Bear (and rabbit..) making books!

[shelly]

:)
I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread about bear making books and techniques. I am looking for some books, but there are so many out there , where do you start ?
If anyone has any books that they would recommend, about making, sculpting, or air brushing bears, please let me know so I can tell Father Christmas.
Thanks Shelly

[shebob bears]

Hi Shelly.
A really good book by Jennifer Lang is called TEDDY BEAR ART - How to design and make great teddy bears. It is well illustrated throughout and explains how to get the correct proportions of the bear etc. A very useful book to have.

Another equally good book again by Jennifer Lang is CONSTRUCTING TEDDY AND HIS FRIENDS. Similar in style to the first book, and it includes a pattern for a rabbit.

There are so many books available. Why not try your local library first. They usually have a good selection on crafts.

Good luck with your search, Shelly, and be sure to tell Father Christmas your choice of books!!

Best wishes
Sheila.

[Jenny]

Ted Mentens books are so good...and he really does explain how to do things. I have found his book Teddy Bear studio to be the most useful one in my teddy library. Nancy Tillbergs book is also really good..but I'm sometimes a bit confused about her techniques. I got it because of the section on open mouth and ended up totally confused and gave up as a bad job till I discovered a couple of taxidermy techniques and doll making ones which helped no end. I use a book called 'Anatomy of a Doll' buy Susanna Oroyan. I found my own method after a lot of trial and error.

Books by Katherine Dewey on how to use polymer clay are extremely useful.

On the whole though, Shelly..I think that though you get ideas from books there is nothing like actually hands on practice. There are a couple of good courses..Bear Bits do courses and they are extremely professional and very good. I don't know about the airbrushing course..

I did the E-Bearz airbrushing course..it was ok. I have to say it was good on the actual airbrush and how to mix the paint and things but the minute I have some spare pennies I am going on a proper airbrush course..not one for just bearmakers..I just need to know more about airbrushing per se. It was realistically priced though and of course you can print it all off and read it at your leisure.

[All Bear]

There are some great 'other' books available, which are brilliant for developing ideas and working them into bear-making, but they aren't bear-making books. I'd say keep an eye open for anything craft related .. it might ignite a design spark!

That Susan Oroyan book is a stunner Jenny .. I love it. I have a couple of her others too - amazing!!

[shelly]

Thanks , I'll be adding them to my Christmas list!
Shelly.:)