Polymer Clay Daily

Models for Peace

My holiday wish is that tanks could be transformed into voting booths as this young polymer clay artist envisions it here.

George Estreich's creations have been featured in major art exhibits, television ad campaigns, textbooks and adopted by New York City public schools. George is currently pursuing a masters degree in industrial design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.

A postscript from Ronna Weltman

AnySoldier.com gives people a way to get care packages to soldiers, even if they don't know any. You can also give a tax-deductible donation and they'll take care of buying stuff.

While looking over the site, I ran across these polymer goodies crafted by CJ Rice, a military wife. J&C Manufacturers features handmade gifts and collectibles crafted by Active Duty United States Military members, disabled American veterans and their spouses. CJ Rice is a military wife who makes pins out of polymer.

I was really touched because the first thing I clicked on was a little polymer cake. Although it was a humble creation, it had "#1 Dad" on it, and that got me choked up, thinking a child whose father is serving overseas might buy that to send to daddy. Of course, that gave me a pang in the heart, and isn't that art pure and simple — something that says something, touches you, takes you to a new place?

Readers may appreciate knowing about an opportunity to support our troops this holiday season, and also it could be fun to give a military wife a "You go, girl" for her finding her voice in polymer clay, and to wish you peace.

Texan

Texas’ Tricia Dewey is a fresh face on this site. Her bio says she’s a nurse and astronomer who’s now pursuing an art degree. Lots of diverse interests and talents there and it shows on her site (she’s also a web developer).

New week, new name (she’s already been in several publications) thanks to Robin Johnston. A pretty palette to start your week.

Intentions

Good Intentions is the name of this polymer clay piece from South Carolina artist Beth Bullman Regula. She uses polymer to create relief paintings as well as small and large sculpture. This new artist link was discovered by Susan Rose.

Lindly Haunani talks about the necessary steps in the art process:

  • gathering
  • intentioning
  • doing
  • refining
  • sharing

and how important it is not to get stuck in any one part of the process. Good Intentions…an appropriate way to close out our week of looking ahead and to expanding our polymer clay horizons. Have a lovely weekend.

Improvisational

Washington's Ellen George's works make me gush and babble. They're so beautiful and so in tune with this week's theme of moving forward with our work. Ellen says, "I stay improvisational, enjoying the surprise of one shift leading to another." She is known for her light, organic, abstract sculptures of modest scale and articulate execution. Her forms are familiar, yet ultimately exotic.

She has exhibited large-scale pieces that are made of hundreds of small components, at the Tacoma Art Museum, Interstate Fire House, and the Archer gallery. Her work has been exhibited in Massachusetts, California, Illinois, Florida and Texas as well as the Pacific Northwest. Ellen George is included in the Collections of the Tacoma Art Museum, Museum of East Texas and King County Public Collection.

A heartfelt thanks to Susan Rose for this inspirational link.

Quiltbook

More than 90 polymer artists contributed fabric pattern swatches to the new book by Sarajane Helm and Judith Skinner. The book is now available most easily from Lulu books and also from Sarajane's site.

The book I ordered won't arrive until nearly Christmas (note: it only took two days and came on December 12) but it was great fun to scroll through all the samples in their slideshow. Be prepared, the slides run slowly and it only seems to work in Explorer. The artists responsible for the works above are Margie Drake, Dayle Doroshow, Nancy Osbahr, Margie Drake, Mags Bonham, Barb Harper and Leigh Ross.

With all the new techniques that have come out, I'm pleased to see that caning of this quality lives on. Congrats to Judith and Sarajane for birthing this baby.

Beyond your comfort zone

Just in case you thought that your polymer clay art was too safe and tame and boring, take a look at the work of Art Institute of Chicago grad student Peter Goldlust. As he says, "These environments explore the gray areas between seemingly distinct states of being: the alluring and the repulsive; the playful and the threatening; and the natural and the synthetic."

No flower canes here, just absolutely fascinating imaginings. This polymer and prozac piece is particularly intriguing.

His carved crayons may give Maggie's tutorial students some ideas as they contemplate their new crayolas. Thanks to Barbara Forbes-Lyons for passing this link along.

Carlson New Work

Congratulations to Maureen Carlson on her new work which is being shown in a Minneapolis gallery. As we come to the end of the year, it's the perfect time to follow Maureen's lead and dig deeper, venture outside our comfort zones. Here's how Maureen explains her bold leap.

"One of my goals for 2006 was to create some new artwork that explored my feelings about making art, taking risks, opening doors and exploring less familiar paths. I've loved what I've been doing for nearly 30 years now, but I felt that I had more to say that needed to be said in a different style than with the whimsical, smiling faces for which I've become known.

I wanted to explore the full spectrum of emotions and moods and expressions in my work – even if some of that work wasn't pretty or cute or easy to understand – and I needed to make a break from those sweet little people in this new work."

Maggie’s Launch

Maggio Web Page

She'll say she's not quite ready….it's not quite finished…wait, wait! But I say it's December 1 and time to unveil Maggie Maggio's site. You'll just have to come back again and again to see the class listings and tutorial updates. 

In the meanwhile, luxuriate in the galleries and get a taste of the color classes. Look at those stunning pieces. Sorry Maggie, I've held this under wraps for as long as I can stand it. Happy launch.

And while you're luxuriating, consider a trip to Italy next summer to study with Maggie and others at Louise Fischer Cozzi's studio. Have a lovely weekend.

 

Weidler

Jack Weidler sculpts amazingly detailed wildlife and fantasy creations hair by hair, feather by feather from polymer clay. He's an Arizona artist with physical challenges who loves his work. This kind of detail is beyond my comprehension. Be sure to thumb through his portfolio and enlarge to appreciate the detail.

Thanks to Susan Rose for the link.

It's time for me to stand on my soapbox and encourage all our readers to join the National Polymer Clay Guild. There's a new energy and vitality in the guild and you'll want to be part of it. Online voting for new officers is going on now. Join, volunteer, help further your art and craft.