Creating Life-Like Figures in Polymer Clay: A Step-By-Step Guide

by Katherine Dewey

The sequel to Katherine Dewey's popular book "Creating Life-Like Animals in Polymer Clay", this time she pulls out all the stops to teach both novice and accomplished sculptors alike just how she creates the realistic figures she has been renowned for over her 30 year professional career. If you aspire to be a figurative sculptor or already are one, this is a book you must have. In her no-nonsense, show-how-it's-done teaching style, Katherine shows with more than 400 full color photos, detailed illustrations, and step-by-step instructions how to do it all. Her modeling methods are not complicated. Rather than relying on classical "muscle on bone" physiology, she teaches how to sculpt exquisite figurines in any scale using her simple applique approach. Her book teaches anyone how to sculpt realistic human figures, but there is much more between the covers of this 144 page resource. From selecting your clays, to making your own modeling tools, to proportioning your figures, posing, ethnic and gender subtleties, facial expressions and posing, costumes in clay, to finishing touches, Katherine teaches it all. As one early bird reviewer put "It's like having a master sculptor right here with me step by step".

Genres: Art, Crafts, Reference, Nonfiction, Collections

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jo Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great instruction very detailed. I've had difficulty finding the rods and things needed to make the models and in figuring out the size of materials required some kind of conversion chart would have been helpful.

[Ann taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fully informative book

Attention to detail and very well designed book, a bit hard for a novice but great for someone who has some knowledge of life drawing and a little modelling.

[Diane Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed.

I will probably not make such complex figures as this great artist but needed the basics which it more than covered.

[Gillian Wiseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely instructions, easy to interpret and follow. Anyone with an ounce of talent will find that they can make something they will be proud of.

[Stephanie Ek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super informative. Helped my skill

[Kayleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly detailed instructions...how to prep the clay, build your own tools, proportion a head/face/body, construct a figure, make clay "cloth", finish figures...

Highly illustrated and very easy to follow! Would be helpful in drawing and painting nearly as much as sculpting. A+

[Mindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good ideas, but now that I have sculpted I don't like her techniques.

[Michelle]

Want this book!!!

[Nikolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to follow examples. I am not very artistic and had never worked with any clay. My angels turned out great for a novice