Finding movement in polymer

Cat Szetu’s shawl pins swoop and curve more than you might think possible. That’s what may first catch your eye on her Etsy shop.

If you look on her Flickr page you’ll see she’s starting to apply those same movements to vessels, containers, desk sets. The clay whips around as if the wind had blown it.

This former Connecticut packaging and communications artist is experimenting and having fun with her Nestled Vessels. Be sure to see her cane slicer built from Legos too!

Undercut polymer

Jan Montarsi gives us a fine example of undercutting a veneered shape technique that Ron Lehocky showed last week. Instead of a heart outline, Jan uses a shield shape for his Carnivorous lapel pin.

The edges slope gently because he’s angled the craft knife to remove excess underneath. (Watch Ron Lehocky here if you need a refresher. See step 2 at 2:40 and 3:56.)

Of course Jan’s way with metallics makes the shape even more dramatic and with this before-and-after sanding picture, he demonstrates how that extra step adds richness and depth.

Long ago Jan shared his methods of tinting metallic clays with alcohol inks to achieve clear, warm colors. You can still find his tutorial here. See more examples on Flickr, Pinterest and Facebook.

Blurry polymer

No need to wipe your screen or clean your glasses. It’s not you. Polymer has gotten blurry.

There’s Wendy Jorre de St Jorre and her Hedges cane that’s a pointellist’s rendition of Australian trees and bushes, the 45th cane in her weekly series. This one started at 4 inches square.

Read the excellent interview on Blue Bottle Tree and you’ll understand her intensity. Wendy’s cane designs have become more impressionistic as they’ve gotten more complex. Prepare to be awed by her canes on Flickr, Pinterest and Facebook.

Then the UK’s Cate van Alphen (Fulgorine) put out what she’s calling her Spectrum beads with vibrant colors that move like an oil slick. They’re made with Fimo’s True Colors. The first batch was intriguing and successive offerings are more mystifying. Look at Flickr and Facebook.

Used to be we wanted crisp edges on our polymer designs and now we’ve gone all soft and blurry. Figuring out how is going to be fun.

Polymer adelies

It’s penguin season according to Scotland’s Ines Fonseca. “This is the time when most penguin species gather with their colonies to nest and it is amazing what they can endure for survival. Adelies gather on rocky areas where they can build their nests far from ice and they spend a lot of time going back to the sea for krill.” A colorful scarf can do a lot to improve your mood in the cold.

Ines’ says that playing with polymer is like being a kid again and her bugs, birds, fish and animals have a childlike quality that you can appreciate better on Flickr, Facebook and Etsy.

Semi-precious polymer

Ana Belchi’s imitation agates sit comfortably surrounded by rough black bezels suspended from sleek brass bails.

See how this Madrid artist’s polymer semi-precious lookalikes move beyond modest beach stones.

She says she’s wanted to explore stones for years and finally hit upon designs that work. You can see them on Flickr and Facebook.

3D celebrations

The UK’s Erica Sturla creates 3D colorful scenes from polymer clay setting her characters against painted canvas backgrounds.

Australian doll maker Shirley Dougan spotted Erica’s work and greeting cards in the gift shop at the British Museum in London and sent us the link. Small world, eh?

Here’s Erica on Facebook. Many of her works are commissions that celebrate special family events.

Retreat giveaway

All you have to do is “Like” Polyform’s Facebook page and you’re entered in a raffle for a free ticket to the Polymer Clay Adventure Virtual Retreat in January. Click before November 30 and you could win!

Meeting your maker

Melanie Muir has upgraded her site just in time for her debut at the National Museum of Scotland in Endinburgh on November 29 and 30. Her tools, coaching, and workshops are easily accessible in one neat presentation on the updated site.

Melanie was selected as one of a handful of artists to share her techniques, processes and inspirations by Craft Scotland for their Meet Your Maker events.

The selected makers will talk informally to the public, demonstrate their work and show working pieces. Melanie will also teach a workshop at the museum.

“I am constantly inspired by the colours and patterns that surround me at my coastal home in Nairn, in the Scottish Highlands,” Melanie says. This cuff is part of her Rock series and is entitled Beach Net.

Going bigger

Arizona’s Marlene Brady likes big beads. In this case they’re chunky ceramic-looking polymer beads with loads of texture.

This is as large as she’s let herself go since the textures and layers of colors add visual weight. Does she dare go bigger? When you’re having fun, it’s hard to pull back on the reins!

See where she’s headed on her blog, Pinterest, and Flickr.

Polymers niche

Arlene Groch’s Blended Brights necklace is in the finals for the 2015 Niche Awards. Arlene’s hard to find online but she shared more of her summer creations like this blue beauty on the Philadelphia guild site.

You’ll also find Lindly Haunani, Judy Summers, Wiwat Kamolpornwijit and Louise Fischer Cozzi in the running. Link alert! Following these gems may take you some time.

Bias cut polymer

As Steve Ford and David Forlano continue their exploration of tube shapes, they hit upon this juicy jumble of obliquely cut polymer pipes. The magnetic closure fits easily into the design.

The long strand below shows what happens with the same oblique cut edges on smaller, brighter beads with a few surprising circles tossed in the mix.

They’re revisiting some of their ideas from the 90’s, updating them with new surfaces. Here’s a behind-the-scenes studio picture and you’ll find more on Facebook.

This is part of their selection for next weekend’s Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. To spot more polymer, look for Kathleen Dustin and Wiwat Kamolpornwijit in the show catalog.

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