Illinois’ Linda Webb (Creekside Mosaic) captures both the male and female cardinals in her latest mosaic brooches.
Both of these are plentiful on midwest feeders at this time of year. The bright red flashes are like natural holiday decorations.
They’re also fluttering on her Etsy page along with several smaller mosaic molds in case you’d like to try your hand at Linda’s brand of mosaics.
Australia’s Belinda Broughton has gone too far. Paint, powders, inks, crackle. You name it, she wants to try it on polymer.
The farther she goes, the more crazy, juicy, color-soaked patterns Belinda brings to life. Here she has a Thelma and Louise moment and drives off the cliff. It’s a joyous moment and she’s got the earrings to prove it.
Surface design is not for the timid. It’s going to be that kind of week. Hang on.
It’s Monday and I really didn’t feel much like trolling through Instagram and Facebook. Maine’s Diane Manzi must have sensed my overload.
She emailed me photos of her reverse mosaic ornaments and switchplates which set off a series of alarm bells that chimed gaily, “We have a winner!” Her ornaments and switchplates have a woven, scrappy, graphic, contemporary look.
What in the world is “reverse mosaic” and will she share her magic? She claims to be a doodler. Tell us more!
Photos of the ornaments and switchplates show off her style much better than the little photos on her website. She’s an art educator. Lucky kids to have such a teacher. I’m jealous.
Bravo for Diane bravely sending her work to PCD. Now we want more, more from her. Here she is on Facebook. Let’s coax her out of her shell.
This 9″x12″ tarot card Justice from California’s Laurie Mika suits the serious mood today.
Laurie assembles her sumptuous mixed media mosaics from polymer, jewelry parts, and found items. The phrase from the pledge of allegiance and other words and imagery are stamped in. Rich colors and golden highlights add gravitas.
“My art continues to be influenced by the world we are living in. This is a way for me to mark this historic time in our lives,” she says. She hopes her art brings some solace.
See more of Laurie’s mosaics, reliquaries, and jewelry on Etsy.
Art at its best is a conversation between the artist and the viewer. For instance, take a look at the polymer figure in this glass and polymer mosaic called, She Persists – Women in Power by Debbie Maier Jacknin of Pittsburgh.
What is she saying? What is her story? What more can we learn by looking at all of the elements?
On her blog, Debbie tells of her interest in the history of Pittsburgh and of Native Americans, including that of the 18th-century leader, Queen Aliquippa.
T. Chalke wrote in 1706 that Aliquippa “…was an empress; and they gave much heed to what she said among them.”
Debbie says, “Let this sink in. While European women were not able to vote or own property, the Native woman was often the leader in her community and held in high esteem!”
Art can be much more than a pretty picture. Thank you, Debbie, for the timely conversation.
Blog post by Debbie Jacknin and Maureen Carlson
Australia’s Sabine Spiesser mixes hot color combinations that make visual vibrations on this 3-layer leaf brooch.
Posting in response to one of those 10-day challenges on Facebook, Sabine didn’t add any explanation. The requirement is only that the art is somehow significant to the artist. Viewers can draw their own conclusions.
The mosaic appearance comes from layered scrap. When you use scrap, you bring to a project the color selections and design decisions from your past. Your way of working, your history is embedded and gives the new piece an extra richness.
The three offset layers ripple pleasantly against each other.
These tiles from California’s Doreen Willey are a dazzling blast from her past. Encouraged by Christi Friesen’s Play Days and driven by bags of scraps that Doreen was anxious to reduce, reuse, and recycle, she jumped into this project with stunning results.
Years of design decisions added up to works with wild variety yet a cohesive, exuberant look and feel. “If you are like me, you probably have a huge stash of stuff you’ve made that’s gone into boxes never to be seen again,” says Doreen.
“I pulled out my boxes, started cutting my stuff up and put it back together in a new way,” she explains. And we’re lucky she did! What an inspiration! Here on Facebook.
Texas’ Deb Hart takes polymer back to its roots with these three hippie-themed tiles.
With regular retreats canceled, Deb is using her free time to indulge her inner flower child and make some class samples for next year’s events.
On her Facebook, you can see her in-process photos as she creates an outline with a string of extruded polymer and positions the main elements. She fills in later with colors and more patterns. The peace theme feels hopeful and right.
Czech Republic’s Ivana Svobodová makes a game of collecting all her thin, tiny scraps and then sitting down for a game of assemblage. Nothing goes to waste as she creates a series of puzzled brooches.
The face parts mixed in with all the patterns add an element of surprise and mystery.
Yes, we featured Laurie Mika’s Corona series just recently. But I need her works just now.
One friend dies, a neighbor tests positive and moves to hospice, a husband fights cancer. And I’m in Ohio, a state that is behaving responsibly!
Laurie’s art presses all my buttons. Wish us well today.
You may have been skeptical about the effect your polymer art can have. Laurie shows you how powerful it can be.
