Skip to main content
University of California Press

About the Book

Every material has an active presence and every material is susceptible to change. The task of the sculptor is to understand the natural properties of a chosen material, to know in the process of creation how best to work with, or against, its characteristics. In this generously illustrated studio manual, sculptor Oliver Andrews takes a new approach to sculpture, focusing on how the innate assertiveness of materials affects the complex act of making a sculpture.

About the Author

The late Oliver Andrews was a sculptor and Professor of Art at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Publisher's Preface
Introduction

1 Living Materials, Living Forms
2 Clay
3 Plaster Building
4 Mold-Making and Cold-Casting
5 Cement and Concrete
6 Stone Carving
7 Wood
8 Plastics
9 Metals
10 Metal Forming
11 Welding
12 Bronze Casting by the Lost-Wax
Method
13 Sand Casting and Shell Casting
14 New Forms
15 Planning a Studio

Index

Reviews

"The late Oliver Andrews, well-known sculptor and teacher, writes with great clarity and thoroughness on many current technical processes of sculpture. His response to materials is unusually affectionate and understanding. . . Chapters include discussions of living materials, clay, plaster, molds, cement, stone, wood, plastics, metals, welding, bronze and shell casting, new forms, and planning a studio."
— CHOICE
"Beautifully researched, organized, and written, by a man who knows both how to make art, and how to teach it. The materials give the book its structure. Each chapter focuses on a single material, and is its own compact, concise textbook, complete with bibliography, sources for materials and safety precautions. . . . A marvellous book."
— Craft International
"Concisely presents an impressive amount of information. Many photographs illustrate tools and procedures as well as examples of finished sculptures. . . . Useful in universities, art schools, and museums."
— Library Journal