Beginner's Guide to Sculpting Characters in Clay

I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said about this book. Sculpting in clay for most of my life, 40 years, plus sculpting in wax for 30 years or so. This book is still a pleasure to own for myself. I would recommend this to anyone, beginner or experienced. Well worth the price. If you are a beginner and can only afford one book, this should be one of your top choices. As an artist and sculptor I am proud to add this to my collection of How-To books.

I love this book! It has different kinds of reviews for different point of view but this is mine: it is in fact a beginner’s guide tu is a very complete guide but do not expect to be given everything it is a guide design to guide you! It have different part. Each part is written by a different artist and in the end of each part some pics of the artist work but still have cohesiveness! Have a basic of materials tools and safety!. And approaching is basic ANATOMY very important for a beginner! And 5 differences project each by a different artist using each different mediums, tools and methods! So you can search a different approach of working! Each used different armadura, bulking nothing and materiales! They show their process so is a very complete guide! Very beautiful book very satisfied and recommended for a beginner!

I was disappointed. It has good pictures and some neat tips. but the 'lessons' are just step by step guides to make THAT sculpture with minimal reasons WHY each technique is used in theory and then displaying it in practice. It's a good coffee table book that you can learn from.

This book is what I hoped it would be. Buying the other Shiflett Brothers book now.

Few books in any field serve as both an excellent reference and practical guide, offering simple and straight forward information on tools, their practical use, and proceeds to armatures, materials, and their use and application. From there one moves on to practical starts and solid tips on executing a sculpture. A beginner can start a project secure that he can complete it. Beginner to advanced sculptors (who probably don't need it) can also benefit from the book as a reference a trouble shooting guide. With so many art books on the market, few are worth buying, and still fewer worth using. This is one of the books that can be the only one you'll ever buy and still be fine, even though it doesn't (nothing can) contain all you'll ever need to know, which can't be exhausted.

I've got 6 years of sculpting experience behind me, and over 15 years of fine arts experience. Detailed, descriptive, lists everything you need to get started in sculpting characters with polymer and oil-based clays. Explains armatures very well - that's something I needed to know more about. Beginners need not be intimidated - keep at it and try the tutorials several times before trying your own idea. Book explains how to make what you want to sculpt appear in reality, but it's going to take practice and work no matter what. Enjoy the journey!

Super helpful book! For beginners and experts alike!I've been sculpting for some odd 3 years and I've come to find the best educational tools for any sculptors is always seeing how other people sculpt. And being able to have a paper reference where they cover all the steps from start to finish is key!This book is good about covering everything from tools (making tools) and materials to smoothing finishes.If youre a sculptor of any sort, buy this book!

The book is a beautiful, photo and info filled instruction book for sculpting in clay. Just not the ceramic kiln fired clay I use. If you want to make a supersized action figure, this is your book. If you want to bisque fire your sculpture and glaze, this is not your book. Also, I paid for a new book and got one with a tear on the spine and bent edges on the cover. To top it off, the book was folded and put in my mailbox, rather than delivered to my porch. Not my best purchase.