Polymer-clay crafters everywhere can learn how to sculpt realistic 6"-8" figures using the author's simple techniques. A well-known polymer clay teacher and sculptor, she shares a wealth of information that's accessible even to beginning sculptors. She covers the essentials, the fundamentals of figurative modelling and how to make the tools that will ensure success. She shows readers how to recreate faces and expressions, torsos, legs, hands and feet, all using simple techniques. Then there are finishing touches like clothing, costumes, paint and fibre plus the author demonstrates incredibly realistic butterfly or fairy wings. Topics herein include: selecting clay, making modelling tools, proportioning figures, posing, ethnic and gender subtleties, facial expressions, costumes in clay and finishing touches.
Creating Lifelike Figures in Polymer Clay
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Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
Elvenwork Press published "Creating Life-Like Figures in Polymer Clay" by Katherine Dewey to the very highest quality standards, employing the best production talent there is. Our world-class author deserved nothing less. We are very proud to present the work of a highly respected artist, author, and teacher in a way that clearly shows her every move and we are thankful for the high praise both author and publisher have already received. If you have a drive to create beauty and form from a lump of clay, we know you will treasure "Creating Figures" as much as we do. [produced entirely in the USA]
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Back Cover
You hold in your hands a magical book, your guide to a realm where anyone can learn to sculpt. Katherine Dewey entered this remarkable world years ago. Her expressive and elegantly detailed sculptures enchant all who see them. With the magical medium of polymer clay and this book, you can follow in her footsteps. Easy-to-read maps of the figure illustrate the landmarks of the body. Scale diagrams indicate the simple shapes hidden within the human form. Thorough instructions describe how to model these shapes and how to combine them. Practical and intuitive steps lead the way to creating strong, realistic and expressive figures. Welcome to Katherine Dewey's world, where magic happens.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
100 of 102 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I feel like I got a college textbook and not a craft book. I say that with absolutely positive feelings! I mean, if this were some college course, the book would have been $75.00 and I'd feel like I'd finally gotten a book I was going to keep.
I couldn't even describe how detailed this book is. I feel like I can actually do this figure thing. I mean, every step is laid out for you. Every SINGLE step. There is nothing left to the imagination, no question left unanswered. I mean, there are instructions within instructions within variations of instructions... How to sculpt different ethnic groups, the male figure, the female figure, the musculature, the hands--how to make your own eyeballs, for heaven's sake! Katherine Dewey shows that you can make every single tool you'll use, which I still haven't done yet, but need to do since I think most of her handmade tools are better than the ones I could buy.
I don't think I could really adequately express my excitement over having this book. I have so desired for so long to be able to sculpt figures that were beautiful and believable, and I feel like I can finally do it!
I couldn't even describe how detailed this book is. I feel like I can actually do this figure thing. I mean, every step is laid out for you. Every SINGLE step. There is nothing left to the imagination, no question left unanswered. I mean, there are instructions within instructions within variations of instructions... How to sculpt different ethnic groups, the male figure, the female figure, the musculature, the hands--how to make your own eyeballs, for heaven's sake! Katherine Dewey shows that you can make every single tool you'll use, which I still haven't done yet, but need to do since I think most of her handmade tools are better than the ones I could buy.
I don't think I could really adequately express my excitement over having this book. I have so desired for so long to be able to sculpt figures that were beautiful and believable, and I feel like I can finally do it!
65 of 67 people found the following review helpful
By luv2read
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Creating Lifelike Figures in Polymer Clay is one of the best how-to sculpting books I've ever read.
Chapter 1 covers the various polymer clays available, how to work with the clay, safety considerations, and includes formulas to blend colors for various ethnic skin tones.
Chapter 2 describes working with basic shapes and Ms Dewey's technique of modelling units, which is to roll out a log shape of clay at a certain thickness and cut off units of equal lengths. A great technique for a beginner to ensure equal amounts of clay are used. Who wants two disproportionate arms or legs simply because you eyeballed how much clay to use?
Chapter 3 covers making your own tools with the clay. If you are a novice who has never used polymer clay, this chapter gets you familiar with the feel, texture, and baking methods needed as you sculpt your figures.
Chapters 4-7 cover the modelling of the figure from face, torso, arms, and legs. In the face chapter, Ms Dewey shows you how to model a basic face but doesn't just move on from there; she expounds on it. She shows you how to sculpt the differences of gender. She shows how to sculpt ethnic faces. She shows you how to add expression to your figure with the shift of the clay here or there. She shows you how to add age to your character.
Similarly with the torso chapter, she shows you how to sculpt the male torso and the female variation. She also gives you techniques for sculpting the "heroic" or well-muscled male torso as well as adding realistic "fat" pads for the overweight figure.
Her arms and legs chapter are very detailed and you do get the development of the "heroic" arms and legs if you want to pursue that type of figure.
Chapter 8 details how to sculpt in smaller scales. Most of the book prior concerns 1/6 scale. In chapter 8, she gives formulas for the "base units" that enable you to sculpt in 1/8, 1/10, and 1/12 scale. She also demonstrates techniques for sculpting in these smaller scales.
Chapter 9 shows you how to make costumes in clay, which is truly amazing and almost worth the price of the book alone. Her figures look like they were dressed in fabric instead of clay. So if you can't or don't want to sew for a figure you sculpt, you can dress them in "fabric" as textured, with draping and folds as real as the real thing.
Chapter 10 demonstrates "finishing touches" which is the painting and wigging of your figure.
The instructions are exceptionally detailed and EXTREMELY well photographed. The photos and descriptions are why this book gets a 5-star rating. It's as if the author really cared that you do well with your sculpting and wanted to give you enough photos and description to do it.
The only "negative" I would give this book is that it needs to be spiral bound. I own the original self-published book- and yes, this is a reprint of Ms Dewey's original which has a different cover - but I bought this copy to take apart and put into a binder so I could lay it flat to reference while I sculpt.
Overall excellent and highly recommended!
Chapter 1 covers the various polymer clays available, how to work with the clay, safety considerations, and includes formulas to blend colors for various ethnic skin tones.
Chapter 2 describes working with basic shapes and Ms Dewey's technique of modelling units, which is to roll out a log shape of clay at a certain thickness and cut off units of equal lengths. A great technique for a beginner to ensure equal amounts of clay are used. Who wants two disproportionate arms or legs simply because you eyeballed how much clay to use?
Chapter 3 covers making your own tools with the clay. If you are a novice who has never used polymer clay, this chapter gets you familiar with the feel, texture, and baking methods needed as you sculpt your figures.
Chapters 4-7 cover the modelling of the figure from face, torso, arms, and legs. In the face chapter, Ms Dewey shows you how to model a basic face but doesn't just move on from there; she expounds on it. She shows you how to sculpt the differences of gender. She shows how to sculpt ethnic faces. She shows you how to add expression to your figure with the shift of the clay here or there. She shows you how to add age to your character.
Similarly with the torso chapter, she shows you how to sculpt the male torso and the female variation. She also gives you techniques for sculpting the "heroic" or well-muscled male torso as well as adding realistic "fat" pads for the overweight figure.
Her arms and legs chapter are very detailed and you do get the development of the "heroic" arms and legs if you want to pursue that type of figure.
Chapter 8 details how to sculpt in smaller scales. Most of the book prior concerns 1/6 scale. In chapter 8, she gives formulas for the "base units" that enable you to sculpt in 1/8, 1/10, and 1/12 scale. She also demonstrates techniques for sculpting in these smaller scales.
Chapter 9 shows you how to make costumes in clay, which is truly amazing and almost worth the price of the book alone. Her figures look like they were dressed in fabric instead of clay. So if you can't or don't want to sew for a figure you sculpt, you can dress them in "fabric" as textured, with draping and folds as real as the real thing.
Chapter 10 demonstrates "finishing touches" which is the painting and wigging of your figure.
The instructions are exceptionally detailed and EXTREMELY well photographed. The photos and descriptions are why this book gets a 5-star rating. It's as if the author really cared that you do well with your sculpting and wanted to give you enough photos and description to do it.
The only "negative" I would give this book is that it needs to be spiral bound. I own the original self-published book- and yes, this is a reprint of Ms Dewey's original which has a different cover - but I bought this copy to take apart and put into a binder so I could lay it flat to reference while I sculpt.
Overall excellent and highly recommended!
44 of 44 people found the following review helpful
By Sunnie
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Begining and professional doll and figure makers will find this book an excellent resource. The entire process used by this artist is diagramed and photographed in detail.
The beginner will find everything from buying, finding, and making the most useful tools, through how much clay will be used in a sculpt. Instructions are laid out in clear, clean, methodical steps that can be used as a lesson plan for learning ever more complex techniques.
The experienced artist will be grateful to have so many techniques outlined in one book. No matter how long you have been making figures, you will find something in this book that will make your work easier, more fun, or help you produce a more professional figure. An excellent book; it belongs in every dimensional artists' library.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow! Great Book.
Fantastic book. Great information and I love the detailed instructions. This book does seem like it is for a more advanced sculpture. Can't wait to get this good.
Published 2 days ago by F. Jordan
5.0 out of 5 stars
This should be your polyclay BIBLE!
Anyone working in polyclay should have this book on their reference shelf. It's priceless for the beginner and even the intermediate to advanced polyclay artists are likely to... Read more
Published 4 days ago by ScotDeerie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bringing polymer clay figures to a more realistic and artistic place
I have bought several books on polymer clay. This one taught me just what I needed to know to fix a problem I had with figures- how to mix clays that would look more natural and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sylvia S. Reinhardt
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must have for all beginners
Thanks to the syfy show FACE OFF my daughter has asked me to help her design her own ideas through sculpting. I've always been good with pencil and paper but sculpting is new. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Veedo 182
5.0 out of 5 stars
The other reviews were right on.
This book is the most informative book I have found on clay. It breaks the steps down, so that even if you are not a professional artist you can make beautiful pieces. Read more
Published 2 months ago by L Jean
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book on sculpting in general
I'm not terribly into polymer clay, although I've dabbled in it from time to time. Instead, this is an excellent book for the beginning sculptor of the human figure in any medium,... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Peter Koziar
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is it....
The bottom line: This is THE book to learn how to sculpt figures, in polymer clay, or other mediums. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Andrew
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love, love, love this book.
I'm new to sculpting and needed to know the techniques used and this book teaches just that. I am very satisfied with all the information it has. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Clova Harris
5.0 out of 5 stars
Doll Maker
I make miniature dolls, this book has a wonderful chapter on making eyes, which I found extremely helpful. Read more
Published 2 months ago by babs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Creating Lifelike Figures
I love this book! Katherine Dewey takes you through each step with plenty of pictures to make a beautiful sculpture. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Shauna Gray
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