Bonus points are awarded to polymer artists who make work that looks good with the PCDaily colors! Today’s mixed media Phagocytosis from Annie Pennington is surely a winner. Annie’s also Associate Editor at Art Jewelry magazine.
Her brooch combines sterling silver, copper, polymer, handmade wool felt and colored pencil. The richness of her strokes on polymer will have you digging through your art supplies for your long-forgotten pencils.
These button-like polymer pendants from Tel Aviv’s Hila Bushari were inspired by a glass artist. Multi-layered, multi-colored, multi-textured designs make for a sumptuous effect. And here’s Hila’s Etsy shop. Would some of her candle holders look good on your holiday table?
You may be waiting for a report on my Las Vegas experience but it’s taking me a while to digest all that I learned. This quiet midwestern girl is easily overwhelmed by the glitz and glamor of sin city. I didn’t lose a nickel in the slot machines but I managed to drop a significant sum in the Clay Carnival store. Polymer is a much safer bet for me.
Slovenia’s Klavdija Kurent gets a head start on holiday ornaments with this domed and pierced layered polymer creation. Hitting the highlights with metallic paste gives it a rich, old world warmth.
Klavkija’s strong designs (and her articles in Unikat magazine) have brought her quite a following as you can see on her Facebook page.
This textured, monochromatic necklace, Klavdija claims, is from leftovers. Isn’t that the way? The leftovers often turn into your favorite pieces.
These subtly domed designs from Germany’s Vera Kleist could be either beads or buttons. Vera gives minimal techniques maximum impact with her fashionable color choices and stringing variations.
Browse her Flickr and Etsy sites to see where her smart design sense has led her. Thanks to Bettina Welker for the link.
…will not stay in Vegas if I have anything to say about it. This weekend’s clay carnival will be my first and I’ll be meeting new folks and catching up with old chums. Can’t wait to share what I find with you!
Maggie Maggio made a conscious effort to step out of her comfort zone when she applied for the Society of North American Goldsmiths’ (SNAG) virtual exhibit, The Body Adorned.
“In the same way a landscaper trains a plant to take the desired form, this piece is designed to be shaped to the body of the wearer,” Maggie says of her exhibition pieces. Polymer tendrils sprout from the model who happens to be Maggie’s daughter Monica, herself an urban farmer.
On her updated website and blog Maggie explains how a polymer symposium at the Racine Art Museum exhibit prompted her to take her work up a notch.
Watch Maggie playing with a early version of these designs in this Studio Mojo video from last spring. Join with others who want to take their work up a notch by signing up for StudioMojo.
Take a look at a special polymer “sampler” class at the MAC in Worthington, Ohio. Four of us are teaching, one each Thursday evening from Oct 18 – Nov 29. A great facility, a smorgasbord of techniques. Join Carissa Nichols, Jeanne Dumond, Nancy Nearing and me for a terrific sampling of techniques.
These polymer pocket totems (all about 1.5 inches tall) from Danielle Pedersen are imbued with spirit. “This series is for the travelers, the kids-at-heart, and everyone who wants to take an animal wherever they go. Of course, you can always keep them on your desk or any place in your home that currently needs an animal,” she says.
Picking out the ones that best fit your personality or mood can be challenging. Danielle cleverly offers sets so that you can build your own zoo. They’re all hand sculpted and meticulously painted. Read more here.
Prague’s Pavla Cepelikova captures the feeling of autumn with these graceful multi-layered polymer leaves. She calls the method Fimo Batik and is preparing to teach a workshop about the process.
Ease yourself into a new week with a browse through Pavla’s Flickr pages. You’ll rake in some new ideas.
Colorado’s Jane Priser has a thing for cats, Cosmic Cats in polymer. Swirling colors flow and vibrate around painted glass cabochon eyes on these 12″ tall sculptures. Jane calls her works visionary and fantasy art produced by letting her imagination take her wherever it wants.
“I like to work at night when everyone and everything is sleeping and dreaming, except for the nocturnal, like me. I love creating something that can enjoyed and hopefully touch a healing spark within,” she explains. See more of Jane’s aliens and spirits on her Etsy page and on Flickr.
These Frida Kahlo and Zora Neale Hurston polymer portrait pendants come from Massachusetts artist Laura Curran. For years we’ve only been able to feature bits of Laura’s work because she had little exposure on the web. That’s changed and here’s Laura’s new website. High fives all around!
These photo transfers of historic women to polymer send a strong message. Read about the history of portrait jewelry on Laura’s research page.
Thanks to the participants in my Craftcast class! Send me pix of your creations. Next up, a doll head sculpting workshop with Marlaine Verheist on Sunday. Take your sculpting to a more professional level with this award-winning artist.
