It takes quite a stash of small colorful petal canes to create a bouquet like this polymer-on-wood painting by Forida’s Pamela Carman.
She’s textured the background on a 12″ x 12″ panel. The wallpaper and the red tablecloth plus the retro vase give the composition a feeling of depth and cohesion. See more of her petal power on Flickr, Facebook and Instagram.
Does Pamela’s piece make you want to create your own polymer painting? Sometimes jealousy is a good motivator.
Thanks to Julie Picarello who sent us these photos of the 2017 Bead Dreams winners in the polymer category.
First place went to Barbara McGuire’s Seeing Through Now necklace. The feather-textured teal and pearl collar ends with an etherial portrait. Barbara is a well known longtime polymer artist, author, teacher and supplier.
The second place winner is California’s Arathy Kunnanchath with her opulent imitative turquoise, coral and amber multi-strand necklace from her Alchemist Collection.
Turquoise and silver pieces center the necklace yet the design is appealingly asymmetric.
Julie was particularly pleased to take these photos since Arathy is a member of her Clayville guild. Says Julie, “Arathy has just started working with polymer and is amazing. Two little kids at home, gets up at 4:30a.m. to get in clay time before they get up. Yowzer!”
Russia’s Anna Bragina’s brooches have an unmistakeable heft, a smoothly rounded solid feel to them. These are from her Unprecedented Flowers series of brooches shown on Flickr and Facebook.
The solid shapes are created with the cutters she sells on Etsy. She combines the shapes in unusual ways topping them with glass beads and stones.
A flawlessly smooth finish completes the feeling of solid beauty.
Join us over at StudioMojo this Saturday for a newsletter full of more tools and unusual tips for your work.
These fabric-like earrings were assembled by France’s Maryvonne Kottelat.
The patterns were leftovers from a class taught by Hélène Jeanclaude and sponsored by Cernit. Here are Maryvonne’s blog, and Facebook,
Be warned that following the links will send you down a rabbit hole into a world of glowing translucent patterns (Cernit’s specialty) tucked among surfaces screened, painted and punched with French flair.
It’s true, happiness can sometimes be found in an empty Cheez Whiz jar.
Iowa’s Lynne Rutter Gummert swears that she doesn’t know exactly what she’s doing but what comes out of her extruder shows that she understands more than she admits.
Her colors are Klimty and bright. She mixes and matches a selection of extruded patterns. Slices are applied to a glass form that gets popped into the oven and emerges as a treasured desk accessory.
It’s a no-fail approach and a daily reminder of the her creative super power. Do you have a treasured piece that reminds you of your polymer superpower?
Even the smallest bits that California’s Julie Picarello reveals on her way to Bead & Button whet our appetite for her signature colors whipped into lizard tail beads and mokume gane pendants.
There’s a little more on her Facebook page but you have to go to Milwaukee for the full effect. Julie and several other polymer teachers will be teaching and selling.
You picked right up on Friday’s telepathic post! Such finely tuned PCD readers! Glad we’re on the same wavelength.
One reader says that Victoria’s Gera Scott Chandler’s fish look like they need comment bubbles. Maybe you can figure out what Gera’s fish are saying while I finish a fun weekend. Here they are on Facebook.
Another way to stretch your skills is to enter a competition or exhibit.
That’s what Poland’s Nadia Elkina does with her Crystallizing Brooch, a polymer clay, enamel and silver entry in the Polymer Week Awards.
The small brooch measures 2.3″ x 1.5″ x 1″. Another view may give you a better idea of the dimension of this stunning piece.
If deadlines inspire you, perhaps the rapidly approaching June 12 due date for the IPCA Awards is just the push you need.
A group challenge pushed Wisconsin’s Erin Prais-Hintz out of her comfort zone and into these collaged beads and surface treatments.
Picasso’s Bowl of Fruit painting was the starting point. Erin decided not to stress over not being able to see any fruit and instead focused on the colors and bits of paper and writing that resonated with her.
She took the opportunity to apply some of the Debbie Crothers surface tricks to create raw and rusty veneers. Erin did it her way and yet the resulting beads have a Picasso feel. She nailed it! Read her story on Facebook.
What a great way to stretch and try something new. Do you have a favorite painting that you’d like to try in polymer?
Karen Pasieka (subtledetails) seems surprised that her little art tiles sell quickly. “Nothing overly unique about this design in terms of my own collection, but they have been very popular so it can’t hurt to have another one available to purchase!” she says.
This Hydrangeas is a work in progress. Its delicate petals jump over the edges of the softly gradated tile, bursting with delicacy and energy. No surprise to us that they’re popular. Here are more of them.
Are you sometimes surprised by what’s popular in your work? It pays to listen to your customers.
