The person behind yesterday's "empty vessel" blog is none other than Susan Rose who's been forwarding terrific links to me for months! Small world. Beautiful blog. Bookmark it.
And of course she's sent a couple perfect links to round out our week of "intensity." While artworks made from fruit pits and spools of thread may seem a long way from polymer clay, they round out our week of demonstrating how what's in your head and your heart translate into art.
"Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art."
Leonardo Da Vinci
And a couple of links to intense sites (here and here). It's been a frantic day that needs some calm.
I usually stay away from the techniques and products side of polymer clay art but this tip was just too good to miss. The clank of the pasta machine handle hitting the floor is a familiar (and annoying) one.
Thanks to Debbie Woznick of Denver's Mile High Guild you may never hear that sound again. All you need is one of those strong magnets which come in the same diameter as the handle. Put the magnet on the end of the handle and insert it into the machine.
The magnet may fight you a bit as you approach the machine but with a little coaxing, it works. Supergluing the magnet to the handle is probably a good idea. I love a simple, elegant solution. Thanks, Debbie.
The topic of intensity seems to have struck a chord with readers. Take a look at a couple more along the same line. Harriet Estel Berman creates bracelets from tin cans and Kate Cusack makes pins from zippers. It's the "vision thing" that speaks loudly. These artists are following their own creative impulses and aren't waiting for the next new technique.
Since it's back-to-school time, here's one for homework. Visit the site of the Plastics Historical Society. The next time you're asked about when polymers were discovered, you'll be able to answer with confidence.
One of the characteristics that draws us to great pieces is intensity. Two polymer clay artists sent in this link to Jennifer Maestre who sculpts using colored pencils. They both found her works inspiring. I'll add Liana Kabel's jewelry made of Tupperware (or try this link) and Margaux Lange's series made entirely of Barbie doll parts as great examples.
This bracelet from Portland's Wendy Malinow makes me smile. The deer hunters in my office stop in their tracks and ask how (and why) I have an antler on my arm. I've developed an elaborate spoof about soaking shed antlers in special solutions and then forming them. They can't believe it's polymer clay anyway.
It's one of the only pieces in my collection that I share with my husband who wears it when he's feeling particularly primitive.
Wendy's imagination has free range. A Google search will bring up lots of references to her book illustrations. Now she brings that same carefree and colorful spirit to her creations in metal and polymer. Be prepared to stretch your mind as you look at Wendy's other-worldly works.
She's listed in the most recent issue of Los Angeles Magazine as one of the best things about the arts in LA!
Carolyn Potter is a multi-talented textile, metal, polymer clay and gourd artist. She's got a whole list of classes scheduled at the Barnsdall Art Center. (Here's a .pdf file of their fall brochure.)
Carolyn's polymer inlaid gourd looks like the epitome of fall to me. And if you're a Day of the Dead (or Halloween) celebrant, you'll love this link that Carolyn passed along. These sugar skull molds could certainly be adapted for polymer!
I should have taken more pictures at Monday's art show in Columbus. The level of the work surprised me. That's where I hit upon Pat Bolgar (yesterday's post) and Grace Stokes.
Grace doesn't have a web site but you can see more of her work in the recent Lark book by Katherine Aimone. Both artists showed remarkable facility at combining polymer and PMC.
Looking for links to Grace led me to the Ganoksin site which offers some tempting pictures and articles for the PMC/polymer folks out there. Be sure to take a look at the Ford/Forlano article.
Ohio's Pat Bolgar does an impressive job of combining polymer clay and PMC.
Her metal components mirror and complement the design of her polymer beads giving her jewelry a thoroughly handmade, well-designed look. Take a look at these and other of her designs on her new web site.
There's nothing more fascinating to me than seeing a new twist on an old theme. And this technique by Colorado's Karen Sexton has it in spades. Here's a polymer bead based on the old paper roll-up bead (take a long skinny triangle of clay and roll it up).
What Karen's done next is to stamp the bead, flattening it somewhat. The resulting bead has wonderful shape and texture. Karen's an officer of the Denver guild but doesn't have much of a web presence. I'll badger her to get one up so that you can see more of her colorful and finely crafted works.
