Daily tips about polymer clay art and artists from Cynthia Tinapple
Cool off with some hot ideas from these jewelers in a variety of media. The link to New York's David Collection was sent to us by Ronna Weltman. It's chock full of fabulous ideas and terrific designs.
You'll have to fan yourself as you look at artists like Ulrike Hamm. The material used in her bracelet (pictured here) isn't identified but could certainly be polymer. It reminds me of Sandra McCaw's new translucent petals. Check out Ulrike's web site too.
Just when I think I've looked at every lentil bead on the web, I'm drawn back to some spectacular variations. Valerie Aharoni's lentils are something to behold. I can't really tell how they're done. Is it Gwen Gibson's image transfer technique? Is it some sort of rubber stamp trick? Whatever, it's terrific.
And I love the bursting lentils in the necklace at the right that Gwen Gibson created some years back.
All these beads were shaped over a form and were not created using the familiar bicone bead process. I have this old picture of Carol Shelton's beads which illustrates the technique. Two circles were cut out and formed over a large ball bearing. After baking, the two halves were glued together and rebaked making a very lightweight bead.
Some interesting variations on the theme.
In the "Bake and Bend" section of Naama Zamir's Israeli site, you'll find this simple and effective necklace design. The beads are two-sided circles bent in half and drilled.
While these beads were made with Sculpey's bake and bend clay, there's no reason it couldn't be done with other clays as well. A clever design to get your mind moving this Monday morning.
Let's finish out the week with a bit more sculpture, American style.
Utah's Lori Follett has an elegant, sensual series of sculptures and then there's her wacky, witty side (see the trophy wife). Her story's a good read too.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Katherine Dewey again. Jodi and Richard Creager's work (thanks to Christine Kozicke for the link) is simply stunning. I can't believe my eyes. Their sculpture is amazingly lifelike and engrossing.
If you've got the weekend to web surf, you can even take a look at the National Institute of American Doll Artists. I'm sure I've overlooked lots of polymer clay sculptors. We'll revisit that side of the craft from time to time.
Two artists I know have been nearly scammed recently. Though both artists are in different states, the pattern was the same. A foreigner phones and says, "I'll send you $6,000 ahead of time" for services to be rendered…polymer clay classes in one instance, in the other case it was money for rent for a student apartment. Money is no object for these big spenders.
Both friends received checks drawn on a US bank. They were wise enough to do a thorough bank check before cashing them.
In both cases, soon after the checks would have been cashed the client suddenly needed some of the money back (hopefully before the checks cleared the bank). But the jig was already up.
The stories sounded plausible but it didn't quite make sense. The only damage done was to my artist friends' trust. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it is.
So that's what envy looks like! Visit Chicago sculptor Jill Willich's site to view all sorts of faeries, goblins and polymer clay sculpture.
You won't want to miss the spoon doll tutorials…scroll way down the page for the complete effect. Jill makes the process look easy (the mark of a professional) and tempting to try.
This week's illustrators and sculptors remind us that polymer clay isn't just for jewelry and purses and frames. There are many creatures waiting to emerge from the clay.
Thanks to Alisa for the link!
It's hump day….bliss out by taking a look at French illustrator, Sylvie Perrin who uses polymer clay to make fresh, witty scenes.
It's fun to compare cultures reflected in the Japanese sites from the post a few days ago to the French today to New York's Marcia Rocha (well actually, she's from Brazil) from a few months back.
The French site of illustrator Sylvie Perrin (aka Queen of Clay) shows characters and scenes that come alive with humor and a finely honed craft.
The tip comes from Véronique H. whose site is also a treat.
If you're challenging yourself to look beyond an altoids box, a votive or a frame to cover with polymer clay, take a look at this site for ideas.
Somehow I don't see the bugs attacking the cucumbers in my garden as benignly as Denise Baldwin sees her critters.
Her polymer clay bugs, beetles, crabs and snails and have personality and charm. Take a look.
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