Living Materials: A Sculptor's Handbook [Paperback]

Oliver Andrews (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0520064526 | ISBN-13: 978-0520064522 | Publication Date: September 23, 1988

Every material has an active presence and every material is susceptible to change. The task of the sculptor is to understand the natural properties of a chosen material, to know in the process of creation how best to work with, or against, its characteristics. In this generously illustrated studio manual, sculptor Oliver Andrews takes a new approach to sculpture, focusing on how the innate assertiveness of materials affects the complex act of making a sculpture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Beautifully researched, organized, and written, by a man who knows both how to make art, and how to teach it. The materials give the book its structure. Each chapter focuses on a single material, and is its own compact, concise textbook, complete with bibliography, sources for materials and safety precautions. . . . A marvellous book." -- Craft International

"Concisely presents an impressive amount of information. Many photographs illustrate tools and procedures as well as examples of finished sculptures. . . Useful in universities, art schools, and museums." -- Library Journal

"The late Oliver Andrews, well-known sculptor and teacher, writes with great clarity and thoroughness on many current technical processes of sculpture. His response to materials is unusually affectionate and understanding. . . . Chapters include discussion of living materials, clay, plaster, molds, cement, stone, wood, plastics, metals, welding, bronze and shell casting, new forms, and planning a studio." -- Choice

About the Author

The late Oliver Andrews was a sculptor and Professor of Art at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (September 23, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520064526
• ISBN-13: 978-0520064522
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #318,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but dated, November 16, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" (New Mexico, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living Materials: A Sculptor's Handbook (Paperback)

The good news is that this is probably the best book available on the materials of sculpture. The bad new is that it was written twenty years ago. (This paperback edition may have been published in 1988, but AFAIK, the text was unchanged from the original 1983 version.)

If you are interested in traditional forms, then this book probably covers everything you need. But if you want information on any materials and/or techniques that came into use post-1970's, you're out of luck. Plastics are a good example: urethane and silicone molding rubbers are given a cursory mention, even though they are quite common now. I don't think polyurethane casting resins (Por-a-kast, Poly 15, etc.) or polyurethane glues (Gorilla Glue, ProBond, etc.) are mentioned at all.

The wood section is surprisingly thin, with a bias toward subtractive methods (carving), even though wood construction is as common--if not more common--in contemporary work.

While there are plenty of photos (all black and white) of classic sculptures, there are a lot of unbelievably bad pieces illustrated--probably chosen for their materials rather than quality. Some are downright hideous.

This is a good resource, but be aware that it is no longer comprehensive.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars supurb book that covers both modern and antique materials, July 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Living Materials: A Sculptor's Handbook (Paperback)

This is a supurb reference book for a working sculptor. It covers stone and wood carving, as well as most major 20th century materials, from plastics to masonry to metal fabrication techniques. Nothing on fabrics or paper though. The illustrations are exciting and fairly thorough, with an emphasis is on innovative work. This is the one book I would want to take with me if shipwrecked on a desert island!

5.0 out of 5 stars The Nitty-Gritty, June 25, 2009

By 

Theseus "theseus" (US of A) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living Materials: A Sculptor's Handbook (Hardcover)

These details relate to the University of California hardback edition.

A comprehensive and detailed analysis of "the bewildering wealth of sculpture materials." Each chapter focuses on a certain type of material, obtaining it, using it, altering it, linking it with other media -- the whole magilla.

349 pp with over 425 b&w illustrations: photos, drawings, technical drawings, tables. Bibliography and list of suppliers (now dated) at the end of each chapter.

Hardback, cloth over boards in dustjacket. Index.