Customer Reviews

Art Clay Silver & Gold: 18 Unique Jewelry Pieces to Make in a Day

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Those who are looking to start using Art Clay (or Precious Metal Clay) will love this book. Advanced workers won't be left behind either. This book does something few books do--it gives instructions for BOTH beginners and experienced gold and silver clay artists.

This paperback has another great advantage: it starts with a list of supplies you will need, closely followed by a list of supplies that make working with Art Clay easier. For the reader, that means that you won't be caught on Sunday afternoon missing some tool you need to start.

And even better, it tells you exactly why you should get one tool over another. For example, Trutty reommends a wood ring mandrel over a metal one. Why? The metal one expands and distorts the ring size. Who knew?

The instructions come with lots of pictures and alternatives. There are basic project followed by the same project but worked in a way that will satisfy people who need a challenge.

What if lacy, intricate projects are not for you? No problem. With the instructions, you can take off on your own and be as intricate or as simple as you like.

It includes fascinating facts on oxidizing, using glass and metals with Art Clay, and techniques and short cuts that make using this clay-turns-to-precious-metal fun and interesting. --Q

This art clay (trade name) book covers what everyone should know that is going to use the Art Clay brand metal clay. The first sections/chapters get the basic stuff down so one can move on to the fun parts making the projects. The pictures are of a good size with large numbers to correspond to the descriptive blurbs. They are of the close up type with little background of the work surface visible. (I do hate it when they show more work surface than the item they are making.) The material lists are well thought out in their content. The glossary and the gemstone characteristic chart is a nice touch. the chart really important in selecting stones to bake with the clay. I own it

MY FIRST BOOK ON PMC, SO NOT MUCH EXPERIENCE. HOWEVER, SHE MAKES IT LOOK LIKE A NOVICE CAN DO THIS. LOTS OF SUGGESTIONS WITHOUT SPENDING A LOT ON TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT. I ESPECIALLY LIKED THOSE TIPS. NICE PICTURES WITH PRACTICAL ADVICE.

It is pretty much nonsense that you can make these pieces in a day-- some of them maybe yes, but mostly no. Some of the directions given don't work, and then if you want to make the piece you are on your own. But there are some interesting new ideas.

Like Jackie's later book Metal Clay: The Complete Guide, she totally ignores the fact that there is more than one metal clay product on the market. Why? Because Jackie does not distribute Precious Metal Clay® (PMC) made by Japan's Mitsubishi Materials Corporation; she runs Art Clay® World, USA, Inc, distributing Art Clay®, a metal clay product made by Aida Chemical Industries, Ltd. At the very least, she might have discussed the pros and cons of the two companies' products. To ignore PMC® altogether seems too mercenary an approach to writing a project book. I said my peace when panning Jackie's book Metal Clay.

The projects shown are somewhat inspirational but the "faux raku" project stands out as just plain economically silly. For "faux raku," Art Clay® Silver paste is applied over terra cotta then, after firing, liver of sulfur is applied for a raku-like patina. It occurred to me that it would be a whole lot less expensive to actually make raku pottery than to make "faux raku" with jewelry-grade silver. Yes, you can do it with Art Clay® but why would you?

The instructions were good and I found the advice great. I am just starting to apply my self to PMC. This book is just what I need.

Thanks

Great book. Easy to use. Great ideas for projects. Taught me things that I did not learn in a class I took

This book is a good starting point for those begining to work with metal clay.

This too is a wonderful book. It was bought at your suggestion. It came quickly & is a great price!