Featured polymer

Deb Groover's polymer paintings featured in Missouri show on PolymerClayDaily.com

Florida’s Deb Groover (debortinastudio) is the featured artist for the 2018 Brookside Art Annual in Kansas City, MO next weekend.

Her bright and energetic polymer paintings are created from cutouts of fired flat designs which are adhered to wood panels. The backgrounds on her large and busy paintings are added last. Deb (and her partner Tina) come to polymer from ceramics.

In this video of Deb from a couple of years ago, she details her process which is like no other and has become very sought after. Enjoy an overview on Instagram.

Mixing sunshine and polymer

Monika Busch makes buttons into a warm weather fashion statement on PolymerClayDaily.com

Germany’s Monika Busch (Efimoni) shows us how she mixes polymer and pleasure.

Monika used cane slices turned into buttons which she sewed onto the fabric straps of her flip flops for a warm weather fashion statement.

I’ll be reporting from a very warm Phoenix on StudioMojo this weekend, mixing polymer and pleasure and exposing my usually-protected Ohio toes to their first taste of sun this year. The newest batch of tutorials and trends may boost your mojo into action. I hope you’ll join us.

Spring at the Smithsonian

Kathleen Dustin's spring handbag art on PolymerClayDaily.com

Ogle Kathleen Dustin’s latest line of handbags at the Smithsonian Craft Show this weekend (or just study them on Instagram).

She’s been refining the closures and getting fancy with the carrying strap. Kathleen even has one she agrees is “cute.”

I’m winging my way west for a few days of sun and grandsons.

Drama and closure

Fiona Herbst combines utility and drama on PolymerClayDaily.com

Ireland’s Fiona Herbst combines utility and drama with a simple closure. The dotted and bead fits perfectly. Maybe Fiona will tell us how she keeps the bead from pulling through.

The look is very modern. See the rest of her line of trendy pieces on Facebook and Instagram.

Exploring the surface

Maryland’s Kelly Russell excels at jewel-like veneers. She can’t stop saying, “What if.”

With this veneer, she had to figure out what her gilded and colored surface would look like if she gave it Jana Roberts Benzon’s encrusted treatment.

With others, she made rough mosaics and big multi-part beads that seem unearthed from another time. Kelly’s on a roll that she shares on Facebook.

Reticulating shapes

Lucia Friemel discovered a design in the shower on PolymerClayDaily.com

Germany’s Lucia Friemel is a metalworker who may overwhelm you with her ideas but it’s Monday so let’s dive in.

Lucia explains that she likes, “…the difference between slow metalwork and fast clay work and also the contrast when the piece of jewelry is finished.”

What I couldn’t resist with Lucia’s Snake necklace here is the way the shape of the beads allows them to snug against each other and move beautifully. She discovered the shape when she was cleaning her shower.

The cores are black and decorated with cane slices (a la Bettina Welker’s tutorial) on the ends.

Spend some time with Lucia on Flickr and Facebook.

Disruptive polymer

This new sign on our studio space and a capacity crowd for an all-day open house has left me speechless and tired.

Who knew a ribbon cutting (in front of my polymer-strewn worksurface) could be so exciting?

It may take me all day to sort pictures and thoughts for Saturday’s StudioMojo. Join us!

Create yourself a lovely weekend.

How does polymer stack up?

Hyperreal miniature Bremen Town Musicians from Kerri Pajuti on PolymerClayDailly

Oregon’s Kerri Pajutee’s extraordinary miniature mixed media sculptures popped up on a submissions call to the polymer community.

This piece is her version of the Bremen Town Musicians based on a fairy tale. Kerri created it for last fall’s Miniature Masterworks show.

Kerri is motivated by the desire to replicate the beauty and energy of animals in 1:12 scale. She developed a technique to combine polymer clay with layers of natural fibers: wool, alpaca, cashmere, and silk. The best place to see her process is on Facebook.

IPCA is looking to feature polymer hyperrealism in their upcoming publication. They used Kerri’s works as an example. The deadline is April 21 and an email to editor@theipca.org will put you in the running.

First time jitters

Martina Burianova teaches Coarse Pebbles for the first time on PolymerClayDaily

Czech Republic’s Martina Burianova taught her Coarse Pebbles class in Geneva in March for the first time (if I’m reading the translation right).

Martina incorporates wire and works some hollow magic. She adds a variety of crackles and textured surface treatments for a very contemporary look.

She was nervous and excited and had a marvelous time. Go here for the full story. Isn’t it reassuring to read about nervousness that ends happily? See more of her work on Facebook.

Getting your house in order

Lindsay Black commits homes to memory on PolymerClayDaily

Though many of us consider creating our home as a piece of polymer art, few of us get started in April as Tennessee’s Lindsay Black (oddlyandcompany) does.

The early start leaves her time to work on small details like the birdfeeder, the shrubbery, and the cats.

Go to Lindsay’s Instagram to see her step-by-step. It’s oddly comforting to watch her in-progress shots. She says there are details she misses even after staring at the piece for hours on end.

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