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Review on 🎨 The Ultimate Guide to Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects: Unveiling Techniques and Inspiring Projects Incorporating Transfers, Stamps, Stencils, Inks, Paints, Mediums, and More by Gelin Battle

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Donna Kato Grade is in Your Hands

Here is a review I also posted on my Polymer Clay Review blog [.] Yes, another 5 star book. Are there any books I don't like that much? Yes. Were they recently released? no It's been a decade—yes, a decade—since Donna published her first book, The Art of Working with Polymer Clay. This second book brings us to Donna today. Her style is elegant, her methods are innovative and her instructions make her designs accessible. I took two lessons from Donna. When I first started clay modeling I even joined my local claymation guild just to take Donna's class and I haven't looked back. Donna's book is like Kato's portable class. Donna taught many of these techniques in the classes I took from her. However, with this indispensable reference, I can browse the course at my leisure and continue experimenting with their methods. She approaches each technique in a very simple way: she teaches the techniques and then applies them to the project. This allows us to not only complete the pattern in which the technique is mastered, but also create a very beautiful finished work that people will be talking about. * creating textures * paints, inks and pigment powders * special effects with liquid polymer clay * modeling and mold making I love Donna's techniques. They are the result of many hours of experimentation and development on your part. The book describes how to do something and why. For example, Donna makes a mold out of her polymer clay stamps, AND THEN uses that mold to make her products. She goes into detail as to why she does this and what results are achieved when modeling directly from a stamp versus indenting a polymer clay mold from a rubber stamp. It's something I've never thought about, but it makes a lot of sense. Twelve beautiful projects are accompanied by step-by-step instructions and photos that walk you through each major component. While some projects are simple, others will teach you the techniques to craft complex items, like their coveted Japanese inro boxes. There is inspirational inspirational work throughout the book, including work, submitted for two Kato Polyclay artist competitions/exhibitions, one of which is about shoes. (clay feat) and one was dedicated to boxes. I was honored to place 2nd in the boxing competition and my Donnelly Sampler is included in the book. This is another book that will remain in my permanent library. I love having Donna's lessons available to me at all times.

Pros
  • Great Price
Cons
  • Big and Bulky