Here's a new piece from up-and-comer Jana Roberts Benzon brought to our attention by Nancy Travers. She calls this her deco pendant.
Jana's from Salt Lake City and has only been working in this medium a short time but obviously has the knack. She's already begun teaching (see her class schedule).
There are a couple of wonderful class sites to look at today. Oh, just to sit here in chilly Ohio and imagine taking one of Gwen Gibson’s classes (or Dayle Doroshow’s or Dan Cormier’s) in sunny France. And look at the fabulous facility that Barbara McGuire has set up in Buford, Georgia.
If you’re looking for a shot of inspiration and some skill-building, there are plenty of sources out there.
There’s a little more Ravensdale info at this link. And there are a few more pictures to tantalize you. I’ve compiled a bit of their registration and cost information into my own page because it’s still hard to find all the details on their site (you have to read through conversations on their forum) and you’ll probably want to start bankrolling for the event now.
The conference site is 18 miles outside of Seattle, WA. Registration will open April 30 with overseas registrations accepted beginning April 23. The folk beads at the left are by color diva and Ravensdale instructor Maggie Maggio.
Oh my goodness, it’s evening and I haven’t posted yet. I hate it when my day job gets in the way of other pleasures. I’ve been rushing too fast and "time" is a good subject to ponder today. Margaret Bernatt’s site was sent to us by another Aussie, Tania McCulloch.
I’d love to know the story about Margaret’s obsession with clocks… a quirky, fun, playful approach. Her concept of time is merrier than mine today. There’s a lesson to be learned….
Here’s an artist whose work we haven’t featured before, Pittsburgh’s Laura Tabakman. Nice work, nice site.
Thanks to Marla Frankenberg for tipping us off.
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Here’s a new piece from Laura Timmins. I’m guessing that this bracelet is constructed on some sort of stretchy cording. It’s an interesting concept that looks like it requires preplanning and weaving skills (so perhaps it’s not for me).
As I was web surfing over the weekend, I realized that I had not asked you to link your sites back to polymerclaydaily. Next time you update your photos (hint, hint) please make a new link to this site at the same time. Thanx
Grape, chocolate, kiwi, mandarin orange, avacado, blueberry, raspberry, mango, papaya and mint. Lindly Haunani’s 2006 colors make you hungry for more. In her hands polymer clay looks alive and edible.
If you’re feeling shy and tentative about your colors, if your supply of gray waste clay is larger than it should be, sign up for a color class. Check Lindly’s site, track Maggie Maggio down or sign up at your local art school.
Knowing more about color will save you money. You’ll buy three colors instead of the rainbow you now invest in. Your pile of scrap will shrink. You won’t have to pretend that mud was what you were aiming for. Your confidence will grow.
This Tuscan landscape is a recent work from Bettina Welker from Germany. It’s a nice twist on the bangle bracelet originally developed by Margaret Regan. It’s especially noteworthy because it was Bettina’s first landscape cane.
Sometimes when you run into a technique that resonates with your artistic sensibilities, things just "click". It looks like Bettina’s on to something.
Thanks to Jackie Sieben for sending us this example from the Claypen group.
You viewers are good googlers and your help is invaluable. Marsha Markle noted that there are a couple of other artists in Niche Magazine that we may want to look at.
At the left you see the work of Linda and John Whitney and their Niche listing. Their pairing of flat metals and polymer is refreshing. And here’s the sculptural work of Gwen Pina in Niche and her personal site. Thanks for keeping me on my toes.
Maybe others can fill in the blanks here. It’s fun to look at the works of Danqing Coldwell. Apparently there was an article about her in the February 2000 Jewelry Crafts magazine but I missed it.
The artist moved from Beijing to Tokyo to Oklahoma…an interesting story which plays itself out in her found objects, metal and clay collages. Enjoy the pictures and we’ll fill in the rest of the story as we discover it.
