Sculpting basics Everything you need to know to create fantastic three-dimensional art

British sculptor, teacher, and author Hessenberg presents a fine overview for beginning sculptors. She starts with a course on clay modeling and advances to molding and casting with plaster, wire, and concrete. Projects using wood, wire mesh, and other objects illustrate direct building techniques. A final section offers five projects for carving in soapstone, alabaster, limestone, lumber, and logs. Hessenberg touches on a wide range of sculptural forms and styles, including the traditional figure, symbolic compositions, and abstract reliefs. For such a slight book, Sculpting Basics bundles a surprising amount of information for beginners and can serve as a reference for more experienced sculptors as well. For detailed instruction in specific sculptural media, see also Josepmaria Teixido I Cami and Jacinto Chicharro Santamera's Sculpture in Stone. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.