The Potter's Bible

The most complete and accessible introduction to pottery in a single volume. Marylin Scott covers every major technique a beginner needs, from pinching and coiling to wheel throwing and glazing, with step-by-step photographs that make each process clear and repeatable.

Why Start Here

Most pottery books either focus narrowly on one technique or overwhelm beginners with too much information at once. The Potter’s Bible strikes a rare balance. It walks you through the full range of ceramic methods: hand-building (pinching, coiling, slab work), wheel throwing, surface decoration (sgraffito, stamping, burnishing), glazing, and firing. Each section builds logically on the last, so you develop a broad understanding of the craft before deciding where to specialize.

The spiral binding is a practical touch that matters more than it sounds. You can lay the book flat on your workbench and follow along with clay-covered hands, which is exactly how you will use it. The photographs are clear and well-sequenced, showing the key moments in each technique rather than overwhelming you with unnecessary detail.

Scott also covers the practical side that many beginner books skip: choosing the right clay body for your project, understanding the differences between earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain, setting up a workspace, and selecting tools. This saves you from the common beginner mistake of buying equipment you do not need.

What to Expect

At 192 pages, this is a reference you will return to repeatedly as you progress. The first read-through gives you a map of the entire craft. Then, as you try specific techniques, you will come back to the relevant sections for guidance. The book covers enough ground that it remains useful well past the beginner stage.

First published in 2006, the techniques and fundamentals have not changed. Clay, wheels, and kilns work the same way they did two decades ago, which makes this a timeless starting point.