Better than hearts

Candid moments in polymer from Maria Saracino on PolymerClayDaily.com

The polymer sculptures from Canada’s Maria Saracino will melt your heart in this week of romance.

This couple is part of a 10″x24″x6″ sculpture on view at Montreal’s Shane Gallery. Through her figurative sculptures, Maria tries to trigger a memory or feeling in the viewer.

Having started her career in illustration, Marie says that it was Norman Rockwell who influences her most as she tries to capture candid moments in time.

Her commissioned works will warm your heart. Follow her on Instagram.

 

 

Juxtaposed elements

Syndee Holt makes pendants with an architectural air on PolymerClayDaily.com

These crisply cut pendants start our week out on the right foot. They’re from California’s Syndee Holt on Instagram.

She decorates ovals, cuts them in half, and shifts them slightly up and down on a black bar to make pendants with an architectural air.

This makes us feel under control which is a good way to begin a Monday.

Texas art machine in gear

Texas’ Susan D (suzicq) outfits her hearts with antlers, crowns, flowers, and flames. “My studio is constantly overflowing because everything is fodder for the art machine,” says Susan.

Her tastes run from Voodoo dolls to goblins and monsters so these slightly dark hearts continue her vibe which you can catch on Etsy.

Over at StudioMojo, we’ll look at our own art machines. What are we making these days and why? Plus, the 3D printed cutters of my own design arrived. Would custom designed cutters help your process? Join us for Saturday morning musing.

From valentines to easter eggs

Meg Newberg's cane takes us from Valentines to Easter eggs on PolymerClayDaily.com

Last week Meg Newberg (PolymerClayWorkshop) showed us her fun repeating hearts made from a bullseye. With a few additions and sleight of hand, she makes that cane work from Valentines Day to Easter!

If you look closely at the slices in the photo you’ll see hearts on the edges. By cutting the original cane slightly differently and shaping it into triangles, then hexagons, she covers a hollow egg with slices.

Don’t take my word for it, watch her give one of the quickest, cleverest classes ever. Her videos are on her Instagram.

Winter garden on the trail

Jen and Kristi leave art along the trail on PolymerClayDaily.com

Washington’s Jen and Kristi (GoInsideAndClay) couldn’t wait to leap into spring so they gave themselves a headstart with this polymer garden.

They are inspired by their time playing in nature among the trees and mountains and by the beauty of kindness. They call themselves “trail fairies” because they like to leave little pieces of art out in the world as a way to bring smiles and joy to others.

You smiled, right? It works.

Challenges – the more the better

The links, the beads, the dangles are all polymer in this necklace from Vermont’s Christine Damm.

Only a few spacers and jump rings are from other materials. Making all the components is a challenge and Christine’s not finished yet.

Christine Damm challenges herself to an all-polymer necklace and more on PolymerClayDaily.com

Every year about this time she also challenges herself to sketch some hearts fast and freehand. “I do these very rapidly, so my right brain gets to play without editing from the other side,” she explains. She makes new templates from these sketches and uses her stash of veneers to cut out new hearts.

How many hearts can you draw in two minutes?

Colors from another hemisphere

Heidi Helyard brings us warm vibes from down under on PolymerClayDaily.com

Enough with the cold weather already! For those of you in my frigid hemisphere, here’s something different from Australia’s Heidi Helyard. It’s summer there.

Heidi unleashes hot colors, streaking them across this textured bowl. I feel better already.

If you need more warmth and frivolity, go find her on Instagram and shop in her store.

And then if you still need something to keep you snuggly, join us over on StudioMojo. On Saturday morning we dish about what’s happening and dream up new designs while we warm up our clay and wake up our mojos. It’s fun! Come out and play.