Polymer Clay Daily

Blackford’s hands on synergy

If, like me, you overlooked the hands-on classes that have been added to the Synergy2 lineup, be sure to look again. There are some gems being offered before and after the Baltimore conference.

The trick is that you have to contact the instructor directly (or his/her website) to get in on the deal.

Check out these whimisical narrative sculptures from Leslie Blackford’s “Off With Your Head!” class on the Tuesday before the conference. Their heads are built over small lightbulbs and you can change their head/body combinations to suit your mood.

If you’ve never seen Leslie conjure up creatures from a heap of polymer clay scraps, you’re in for a treat. Her spontaneous, direct way of bringing an idea to life will light your imagination. Here’s her Deviant site and here’s her email.

It’s rare to have access to this many top-notch teachers. The rest of the hands-on class roster includes: Seth Savarick, Tracy Holmes, Bettina Welker, Dan Cormier, Robert Dancik. Add to that the Cabin Fever Clay Fest workshops and their long list of experts. Take a class and your head will be spinning like the ones on Leslie’s sculptures!

Pindroh tops the cake

Polymer clay illustrator Paula Pindroh (here’s her professional portfolio) created these cake toppers based on US Postal Service stamps. They look terrific on the orange wedding cake of her Denver clients and are a great example of an artistic phenomenon.

A recent New York Times article confirms what polymer artists have been seeing – a trend to customized cake toppers. Says one expert, “…it singularizes the couple and communicates that this couple is like no other. That is the dominant movement in the wedding planning industry right now.”

A follow-up CNN story talks about the money side of the trend and links to examples at Younique Boutique (though I’m not quite sure who the actual creators of their toppers are).

I’m home from my nephew’s lovely mountain top wedding….a “singularized” event indeed.

Harris’ polymer for life enrichment

Christine Harris is an art therapist whose polymer clay tableaux are dense with myth, meaning and introspection. She’s created a site where she hopes to talk about using polymer for life enrichment. You can join that conversation here.

Christine’s images suit me just fine after a family wedding weekend that stirs up old memories while new ones are being created. I’m winging my way home from the west coast today.

I also direct you to Susan (Da Muse) Lomuto’s site today where she may delve into my myth and meaning on her High5 series of posts.

Kato toys with polymer

The posts were all international last week! Perhaps that’s because the heart of the action was moving to the Euro Clay Carnival in France this week. If you study their class descriptions and photos you can experience a bit of the thrill vicariously.

You’ll want to read the updated class descriptions for November’s Las Vegas Clay Carnival too. Lynne Ann Schwarzenberg debuts her Filigree/Foliage Fusion class.

Kim Cavender introduces her Pearl Burgers that mimic the look of dyed silk ribbon and pearls without any of the sewing.

Donna Kato has branched out into toys with her new polka dot spinner bracelet. The rings spin so that you can wear the piece and entertain yourself too.

Polymer permanent collection

You may have heard rumors about polymer clay being accepted into major museums. The rumors are true!

Read today’s post at the PolymerArtArchive to learn how the dream of recognition for the polymer medium was brought to life by Elise Winters and others.

The Board of Trustees at the Racine Art Museum (RAM) in Racine, Wisconsin has confirmed their commitment to establish a permanent collection of polymer clay jewelry, beads and objects (like this early leaf necklace by Pier Voulkos). The museum will assemble a world-class collection of works, preserve study pieces for future research, establish a small library, set up an exhibition and more.

While the museum will absorb some costs and solicit grants for this project, much of the support will have to be raised through our community. You, your guild, your group can help elevate and secure this artform. PolymerClayDaily will join in the fundraising efforts. Your tax-deductible donations will provide crucial support.

Thanks go to Elise, her colleagues and collectors for their work and their generosity which has helped our art take this major step forward.

López del Prado does diva

Polymer clay is at its best when it’s transformed into diva jewelery and here’s some big, confident glamor for your Thursday from Barcelona. Elvira López del Prado gives a new twist to wire wrapping (easiest to see on her Flickr site).

Elvira graduated in Fine Arts with a major in sculpture which is reflected in her approach to polymer. She combines wire, felt, resin, paper, and textiles into her pieces.

Elvira is active in the Spanish PC Guild (Arcilla Polimérica de España) and the link comes from fellow guild member Marivi Ricart Engel.

Lehmann’s cosmic polymer

Pendants – Side A
Pendants – Side B

Jana Lehmann’s (Feeliz) polymer clay Cosmic Blossom pendants have color and texture and shape that delight the eye on both the front and the back.

What is even more interesting is to follow her progress from the Cosmic Cookies that she made in Grant Diffendaffer’s class to this version. Jana, from Stuttgart, Germany, reinterpreted Grant’s methods and ideas to reflect her own vision. I love seeing a technique grow and change as it migrates around the world.

The link comes to us from Bettina Welker.

Haskova’s introduction

Eva Haskova’s site (EH Multidesign) pops with young colors and designs, simple lively patterns that exude confidence and a love of the medium.

This Czech Republic artist graduated from fine arts school and got her introduction to clay at the first Euro Clay Carnival. She now sells online and through her own website.

When UK class host/organizer Helen Cox signed Eva up for more classes, she sent the link to introduce her to you.

Hewitt’s cane-inspired fabric

You may be used to making polymer clay buttons to match fabric, here’s an idea that turns the tables. The picture isn’t great but the concept is terrific.

Enterprising polymer clay artist and seamstress Jema Hewitt has begun using Spoonflower, a print-on-demand fabric company in North Carolina, to make fabric from photos of her polymer clay canes.

She explains that, “I just took a photo of my polymer clay slab, tweaked it and cropped it in photoshop and saved a 300dpi jpg. The polymer clay is on the left, the fabric on the right of the photo!” Click on the picture and look closely to get the full effect.

The UK artist is considering producing a line of corsets or waistcoats from her polymer-inspired companion material. While corsets were certainly not the first items that popped into my head, Jema has 20 years experience in the theatre, bridal and costuming business and after a browse through her sites (Kindred Spirits, Steampunk Jewellery, Etsy and her blog SparklyJem) you’ll see how it’s a natural next step for this designer.

It’s an exciting concept to consider at the start of your week.

Friday shout outs

It’s Friday so I’ll give a shout out to several artists on my desk and let you decide which path you’d like to follow today:

First there’s Sylvie Perrin, France’s QueenOfClay, who’s created a polymer clay illustration about our health care situation. If you haven’t looked at her site for a while, scroll through her blog and see her recent work (including the Bouche Chante here).

Second, there’s Camille Allen, the queen of polymer babies, and her latest newsletter. You’ll marvel at her realism and her worldwide following. Her Facebook fan page shows pictures of her at the Dubai Doll Festival in July and her most recent offerings. And no, they’re not marzipan.

Third, are you following Dee Wilder’s latest lathe-turned polymer beads? She’s trying all sorts of techniques and it’s fun to look over her shoulder via Flickr.

Last but not least, if you’re hankering for a class with a polymer clay legend, check out Sandra McCaw’s workshops in Normandy and Burgundy in late October and November. Have a lovely weekend.