From Kaz and our polymer clay friends in Japan we received this New Year polymer dog for the year 2006. This is an image of a Komainu, a popular guardian dog at temples and shrines in Japan.
An auspicious beginning for our artistic new year. How can you help but predict good things for 2006?
Happy New Year
Charles Mayer is a homegrown Ohio legend from Sandusky, Ohio. There’s not much of his work online but what’s there will give you an idea of his talent and his attention to detail. His filigree work is phenomenal.
The piece pictured here is a two-sided puzzle with filigree, photo transfer and stamped areas. Take a look at the Ohio Lakeshore Polymer Clay Guild’s page of Charles’ work.
A retired art teacher, Charles’ has a distinguished history of support for Ohio arts and artists.
Canadian Gera Scott Chandler came upon the idea for "ethni’Zens", the first of her art dolls when she was beachcombing and stopped to study the form of some bull kelp that was strewn upon the sand.
Says Gera, "I saw the suggestion of a long skirt cascading from a dancer’s hips and visualized an exciting way to combine polymer clay with fiber and found materials to create an evocative character who is subtly beautiful and unabashedly aloof."
Gera’s studio is located in Victoria BC. Her site’s full of eye candy. Thanks to Laura McIntosh for the tip and the link to her Southern Ontario guild.
Dan Cormier and Tracy Holmes will teach in San Diego for a double weekend January 14 and 15 then January 21 and 22. Classes are $140 for both days for guild members or $160 for non-members.
As I cruise through hundreds of polymer sites, I have become a firm believer in Dan’s approach to "finishing right from the start." So much polymer work suffers from a lack of attention to finishing.
I wish I were nearer San Diego so that I could learn more. Look on the guild’s site for information and for pictures (black necklace, pin and domed necklace) of their beautifully finished works .
I was just going to lounge today but a hot tip from Jan Norwood sent me to funnysculptures.com and I just can't wait to introduce you to the work of this nutty polymer person. Marcia Rocha is a Brazilian-born artist now based in New York, if I'm reading her web site correctly.
If you're in the post-holiday doldrums, this will pick you up in a hurry. Thanks to Jan for the tip.
A little diversion today. It’s not polymer but it’s close. This button site was just too nicely designed and too colorful to pass up. The button designs could easily be translated to polymer. Give it some thought.
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I’ve been intrigued by the Renaissance pieces created by Jennifer Parrish of Parrish Relics. While the pieces aren’t specifically labeled as being made from polymer clay (resilient resin, resin-based…is how they’re described), I’m assuming that this is polymer clay.
It’s fun to see these departures from the usual millefiore, mokume gani designs. The pieces are well crafted and interesting. If you’re needing to feel like a Queen for a Day or have a theatrical bent, take a look at her site. Don’t miss the journal pages.
Tennessee’s Jai Johnson has developed an interesting twist on cloisonne which she plans to pursue in 2006. She talks about her plans and has the best pictures on her blog.
Jai first created the setting with genuine gold leaf on the edges. Then she built a network of "cloisons" (cells or compartments) by forming 14K gold filled bezel wire into a pattern for the center of the pendant. Each "cell" was then painted using tinted polymer, filled gradually until she obtained the shading and coloring she wanted, with multiple firings between layers.
These nicely shaped swirls from patsy monk at the Tampa Bay's September meeting caught my eye.
Makes me wanna go Skinner and swirl.
If you're heading south this winter, you might want to check out the Florida calendar of events. Dayle Doroshow will teach Niches, Shrines and Secret Places, a one day workshop, on Wednesday March 15, 2006 in Clearwater Florida. For more info, go to the guild's web site.
Then March 16-19 Dayle presents two workshops at the Florida Tropical Weavers Guild Conference in Leesburg, Florida in March. Ancient Cultures and New Frontiers explore the versatile, exciting, and playful possibilities of polymer clay, as it is used to create artifacts, jewelry, and embellishments. Maggie Maggio will teach Smashing Color Theory for Dyers at the same conference.
Connecticut’s Libby Mills calls it "textural glazing" or scribbling with liquid clay. I call it fun. The colors in her Blue Split Silver are yummy and a great way to integrate techniques she learned from Kathleen Dustin into her work. Take a look.
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