This week a blog about a new book by Deanna Ranlett “Off the Shelf, outside the Box”.
I fasten my bike on the Bloemgracht, Amsterdam. On the corner I can score at my dealer, in an old building with a nice glass facade. I step in, my heart rate accelerates, my blood pressure rises. I can’t pull my eyes from all the mysterious powders in many colors on the shelves. Here dreams are fulfilled.
It was in the early years 90 of the last century. And no, it wasn’t a “headshop” where I went in. It was the old shop of Ve-Ka in Amsterdam. Of these powders you do not hallucinate, but you will be happy…… when it is fired in a ceramic kiln.
Ceramic Products Confusion
OK you have understood it by now, the mysterious colored powders are the commercial products that are sold by ceramics suppliers. Ready packaged for use. They have an irresistible appeal to ceramic addicts, like us.
When I started to make ceramics while studying in Amsterdam, I had to learn a lot about firing and glazing. Color pigments, color mixes, bodystains, glazestains, oxides, majolica, engobes, glazes, it was all too much. At Ve-Ka product X is called this and at Keramikos that. In short, confusion all around.
What I needed was a good book….
Off the Shelf, outside the Box
Deanna Ranlett has written such a book; “Off the Shelf, outside the Box“. It is an American book about commercial products, such as glazes, lusters, underglazes and clay bodies. It contains information about production and creative use of these materials.
Although I myself compose my own glazes, I am curious about this kind of commercial products. In the introduction Deanna goes extensively into the “why”she uses these products. The advantages and disadvantages are discussed and the stigma (used only by hobbyists) that may still be there
The nice thing about this book is that it is not only about all the different products. Many examples explain how these materials can be used very surprisingly (“outside the Box”). The subtitle says it all “A Guide to experimenting with Commercial clays, glazes, & Underglazes“.
Pushing product
In short, Deanna has written a contemporary book that I have not seen before; A book completely focused on the use of ready-made glazes, underglazes and other commercial products.
It’s a fun and interesting book to read, even if you’re not going to use those different products. Is there nothing to be critical about? Yes of course, it sometimes reads as a sales pitch from the manufacturers.
That is also why I had to think about dealers who were bringing their wares on the street; “pushing product”. As I went in my inexperienced years from one commercial glaze to another, always looking for a quick fix. I know by now that these are not there. With commercial products you also have to learn (and experiment) how to use them best.
In addition, it is an American book, meaning that European products such as (Botz) brush glazes, engobes and colour mixtures, etc. of non-American brands are not mentioned. Of course that is inevitable, but it is unfortunate. So the wait is on a good European counterpart.
Information Ceramics (Ve-Ka)
Well yes there are of course other glaze books written about commercial products. When I popped into my library, I found “How to Glaze Pottery” (1950, reprint 2011, Jane Snead) and “Margie’s Ceramic Manual” (1960, Marjorie E. Hadley). They wrote over 50 years ago about the use of commercial glazes.
Is there never anything written on this subject in this part of the world? Yes fortunately, I found in my bookcase a booklet from Yolly v.d. Wijngaard “Mogelijkheden en Moeilijkheden bij Pottenbakken” (possibilities and difficulties in pottery) from 1966 about commercial (Dutch) glazes.
And who had released that booklet? Yes my own original dealer “Information Ceramics” (Ve-Ka) Bloemgracht 132, Amsterdam.
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About Post Author
Hi Daniel – Thank you for your review of my book 🙂 It was fun to see someone reviewing it online – Our studio uses commercial products but also around 60 glazes we mix ourselves. I have written about glaze recipes and glaze formulation as well but was approached by this publisher to write on the topic of the commercial products which I use a lot for commission work. Criticism is valid – the manufacturers donated materials to help with the creation of the book so brands that donated were featured more heavily but it would be nice to see a European counterpart!
Hi Deanna,
Thank you, it’s nice to hear from you. Your book sparked a memory and I just had to write a blog about it. The publisher was right to ask you, it is a different angle from other glaze books recently published. I enjoyed to read it and yes a European supplement on your book would be nice! Let me know when you do 😉
Regards,
Daniël