"It is such a thrill to focus in on the picture of a well-loved person, to concentrate on capturing that person's essence, and then to hold the little replica in your hand. Looking back. Perhaps smiling. Slightly whimsical. Almost real enough to talk. You'll have to do it to know what I mean."
—Maureen Carlson

Make friends with polymer clay...and family, too! In this delightful, light-hearted book, Maureen Carlson will teach you how to sculpt unique clay figures of your favorite people.

You'll find everything you need to have fun and success—including a complete description of tools and supplies; general techniques for creating faces and bodies; and tricks for recreating the specific moods, expressions and features that capture the essence of a particular person. Before you know it, you'll be creating clay caricatures that are "almost real," full of personality, and guaranteed to make you smile!

About the Author
Maureen Carlson is the author of several books on polymer clay including How to Make Clay Characters. Maureen and her husband own a mail order and teaching business called Wee Folk Creations. She has also produced five instructional videos and written numerous articles for craft publications. She lives in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

Table of Contents
Introduction

Chapter One
Understanding Polymer Clay: The Basics

Chapter Two
The Face as a Puzzle: Spatial Relationships

Chapter Three
The Basic Face: Learning to See the Shape of Things

Chapter Four
Make a Funny Face: Cartoon Characters

Chapter Five
Body Proportions: Caricaturing the Body

Chapter Six
Simple Cartoon Impressions: Using Accessories

Chapter Seven
Almost "Real" Caricatures: Capturing a Likeness

Chapter Eight
Turning Caricatures Into Dolls: Four Easy Doll Shapes

Chapter Nine
Problems and Solutions

Source Materials

Index

From the Introduction
A good caricature also captures the mood of a person, and this is exaggerated as well. If the subject is bewildered, then the caricature is really bewildered. If the subject is happy, the caricature is really happy. If the mood is one of confusion or smugness, then it is endearingly so. This might sound like a description of cartoon characters, but what makes these sculptures caricatures and not cartoons is that there is something about each figure that captures the essence of an actual person. This is someone we know.
—Maureen Carlson"