Plaster Studio: Mixed-Media Techniques for Painting, Casting and Carving [Paperback]

Stephanie Lee (Author), Judy Wise (Author), Tonia Davenport (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2011

Return to the origin of the earth and discover a new way of playing in the mud.

Raw, friendly and easily altered, plaster is perhaps the most versatile art medium you have yet to encounter. Beautiful in its luminosity, yet open to receiving a multitude of alterations, plaster will easily agree to being painted, carved, cast and sculpted. Stephanie Lee and Judy Wise will walk you through 24 step-by-step projects and will introduce you to a variety of plaster forms. The techniques you?ll be introduced to will inspire you to go on and develop your own creations.

Inside Plaster Studio you will discover how to:

• Apply image transfers to a plaster surface
• Make plaster projects glow with the addition of encaustic medium
• Create book pages and covers from plaster
• Add depth with plaster and stencils
• Cast objects from plaster that are easy to add to other works of art
• Bring three-dimensional intrigue to projects using wire armature with plaster gauze
• Take your work to the next level with the help of inspiring gallery works from the authors and talented contributingartists

Mix up your first batch of plaster today and see what Plaster Studio will inspire your imagination to carve out!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephanie Lee is the author of Semiprecious Salvage (North Light Books) and has also been published in Somerset, Belle Armoire, and Somerset Workshop (numerous times). She is a mixed-media jewelry designer and plaster artist and teaches sold-out workshops regularly both in the US and abroad. Stephanie is active online through her blog and Etsy shop.

Judy Wise is an Oregon artist who teaches to sold-out workshops across the United States and abroad. In addition to book illustration her work has been featured on greeting cards, calendars, educational materials, gift bags, tapestries, and has been published in Cloth Paper Scissors, Creative Blogging and the cover of Teesha Moore's Play Magazine as well as numerous North Light books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (May 30, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1440308152
• ISBN-13: 978-1440308154
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.4 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,078 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Wood Crafts & Carving > Carving
  • #41 in Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Mixed Media
  • #51 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Mixed-Media

More About the Author

Judy Wise has been drawing, painting and keeping journals since she was a child. A working artist for over 35 years, she is known for her etchings as well as her paintings in acrylic, oil, watercolor and wax. For the last 5 years has taught at mixed media workshops. This is her first book.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Plaster Studio May 11, 2011

By Meri Arnett-Kremian

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

After waiting for five months on the pre-release list, Plaster Studio by Stephanie Lee and Judy Wise is finally in my hands. It's the perfect book for mixed media artists who loved to play in the mud as little girls (or boys) and who -- as grownups -- love to explore media with tactile qualities. The book is beautifully written (I knew Stephanie and Judy were talented artists, but they can write, too). It's beautifully photographed and laid out, as well.

There's a technical intro about what plaster is and what tools can be used -- both short and sweet. After that, it jumps right in to the meat of things. It covers painting on plaster, going back in and adding more plaster to a plaster painting, adding imagery via tissue paper prints or image transfers. It presents a step-by-step method to do "faux frescoes," use stencils, or add metal foil for highlights. Each new technique has a materials list and goes through process with both words and images.

Some of the more unusual techniques include cracked burlap, casting and carving, and combining plaster (or joint compound) with assemblage -- including assemblage using items you've cast yourself from plaster. Who knew you could take one little Frozen Charlotte and clone her to infinity?

There's also some basic info on combining plaster painting with the use of encaustic medium and since I am a new encaustic convert, that was appealing. There are also some intriguing 3-D sculptural projects, including my favorite -- a foam Santo. Those of you into book arts will find some options you might never have considered.

So if you're a mixed media artist who loves tactile media with lots of exploratory potential, Stephanie and Judy's book will be a great resource.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST. May 19, 2011

By my third baby

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

OK, I buy more art books than I am willing to admit... but this one, is a keeper, really if you want to create, this book will give you tools to do so... VERY WELL DONE Stephanie and Judy... this book has an incredible variety of projects that can be tweaked to your own style, truly worth every single penny... this book is extremely inspirational and I can say that it would be very hard to criticize this book... in fact if I were to write a book, I couldn't imagine what I would change about it... NICE JOB STEPHANIE AND JUDY! (and whoever helped you!!!)

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique work from ordinary objects! May 16, 2011

By Barbara Lewis

Format:Paperback

This book is very exciting. Being a former potter, I'm well acquainted with plaster, which I have used for mold-making and some cast 3D pieces. I've also admired the frescoes and encaustics in cities in Italy. Imagine combining all of this together in a beautifully laid out, informative book that can easily be met with sighs of "Wow!" The projects in this book are diverse ... from those with color, to white on white ethereal images, 3D and 2D work, figurative and non-representational pieces ... and lots of texture. The approach is to use what you have at your disposal and to buy only what's necessary. Most of the materials are easy to find either at your hardware store or online and are not expensive. Stephanie's bowl is the bomb! I think there's a potter hiding in there somewhere! I look forward to working through this book with the ladies during their online workshop.