Polymer Clay Daily

Dilday’s Tropical Setting

I couldn’t stop reading about Australian Melanie Dilday who lives in New South Wales near Mullumbimby. Her polymer clay covered frame perfectly mirrors her tropical setting.

Melanie’s encounters with lizards and snakes and overactive vegetation provided a lush contrast to cold gray Ohio last weekend. I followed along as she “painted the dunny,” partied with the neighbors and hacked the encroaching vegetation. Looks like a great place for an exotic class (scroll down that page to see the setting).

Sometimes when I intently follow the latest polymer clay tidbit and hurriedly track down the best link, the fun blows right out of this blog. It’s the fascinating glimpses into lives like Melanie’s that got me started in the first place and that keep me going.

A Smile from Quebec’s Lavigueur

Dominique Lavigueur likes to make people smile with her polymer clay art. She sent in a lovely fan letter and as I clicked through to her site, I had to beam.

“I hope you will sense the pleasure I have in creating my art,” she says. How could one not smile at the picture of Dominique holding a giant grinning polymer clay sun?

She lives in remote Quebec along the St. Laurence. Her wind-blown islands (shown here) are built on natural beach stones. It’s a charming scene and is paired with other offbeat figures that have interesting stories to tell.

Making people smile is an admirable artistic pursuit that she does well. Take a look.

Mills and Hughes give mojo tips

Libby Mills‘ recipe for a productive weekend includes:

Victoria Hughes explains her “Four Steps To Get It Done” in her latest newsletter. She recommends that you look at an unfinished project and follow the four steps…then let her know how it works.

She’s got a great bead class coming up March 29-30 (new date) in her Santa Fe studio. Students bring all the beads and objects they’ve always wanted to make into a necklace and learn ways to combine the elements.

Free-spirited Hearts from Friesen

Christi Friesen has a whole gallery of hearts to inspire you this Monday. She’s teaching a sold out class on hearts at the ToBeadTrueBlue bead show in Tucson this Friday. You can download a free tutorial (not hearts, but similar) from Christi’s site if you’d like to experience her style.

Friesen’s flowing, sculptural technique is so joyful that students around the world have been imitating it hoping to capture the spirit. A good start for your free-spirited week.

Ford/Forlano First Efforts

Why, you may wonder, is this polymer clay cane remarkable?

This is David Forlano’s first cane from 1988 and it marks the start of a 20 year collaboration between him and Steve Ford. In honor of the event, the duo has updated their web site they’re selling a limited quantity of their vintage pieces from the early 1990’s. “We’ve also made an archive over the 20 years showing our embarrassing beginnings,” says Steve.

You may take some consolation in seeing others’ first efforts. Be sure to download the artist statement that explains how their collaborative process works and how it’s changed over the years.

P.S. I’ve conquered my flu bug…nasty one.

Blanchard’s Illustrations

Oregon’s Jennica Elizabeth Blanchard creates pen and ink illustrations on polymer plates in her Etsy shop. While she calls them polymer plates, I’m guessing that she’s making her base pendants from liquid polymer (correct me if I’m wrong).

CraftSynergy has an interview with the artist in which she describes her work as “delicate, detailed, visceral.”

Perhaps it’s the fragility of these pieces that appeals to me in my fragile condition. I’m on the mend.

Edwards’ Monsters

I’ve been watching Dylan Edwards post his daily polymer clay monsters for months. They’re particularly relevant today when I could swear that’s what’s living in my lungs though my monsters aren’t that cute, I’m sure.

Let’s hope they scurry away soon. Meanwhile, visit Dylan and ponder this,

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde

Romantic Polymer Clay Valentines
Newfry Kato Floyde

Here are three romantic approaches to polymer clay valentines and matters of the heart.

Donna Kato’s photo transfer and writing combination exudes romance and mystery embellished by a singular pearl.

Geraldine Newfry’s “Beloved” was created as a Valentine’s Day gift for her husband and is rich with the iconography of their shared lives.

Tejae Floyde tucks her hearts inside each other. She will teach her first online course on encased hearts on February 8. Here are some lovely pictures of a batch entering the oven. She was preparing for her month long exhibit opening this Friday at the Artists’ Nook in Ft. Collins, CO.

Brown’s Openwork in Polymer Clay

Here are a couple of openwork polymer clay pieces by Maryland’s Keith Brown to tantalize you this Monday morning.

After looking at this for a while I’m still not sure how he constructs his works and I’m intrigued. You can see that Keith has mastered the technique if you look at his bowls and trays.

Light and shadow, positive and negative – a mystery to start your week. Thanks to Bettina Welker who pointed out the new additions.

Kato’s Big Beads Revive Canes

Donna Kato has provided a weekend treat for us. Just when I think canes are so “over” and boring, Donna brings back canes that pack a wallop.

Her end caps are genius and her palette is simply lovely. She describes how she cuts thickish slices and bakes her big beads on cornstarch to minimize distortion.

Return to your studio with renewed enthusiasm. Thanks, Donna (and thanks to Barb Fajardo who spotted the new beads).