Customer Reviews

Polymer Clay Creative Traditions: Techniques and Projects Inspired by the Fine and Decorative Arts

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Polymer clay is gaining in popularity, and with that popularity comes a variety of books that cover much of the same territory. Judy Belcher's book takes a fresh approach. Judy investigates the many styles of other decorative art forms and applies the characteristics of those art forms to clay. The results are stunning, enlightening and invigorating. Batik, millefiori, lampwork, quilting, cloisonne...all these forms--and more--are applied to clay.

While this book was not targeted towards the beginning clayer, it does have a variety of projects at many skill levels, enbabling all who read it to successfully complete the project and learn the technique.

Judy's skill with clay, her eye for design, her love of the medium and her imaginative spirit all come through in this book. I'm still stunned with her attempt at imitating pointillism--paintings created by using tiny dots of color--using polymer clay.

This book will definitely be getting a bit of wear and tear. I've read it twice from cover to cover, and I continue to go through it to learn more.

I received this book in the mail yesterday afternoon and I haven't put it down since. It is jam packed with idea, tutorials, inspiration... I can't stop looking at everything.

There aren't too many Polymer Clay books that I truly feel are worth buying because they are all so hit and miss- only 25% of the content in those books are useful and/or interesting to me. I actually own more glass bead books because I have learned more about layering and design and color from those than most PC books. I have yet to fiind a PC book that really suited my needs- innovative projects with great suuggestions and galleries. Until now. This book is not only a great resource, it's also an invitation to explore- and Belcher provides the map.

If you have any interest in Polymer Clay or seeing what the potential of the medium is, you must buy this book. There's a bunch of projects, as well as most inspiring set of gallery pages in any PC book I have seen. Almost everything in here is a keeper.

I hope this book is the first in a series, because I can think of hundreds of artists whose techniques could be interpreted in clay. I can see a "Creative Traditions: Art Noveau", "Creative Traditions: Pop Art", "Creative Traditions: Impressionism", etc.

Thank you thank you thank you, Ms. Belcher, for finally raising the bar on Polymer Clay books and for creating a publication that belongs in every artist's library.

There are several recently released books on polymer clay I'd highly recommend and Judy's book is definitely one of them. The other recent additions would be Kim Cavender's "Polymer Clay For The Fun Of It" and Ellen Marshall's book on surface treatment.

Judy's historical references to other media attest to the versatility of this amazing material and her examples are wonderful! The projects are beautifully executed and the gallery photos a real treat. Judy is a real perfectionist and it shows on every page.

Congratulations on a great book, Judy. This book belongs in every polymer clay library.

Donna Kato, author of The Art of Polymer Clay

Finally, a book that's not only about specific projects with the same old techniques. Judy Belcher has written a book that's on my top 5 among my 20 some books. It is very difficult to put it on the bookshelf.

The galleries are very inspiring. I own other books but this one helped me reach the next level with my creations.

Thank you Judy for giving us the inspiration and techniques.

Norma.

The focus of "Polymer Clay Creative Traditions" is intriguing. Author Judy Belcher divides the book into traditional crafts such as glass, metal, fiber, and shows how these have influenced the development of new techniques in polymer clay. She has researched a wide variety of traditions and presents novel techniques for recreating these in clay. I was particularly intrigued by her discussion of creating lampworking, enameling, and mudcloth effects. The book is also chock full of inspiring photos of works by the author and other artists. Each chapter begins with an introduction to the traditional craft, followed by instructions for 2-3 techniques or projects, followed by a Gallery of lush photographs of polymer clay pieces that were influenced in some way by that artistic tradition.

However, although the intent of the book is innovative, perhaps even groundbreaking, I was disappointed in the details. For one, the captions were descriptive but often not informative. in the Gallery section, the captions refer to techniques like "flamework" or "component caning" which are not explained anywhere in the book. In some cases, it was hard to tell if a photographed piece was an example of a work in clay or the traditional medium. Above all, I found some of the instructions to be sketchy and hard to follow. For example, in the demonstration of imitating Seurat pointillism in clay-creative as that idea is-the instructions list two steps, but the most critical details for completing the project are buried in a box labeled "Tip." In my opinion, "Creative Traditions" is intriguing for the ideas it presents but has limitations as a how-to book.

This book (along with Donna Kato's Art of Polymer Clay) is one of my two favorite books on polymer clay. As a beginner, I want the basics along with options for future more difficult techniques. I found that in this book with clear instructions that were beautifully photographed. My primary focus is on beads. I found most all techniques in this book can be applied to beads.

Once you thumb through this visually delightful book; be
sure you go back and enjoy the written sections. It is full of
anecdotes and historical notes that bring the techniques to life.
The background you learn makes the projects so much more interesting. As you work through one of her techniques you realise
that what you create is adding to this larger art form. It really makes you think and enjoy the process.

No matter where you are in the polymer journey you will find
inspiration from this book. The photography is brillantly clear
and the gallery works represent an excellent portfolio of the masters in this medium today.

My polymer book library is pretty large and yet there are only about 2 books I can rattle off projects, works that are inspirational. These are the books that have stayed in my memory --This will make book number 3.

First--as noted with the low-star reviews, this book is not for beginners, and not for everyone. The book presumes a working knowledge of polymer clay techniques and doesn't try to fill that gap. Do not buy this as your first PC book. The book is also aimed at a very high-end audience, people who want to make fine craft. Most of the examples could easily win display space at the top craft shows, with $2000 booth fees. I recognize some of these slides from ads in Niche and Crafts Report and maybe even American Craft. Not your average street fair stuff.

That said, this is NOT your average street fair stuff. If you've been hanging around the edges of PC, knowing that it had possibilities and wondering why it was you never really liked any of the work you saw, buy Belcher. If the Lark book about PC makes you breathe hard and you can't figure out how to make those items, buy this book.

Two very revealing quotes: "The precise cuts and angles in this millefiori cane took days to construct." (Sandra McCaw) "Taking up to a month to build a single cane," (Sarah Nelson Shriver). OK. We're talking mastery here. PC holding its own with faceted stones and silver settings. PC that looks like adult jewelry and not just something I'd wear on Saturday morning. There's a lot in here I'm never going to make, but for the techniques I couldn't work out on my own and for the inspiration, it's the best.

(But it still doesn't tell how McCaw builds her canes...)

This is an excellent book on polymer clay techniques, Judy Belcher's techniques, and photographs of other polymer artists' beautiful work. I am a big fan of Judy Belcher's work, and this book did not let me down. It is a great resource on her techniques & those currently being used with today's polymer artists'.
It was wonderfully photographed, and clearly written. Judy does a great job leaving out so many basic things about polymer clay, in order to focus on technique for individuals that are interested in avoiding books ingrained with "the basics". It is inspiring, and a must have addition to an artists library of resources.

oh my goodness, this book is a tribute to the artists out there. It also shows of fabulously Judy Belcher's talent not only as a teacher but as an artist. This book is a must have! I have been awaiting it's outcome rather impatiently for months now, and have finally clapped my hands on a copy. I was not to be disapointed, i whisked away up to my attic and stowed away in a quiet corner with this book. I was in heaven, the gallerys of artist's work will enthrall your creative senses, and get your inspiration tingling. Belcher commends the artists who have led the way in the polymerclay world, (Marie Segal, Judith Skinner and Donna Kato to name but a few.) Her tehniques are simple and quick. But having had years to perfect them they have become art forms. This book must not stay in your supboard. It demands usage. To Judy Belcher, I thank her for giving me such a wonderous christmas present. To Frances I say thank you for spotting it. To the rest of the polymer clay world, I say good luck for 06, may we progress ever further.
Becky Newton, 14yrs