Polymer Clay Daily

Polymer with an African aesthetic

See new work from Ohio’s Debbie Jackson on Facebook and on her Black Art in America page. She’s off to LA to sell these new works at the Pan African Film Festival.

A trip to Ghana injected Debbie’s work with renewed ethnic vibrancy and she mixes polymer with treasures she brought back with her. Her artistic aesthetic is rooted in Africa.

This new necklace includes polymer focal bead with eggshell mosaic, stick coral and African brass beads.

Debbie’s a vital part of our local Creative Women of Color collective that provides a creative connection with the community. Thanks to Jeanne Dumond for the link!

Party Time

Tonight at 8:30 ET at Craftcast. Join us for a free event all about tools.

Polymer love birds

When you don’t quite know what to say, Amy Giocomelli’s small polymer shapes say it for you.

This Colorado Etsy artist stamps short messages on hand formed love birds, hearts, pears, and stones that can be lined up as pleasant reminders. Simple and sweet.

I’m resting up for Craftcast’s free online party for those who love tools on Wednesday. It’ll be big. Come as you are. You can sign up directly here.

Tribal mosaics

Liz Hall keeps refining her polymer mosaics and I can’t stop watching her progress. This brass cuff is part of her new tribal series.

Chips of iridescent polymer opal and faux wood pair up with black and white cane slices. Silver beads embedded in the black polymer grout add a dimensional touch.

Liz is teaching some of her tricks in a “Fillable Forms” class at the Cabin Fever Clay Festival next weekend (February 18) in Maryland. Registration’s still open.

Rifle through the sold items on her Etsy site to see what she’s been up to. These beautiful graduated polymer and pearl earrings slipped into the sold category before I could show them to you. Find more on Facebook too.

Tea and polymer

Wanda Shum has based the design of her newest polymer tea set on The Night Circus, a popular novel by Erin Morgenstern that presents a sprightly version of 19th-century English magic.

Wanda uses ceramic teapots as the canvas for her polymer canes.

You can follow the evolution of her face cane here snd see the damask cane portion of the teapot emerge here. Zoom in close to examine the carved and drawn areas as well. What a treat!

Party on Wednesday

PCDaily doesn’t usually cover tools but that’s not because I don’t love them. Wednesday night, party girl and Craftcast publisher Alison Lee is hosting a free webinar during which five tool fans will bring out their favorite polymer and metal clay tools.

Celie Fago, Jill Erickson, Wanaree Tanner, Patrik Kusek and I will demo our secret weapons. It’ll be a fast-paced, fun filled hour with lots of surprises and giveaways. RSVP here.

Northern lights polymer

Florida’s Barbara Bechtel uses her “Northern Lights” color way to wash these stamped and distressed polymer squares. These heart charms are only 1/2″ square but they’re layered with color, texture and personality.

Look through all the items she’s sold on her Floridity Etsy site to see the selection of wearable, desirable small beads she has created, lavishing them with colors and then judiciously sanding and removing details to give them an aged, mysterious appeal.

There’s much more to study on Facebook and on her SecondSurf blog. It’ll keep you busy.

Cinderella story

Once upon a time France’s Aneliz (Liz and frog) created polymer-covered leopard shoes as a gift for her sister.

Not content with her success, she created a second pair based on the work of Japanese artist, Utagawa Hiroshige.

Several soul sisters have plotted to disappear with the special slippers. But there’s no prince at the end of this story and it’s probably best to make your own. You’re picturing what you’d wear them with, aren’t you? The colors are perfect for spring.

Belcher fairytale

Let’s give interior design student Maria Belcher a festive send off  today as she heads to the Czech Republic for a semester abroad. Mother Judy is accompanying Maria and teaching polymer classes along the way. We wish Maria well and hope she’ll still check on PCD every day.

 

Verklempt polymer

Or as Laurel Steven jokes about her polymer hearts wall piece, VerClumped. Overcome with emotion, that is, verklempt by all the birthday wishes and hoping that the site is up in time for me to post this. Seems the server was overwhelmed too! (Yea! we’re back.)

Camille Young throws her heart into the ring and in keeping with our bad pun birthday theme, we’ll call that Young at Heart (she calls it Majora’s Mask). With so many terrific hearts online this season, you can expect to see them sprinkled liberally in posts for the next two weeks.

Polymer color boost

Nothing seems to start the week better than a shot of color! Why not take a double dose for good measure?

The first is hummingbird color from Carol Simmons. A study of the hummingbirds visiting her Colorado home resulted in Carol’s brilliant irredescent version of mokume gane. This botanist/artist has found a way to combine her polymer passion and birding bent with a new class that’s an adventure in both.

Rebecca Geoffrey moved over into metal clay, resin, and metalsmithing two years ago. Remember these? She’s back!

She explained that, “The dilemma is whether I will make mostly silver and resin jewellery, polymer clay and silver jewellery or sterling and gemstone work. I was feeling that I had to completely do one or the other but was not wanting to feel trapped in one medium. Then, the lightbulb went on and I realized that I could do it all. I will just have to work harder to make a cohesive line through all mediums. I don’t feel fulfilled unless I am learning new things and feel that this is the only way I can make and sell jewellery and feel satisfied.”

Many polymer artists share Rebecca’s enthusiasm for mixing up their media! The skills learned in one new media usually trickle into the others. It’s win-win. More here.

Wired hearts

Staci Smith is a Pennsylvania mixed media artist who sometimes throws polymer into the mix. Her tray of hearts ready for the oven looked so full of possibility that it pulled me right into the studio to make a few valentines of my own. Her rough and random wires add playful touches.

Staci’s new to PCDaily and you’ll enjoy her metal clay and sea glass work as you search for her polymer pieces. Look here and here.

Identifying birds

Seems that the birds I attributed to Leslie Blackford on Wednesday were made by her students. All the more reason to take a class with Leslie! The bird featured in the post was made by Barb Kunkle.

Buzzing, skittering, crawling polymer

Allow the color to wash over you as you watch Jeff Dever’s Edensong Revisited – Buzz, Skitter and Crawl YouTube video. This 3-minute video chronicles the growth of Jeff’s piece through installations at the Fuller Craft Museum and later at the Racine Art Museum.

The closeups show sinuous shapes and gradations of color on lovely alien creepy crawlies. Jeff promises the debut of his website later this year.

Note that the Racine (RAM) polymer exhibit closes on February 5. The museum is offering a Kathleen Dustin mug and Terra Nova: Polymer at the Crossroads book package deal. Thanks to Maggie Maggio for the link!