Creating Lifelike Figures in Polymer
Clay: Tools and Techniques for
Sculpting Realistic Figures by
Katherine Dewey
Wow!
How-tos by the master of realistic fanciful polymer figures!
* More than 400 step-by-step full-color photos and 200 drawings
* Innovative techniques, taught by a master
* Inspiring ideas, practical information

Anyone who has ever marveled over Katherine Dewey’s amazing
creations has wondered, How did she do that? In Creating Lifelike Figures
in Polymer Clay, the renowned artist reveals exactly how she makes her
incredible human figures and fantasy characters--and how polymer-clay
crafters everywhere can do the same. With more than 400 step-by-step
photographs in full color plus 200 detailed drawings, Dewey teaches how
to sculpt realistic figures in any scale using her simple appliqué approach.
She covers the entire process: selecting clay, making modeling tools,
proportioning figures, posing, ethnic and gender subtleties, facial
expressions, costumes in clay, and finishing touches. For anyone who
loves fantasy, romance, nature--or sophisticated crafting--this book is a
must-have.
Personal Review: Creating Lifelike Figures in Polymer Clay:
Tools and Techniques for Sculpting Realistic Figures by
Katherine Dewey
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 your 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!
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