The Potter's Odyssey

Many books about ceramics provide technique upon technique, tool upon tool, recipe upon recipe. Mastery of gadgets and quick, tricky how-to-do-it techniques may seem the way to go. But this leaves no place for adventure. This book has good recipes, of course, but it is really for those who will ultimately create their own new recipes and forms. The motivation is in the mind. Guideposts are necessary and they must be visualized. This book is written in the belief that the motivation will find the method. * * * * * Willard Spence pioneered the development of special glazes, mixing over two hundred samples. He perfected medium-range zinc crystal glazes and developed a remarkable low temperature iron crystal aventurine glaze. Spence studied design at the University of Denver and the University of Chicago. Later, living in Taos, New Mexico, he operated the gallery Casa de Artes and was instrumental in the founding of the New Mexico Potters' Association. He has also taught ceramics in Continuing Education programs at the Denver Center of the University of Colorado and the Taos Center of the University of New Mexico. He has advised his many students to work firsthand with many materials and to "unravel their secrets for the added dimension of creative discovery."