Modeling the Head in Clay

Rating:
Summary: Not For the Beginner...or the Advanced?
Review: For a begiinning sculptor, Lucchesi leaves a lot of steps out, the gaps are difficult to overcome for a beginning scuptor. I also found that it was difficult to apply the techniques when trying to create an actuazl likeness.....much of Lucchesi's work appears to be very similar in shape and form.

Rating:
Summary: Not For the Beginner...or the Advanced?
Review: For a beginning sculptor, Lucchesi leaves a lot of steps out, the gaps are difficult to overcome for the starter. I also found that it was difficult to apply the techniques when trying to create an actual likeness.....much of Lucchesi's work appears to be very similar in shape and form.

Rating:
Summary: Not For the Beginner...or the Advanced?
Review: For a beginning sculptor, Lucchesi leaves a lot of steps out, the gaps are difficult to overcome for the starter. I also found that it was difficult to apply the techniques when trying to create an actual likeness.....much of Lucchesi's work appears to be very similar in shape and form.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Pass This One Up
Review: I am interested primarily in learning figure sculpture, so I bought this as a companion to the volumes "Modeling the Figure in Clay" and "Terracotta." I must say I was not disappointed. The book is a walkthrough of a single sculpture, but it is not developed in the anatomical style taught in "Modeling the Figure in Clay." Students of portraiture may prefer a more detailed treatment of facial anatomy. However, the work shown in the book has the grace and "flow" which is so difficult for beginners to master -- and which is tough to learn without viewing the piece as an integrated whole.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Pass This One Up
Review: I am interested primarily in learning figure sculpture, so I bought this as a companion to the volumes "Modeling the Figure in Clay" and "Terracotta." I must say I was not disappointed. The book is a walkthrough of a single sculpture, but it is not developed in the anatomical style taught in "Modeling the Figure in Clay." Students of portraiture may prefer a more detailed treatment of facial anatomy. However, the work shown in the book has the grace and "flow" which is so difficult for beginners to master -- and which is tough to learn without viewing the piece as an integrated whole.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Pass This One Up
Review: I bought this book (along with several others) while taking a class in sculpture. I found it to be the most informative and inspiring of any source, including my sculpture teacher. Using a series of close-up, detailed photographs, the book walks the student through the steps of creating a clay head. I followed them and made a good (for me) sculpture of a man's head and later a bust of a woman. I went on to make other clay faces, incorporated into mugs and pots. I don't pretend to be a great sculptor but, thanks to this book, I am able to make recognizable sculptures. The excellent directions include how to control surface texture using water and a brush; it is possible to make clay look like skin. If you are struggling to bring clay to life, this book doesn't just tell you how, it shows you how.

Randall Black

Rating:
Summary: Best book on clay sculpting
Review: I bought this book (along with several others) while taking a class in sculpture. I found it to be the most informative and inspiring of any source, including my sculpture teacher. Using a series of close-up, detailed photographs, the book walks the student through the steps of creating a clay head. I followed them and made a good (for me) sculpture of a man's head and later a bust of a woman. I went on to make other clay faces, incorporated into mugs and pots. I don't pretend to be a great sculptor but, thanks to this book, I am able to make recognizable sculptures. The excellent directions include how to control surface texture using water and a brush; it is possible to make clay look like skin. If you are struggling to bring clay to life, this book doesn't just tell you how, it shows you how.

Randall Black

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful photographic illustration of modeling
Review: This is a book that shows you, via numerous photographs, how a clay sculpture is actually made. The book starts with detailed photographs of different types of sculpture that whet your excitement. It then moves to defining the tools and supplies that are going to used in the rest of the book. The greatest part of the book is the detailed step by step photographic illustration of what happens during each part of building the sculpture. It is really exciting to see how the model is transformed between its various stages. I learned more from this one book than 2 adult- evening sculpture classes(that cost $300+)from the local Art college. This book is worth the investment!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful photographic illustration of modeling
Review: This is a book that shows you, via numerous photographs, how a clay sculpture is actually made. The book starts with detailed photographs of different types of sculpture that whet your excitement. It then moves to defining the tools and supplies that are going to used in the rest of the book. The greatest part of the book is the detailed step by step photographic illustration of what happens during each part of building the sculpture. It is really exciting to see how the model is transformed between its various stages. I learned more from this one book than 2 adult- evening sculpture classes(that cost $300+)from the local Art college. This book is worth the investment!

Rating:
Summary: Only the Basics.
Review: While Mr. Lucchesi is obviously a very talented sculpter of the human physique,I found this book to be somewhat simplistic in it's approach. Going through its pages was similar to watching the how-to-paint shows on PBS,a few little tricks here and there to get a quick effect,but no real exploration as to what makes a sculpture a real work of art or a true portrait. For someone who already posseses an understanding of anatomy,who knows the foundation of modeling the head,this book describes not much more than forming a maniken. There is no discussion of the relationships between parts of the face or how those relations change with different emotions. I can only recommend this book to beginners with no previous modeling experience.