The Art of Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects: Techniques and Projects Featuring Transfers, Stamps, Stencils, Inks, Paints, Mediums, and More [Paperback]

Donna Kato (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2007

Polymer clay has grown and grown and grown in popularity since the publication of Donna Kato's best-selling The Art of Polymer Clay in 1997. And there have been so many technical advances, too. Now poly-diva Donna Kato presents an all-new look at one of crafters' all-time favorite mediums. The Art Of Polymer Clay Surface Effects begins with the essentials of polymer clay, including its working properties, plus tools, curing, safety recommendations, and color blending (with full information on the now-indispensable Skinner Blend). Photo-packed chapters focus on exciting projects—beads, bracelets, pins, pendants, and boxes–and showcase new techniques, including image transfers, surface treatments such as stencils, stamps, paints, and inks, sculpting, inclusions, special effects, and finishing. Finished pieces by some of the biggest names in polymer clay, including Kathleen Dustin, Pier Voulkos, and Nan Roche, plus Donna Kato herself, offer ideas and inspiration.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Donna Kato is one of the world’s best-selling authors on polymer clay crafts. Her books The Art of Polymer Clay and The Art of Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects have sold more than 110,000 copies. Her Kato Polyclay is available across the country. She and her husband, photographer Vernon Ezell, live in Florissant, CO.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Potter Craft; 1st edition (June 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823013626
• ISBN-13: 978-0823013623
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.5 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,192 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Arts & Photography > Sculpture

More About the Author

Donna Kato, teacher, product designer, and artist, is the author of The Art of Polymer Clay, the bible of polymer clay crafting. For many years, she served as a representative for Sculpey and Fimo, and recently she has partnered with the art-materials manufacturer Van Aken to design her own line, Kato Poly Clay. She and her husband, photographer Vernon Ezell, live in Florissant, Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Donna Kato Class At Your Fingertips, August 3, 2007

By 

M. Donnelly (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Art of Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects: Techniques and Projects Featuring Transfers, Stamps, Stencils, Inks, Paints, Mediums, and More (Paperback)

Here's the review I also have posted on my blog, Polymer Clay Review http://polymerclayreview.com

Yes, another 5-star book. Are there books I don't like as much? Yes. Have those been published lately? No.

It has been a decade-yes, a decade-since Donna published her first book, The Art of Polymer Clay. This second book takes us to Donna today. Her style is elegant, her techniques are innovative, and her instruction makes her projects accessible. I've taken two classes from Donna. In fact, I joined my local clay guild when I first started claying just to take Donna's class-and I haven't looked back.

Donna's book is like a portable Kato class. Donna taught many of these techniques in the classes I took from her. However, having this indispensable reference book enables me to review the class at my leisure and further experiment with her techniques. She approaches each technique in a straightforward manner-teach techniques, then apply them to a project. This enables us not only to complete a sample that masters the technique, but also a very beautiful finished piece that will get people talking.

Donna splits the book into seven different sections:

* Polymer Clay Basics

* Mica Shift Techniques

* Transferring Images Onto Polymer Clay

* Creating Texture

* Paints, Inks and Pigment Powders

* Special Effects with Liquid Polymer Clays

* Sculpture and Mold Making

I love Donna's techniques. They are the result of hours of experimentation and development on her part. The book details both how to do something-and why. For instance, Donna makes a mold from her rubber stamps using polymer clay and THEN uses that mold to create her pieces. She goes into detail about why she does this, and what the results are molding directly from a stamp versus taking an impression from a polymer clay mold made from a rubber stamp. It's something I never considered, but it makes great sense.

The twelve beautiful projects are accompanied by step-by-step instructions and photographs that walk you through each major component. While some projects are simple, others teach you techniques in constructing complex pieces like her coveted Japanese Inro boxes.

Peppered throughout the book are awe-inspiring inspirational pieces, including the pieces submitted for two of Kato Polyclay's artists contests/exhibitions-one focused on shoes (Feat of Clay) and one focused on boxes. I was honored to be the 2nd-place winner in the box contest, and my "Donnelly's Sampler" is included in the book.

This is yet another book that will stay in my permanent library. I love having a Donna class on my shelf, ready for me at any time.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for any craft library, August 26, 2007

By 

Sheila Slater (Waco, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects: Techniques and Projects Featuring Transfers, Stamps, Stencils, Inks, Paints, Mediums, and More (Paperback)

I just started working with polymer clay a few weeks ago and wanted a book that logically explains techniques as well as offering good photography. Being a librarian and fiber artist, I HAVE to have my own library of art/craft books for reference and inspiration. Kato's is one of the best I have for any media. It's well written and organized and the photos are inspiring. I highly recommend this book for any polymer clay artist or library wanting to add a high quality book to a crafts collection.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a resource!, June 26, 2007

By 

Cindy (Cogan Station, Panama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Art of Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects: Techniques and Projects Featuring Transfers, Stamps, Stencils, Inks, Paints, Mediums, and More (Paperback)

I've loved Donna Kato's work for some time, but while I've purchased several polymer clay "how-to" books in the three years I've been working with PC, this is the first of Ms. Kato's books I've purchased. It won't be the last.

I received it today, and read through it, cover to cover. My hands are itching to try the techniques she so generously and painstakingly shares. While other leading polymer clay artists sell these same techniques individually in seminars and on expensive DVDs, Ms. Kato has demonstrated several processes I've been hungry to learn in one place, in a beautiful, inexpensive and clearly written book.

Hats off to Donna Kato!