Polymer Clay Daily

Samsonova builds big canes

Elena Samsonova introduces us to polymer clay canes in hot colors on a day when I’m surrounded by cold white snow.

I warmed up with her Flickr photos and was thrilled to find her website which is bursting with more bright treats, tutorials and videos.

You’ll see how she transforms this big fish cane into beads of all shapes and sizes and then fashions them into many wearable pieces.

Elena assembles a similar big cane in a series of videos, muttering softly in Russian and English all the while. It’s great watching when you’re snowbound. Thanks to Randee Ketzel for the link and have a warm weekend.

Botton transfers fabrics

The textiles from her day job in China have crept into French artist Cecilia Botton’s (Mabcrea) newest work. Cecilia’s obviously comfortable with crossing borders and mixing cultures.

The caption on this new monochromatic necklace says that she’s using a transfer technique and transfers catch my attention these days. She promises to create a tutorial soon.

Her Flickr pages are filled with experiments and exercises. She credits the work and artists who inspire her and lets us watch as she works out her versions. Cecilia also offers a bunch of fun step-by-step visual tutorials which are easy to understand in any language.

Collins makeover

collins_contemplation

Colorado’s Tish Collins decided to start 2010 with a makeover – new website, new look.

Her signature collection reveals an Asian influence with soothing shapes and subtle images while her mosaic collection is more energetic and colorful. Seems smart to have two different lines so that you can match your studio work to your mood.

Wild West work

Melanie West promised new work and true to her word, she’s featuring a new line of brooches that expands her sea creature-inspired repertoire. She’s bravely posted her plans for the year.

New beginnings are good for us. Lots of polymer clay artists are rolling out fresh work, reorganizing, posting and updating. There’s a definite out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new vibe in the air.

My young tech-saavy neice is coming over today to discuss my social networking strategy. Losing weight used to be my social networking strategy but I don’t think that’s what she has in mind.

Shriver’s new year, new site

Sarah Shriver has started her year with a new website. To click on the images of the sixteen new works that march across the top of her home page is like a getting a booster shot of creativity.

Sarah debuts more dimensional and more colorful pieces on her updated site.

Some of her new canes are brighter, more jewel-like and often more organic. She adds accents of color, flawless trim and silky smooth finishes that make them irresistible.

Hall and Malinow are Saul Bell finalists

Polymer artists Liz Hall and Wendy Wallin Malinow are starting their year on a high note. Both have been named finalists in Rio Grande’s prestigious 2010 Saul Bell design competition. Liz’s entry (pictured here) is a silver and metal clay belt buckle inlaid with polymer clay. Congrats to them both.

If we’re to improve as polymer clay artists, each of us needs to catch a glimpse of our art at its best.

Look through what you created in 2009 and pick out the best piece. It might not be a complete piece, maybe it’s only one bead. What makes it special? What triggered your creativity? Who helped you? How does it make you feel? Can you bring more of this into your 2010 life?

It’s been a great year. And for that I thank all of you, my wonderful readers. You’ve given me more than you know. I’m humbled and grateful. Happy new year!

Eakes’ extruded mosaic

Julie Eakes combined four pounds of extruded polymer clay into one remarkable 5.5″ by 8″ by 2″ mosaic face cane. Calculating colors and preparing each cane is a painstaking task that took Julie three weeks.

Julie says her inspiration came from those photo mosaics that are made up of other little pictures. She adds that, “My brother worked with Chuck Close years ago and I was lucky enough to meet him then. I have a painting that my brother did of me using dots. I have the picture my brother did (which was inspired by Chuck) so maybe subconsciously I was inspired by Chuck.”

Julie is letting the cane rest while she considers her next step. Should she reduce it? How small should she go? It will be fascinating to watch.

Tinapple’s clean slate

Integrating my polymer clay skills with my Photoshop expertise was on my 2009 list of resolutions and I’m happy to have made progress toward this goal with this vase which is my entry for the Synergy exhibit.

This 10.5″ x 8″ cherry vase was turned by my husband. I added polymer clay transfers of old photos of the women in my family. Maureen Carlson’s story necklace got me thinking about telling stories with my art.

The turning point in my experimentations was discovering Valerie Aharoni’s baking parchment paper technique for transfers. I used sepia here to make the photos a uniform tone but colors transfer well too. I fired the polymer with a paint stripper gun.

I promised to put more of my own work on the blog in 2009, didn’t I? The sound you hear is my scratching two goals off my list. I’m ending this decade with a clean slate. Read more in this interview I did with Eni Oken (ClayLessons).

Young’s snowflake cutouts

Camille Young (CamilleArt) usually creates polymer clay figures and toys but she ventures out to stretch other muscles from time to time. Recently she fashioned charming snowflake ornaments using only four or five small cookie cutters and rounds of polymer clay stacked on top one another.

Zoom in to see how Camille turned the cutters various ways, generating more angles and patterns. Paint, texturing and a few seed beads make these simple techniques intriguing and complex.

Christmas may be over but it never hurts to keep an eye out for successful ideas. And snowflakes will be with us for a few months.

During this year-end week I’ll be trying to put some perspective on the past year and start envisioning the next. I’m excited to see what’s ahead.

Lehocky’s giving heart

It’s the season for giving and Ron Lehocky’s polymer clay work reminds us of what a commitment to giving can accomplish.

As of September 30, Ron reached his goal of 10,000 polymer pins made to support the Louisville Cerebral Palsy KIDS Center. He met his goal in four years, a year ahead of schedule. This year Ron was awarded a prestigious Bell Award for his volunteer work and community involvement.

Since he still has lots of clay, he’s moved the goal to twice the original and he’s already at 11,250 with over $100,000 raised for his cause. Ron has acquired impressive skills as he built his stockpile of hearts and he can quickly demo any technique or trick that you can imagine.

May the joys of giving surround you. Wishing you all the happiest of holidays!