.
How do I receive the files?
The purchase button leads to our Payhip store, which delivers both PDFs as downloads after payment. For links between the two files, save both PDFs in the same folder and keep their names, SenseCraft_Book_EN.pdf and SenseCraft_Workbook_EN.pdf. A desktop PDF reader is recommended; links may not work in a browser or on mobile. The full PDFs are not available publicly on this site.
What does it cost?
US$29 for the book-and-workbook bundle, as a one-time purchase, not a subscription.
How can I contact you?
Write to [email protected].