Pop Sculpture: How to Create Action Figures and Collectible Statues

I had this book on my "Wish List", hesitating because these guys are so obviously WAY AHEAD of me and I will never, ever catch up. I just started polymer a year ago and found myself gravitating towards sculpture, which I've never done before, and moving pretty fast on acquiring skills. But there is so much to learn...just like anything else. So the book kept drawing me in until I bought it. And I was so glad I finally gave in. First of all, the book's quality is top notch. The photos are large so detail can be studied at leisure. The color quality is great. The techniques are completely comprehensive...down to earth, easy to understand with loads of photos on procedure. Second, the writing style is great. You are put at ease from the first. The tone is laid back and full of wry humor (just my kind) but it is obvious these guys are SERIOUS artists, aside from their credentials, and that they totally enjoy their work and admire it and each others as well. Third, I appreciate the fact that they let you know the kind of mistakes they themselves have made. They certainly do not put themselves on a pedestal and, in poking fun at themselves, make the student feel at ease about making his/her own. The sense of comradery is totally evident. And, as a woman, I appreciate that a woman is included in the group and given extreme honor as to her position in the field. Fourth, there are chapters on doing business as an artist and even photographing your own work. I bought several books on desk top photography, etc. and they are all good. But this one was sweet and simple and pulled it all together for me. Fifth, even though each of these artists works a different medium and I only am doing polymer right now, I garnered invaluable information just by skimming thru the first time I opened it. Last, this book has become my main textbook for sculpture so far. The more I look and read the more I find. I seriously recommend it for anyone that aspires to be a master at this craft. You will enjoy it tremendously.

This book is both comprehensive and entertaining, generously filled with all the ins and outs of the profession and tips and tricks gathered from the authors' combined experience, with additional insights from their professional peers.

I have been sculpting and making OOAK heads for a few years now and I wish this book had been written sooner. Of all the books in my library this is the only one to deal with Apoxie Sculpt, plastics, and resin casting in a strait forward way. They show you how to mold and cast but throw in important steps like making gates that other doll making books have glossed or skipped all together. This is the only book I have come across to deal with casting resins in a strait forward manner.This book leads you through the process of concept art, rough sculpt from several choices of sculpting materials, to wax casting, to resin casting and painting. Two figures are made, the static pose Athena and a jointed Thor. Step by step painting guides are shown with many clear photographs. This is not exactly a how-to book, it won't take you from no experience to producing a line of action figures over night. It will be less frustrating if you have some artistic experience and have done a bit of sculpting but I will recommend this book for artists, sculptors, and doll makers of all levels.Doll makers may want to pair this book with Learning To Be A Doll Artist this too starts with a static figure and covers wax casting but gets in to slightly different joint mechanics before porcelain casting. Between the two, and the Yoshida BJD book or at least the gist of that idea, you have the best books I've ever seen for creating your own models of people.

If you're event remotely interested in what it take to make tots and sculptures from scratch this is the book for you!! Only issue is now I want to spend a ton of money on equipment lol

Good book but I do wish they would do an update to include digital sculpting and 3d printing

I love this book. It paid for itself ten times over by the second chapter and goes onward and upward from there. Written by absolute experts in this field, these gentlemen are truly modern masters. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to not only "look over their shoulders" as they create, but to be lead by the hand, patiently and humorously, to create my own masterpieces. They, through this book, have persuaded me to attempt to mix my own custom sculpting wax formula. If it satisfies my sculpting needs, I will have saved thousands of dollars in materials alone, considering today's retail prices of premixed clay and wax products. They also don't try to cram branded products down your throat, but let you in on the money-saving secrets, economical techniques and handy work-arounds that have served them well.This book is a real treasure I will be referring to for years. Thank you Tim, Zach and Ruben.

Very good book that introduces you to making your own figures. Very good details. I know there are some questions that others feel that it did not answer, but one question I can answer is about the joints. It tells you to make the holes you drill the same size as the rods you insert into them. This will give enough friction to make the joint tight enough to stay put, but enough room to allow movement. I am a mechanical engineer major and alot of this stuff made sense to me mechanically. Also, I love the small details they give such as putting pieces in the mold to help with precision pieces and the type of paint to use (never heard of cel-vinyl paint). Definitely a must-buy book.