Polymer Clay Daily

Artists

Samsonova’s polymer glows

Click on this polymer clay necklace to see how glow-in-the-dark can be both fun and sophisticated. Elena Samsonova is a Russian-born Connecticut artist who has lately been reviving and updating 60’s psychedelic canes, making them trendy again.

Her Flickr collection shows her recent bright, bold palette. In one departure from color, Elena created white “animal beads” covered with slices of simple line drawing canes (inspired by an Ikea shower curtain) that are incredibly charming.

We last visited her in 2007 when wirewrapping was her focus.

Here’s her blog in English and if you want to see her work-in-progress, visit her Russian site.

Sim’s polymer fights fear

Singapore’s Garie Sim is fighting fear with polymer clay and humor. The illustration at the left shows the H1N1 virus being attacked. If you look closely under our microscope you will see that the attacker is Garie’s polymer creation at the right.

His knife-wielding creatures are called the H1N1PC virus and they shout the battle cry, “Don’t whine, we will take out the swine.”

You might guess that Garie works with children. If you scroll down his blog you’ll see wonderful pictures of his young students standing proudly with their polymer works.

You can understand why Garie is combatting the fear virus with hope and cheer. Thanks to Lindly Haunani for the link.

Petrova’s summer polymer blooms

Russia’s Olga Petrova sent in these links to her polymer and DecoClay work and her flowers hit the spot for a lovely summer’s Tuesday.

DecoClay is an air dry polymer clay most popular beyond the US borders, particularly in Japan, Thailand and Russia.

Put down that cane, stop rolling that bead or sculpting that doll and take a look at these lovely bright blooms from Russia. Olga’s site translates nicely and gives you a look into the vibrant polymer community there.

If you have some time and want the full tour, click on some of her links to other clay sites.

Polymer rocks!

The response to our polymer clay and wood works at the local artfair (a few more pix here) was rewarding beyond our expectations. An article in the local news prompted old friends and neighbors to come see what we were up to.

The debut of my polymer clay rock line (called the Wilma Flintstone collection by my husband) was so enthusiastic that even the little rock cairns I created to enhance the displays ended up being hot items.

They’re not just my rocks, of course. I blame Kim Cavender for first showing me some rock tricks, and Tracy Holmes for her west coast versions. Betsy Baker makes great pebble earrings and Tory Hughes is widely recognized as the creator of the finest faux. Thanks to all of them and many others for their inspiration.

Gazzera no-holds-barred polymer

Just what we need for the weekend, a bit of saucy, no-holds-barred polymer clay jewelry from France’s Sandrine Gazzera. It’s been three years since we visited her site which is filled with great fashion shots and dazzling color. No translation needed!

I’m ready for my show this weekend but it hasn’t left me much time for you, dear readers. Ronna Weltman sent me the link to Sandrine which was just the thing. A creative breath mint!

Buhrman’s polymer mandalas

Texas’ Susan Buhrman (Three Eye Studio) designs dimensional polymer clay mandalas on 7″ squares. She explains that her work, “…reflects the soul’s yearning for balance and symmetry.”

I’m particularly frazzled today as I prepare for a weekend art show. Susan’s mandala pictured here, Just Before Dawn, caught my eye and calmed me down.

Take a look these unusual polymer constructions on her Flickr and Etsy sites. Her dream is to complete an installation of hundreds of mandalas for public view.

Patriotic polymer

There’s talk of fireworks and picnics and I’m feeling all red, white and blue. Stars and stripes canes make simple, fail-safe beads. Look at these simple little ones from Arizona’s Barbara Handy who does a brisk business in summertime polymer clay flip-flops.

Lance Perry’s (Crescent Hill Designs) polymer clay Uncle Sam and Firecracker sculptures will, he hopes, “…ease one’s growing pains by taking them back to their childhood, if only for a moment.”

Flower cane focus

A reader recently reminded me that I don’t often feature polymer clay flower canes. Busted! I’m a geometric kinda gal and it was good to be reminded to change my focus from time to time.

Today I happened upon these detailed flower canes from France’s Petit Poucet (Nathalie Duval) who makes stunning canes and assembles the beads into blooming fashion statements.

You’ll note that she mixes her flowers with geometric canes….which suits me just fine. A compromise, n’est pas?

Her waif-like face canes mix nicely with the flowers as well. Browse through her collections for a fresh floral perspective.

Another look at polymer deviants

tetris_beauty_spot

This tetris bracelet (based on the computer game) from Ukraine’s BeautySpotCrafts lured me into the Deviant Art site. Her gallery is full of unusual polymer clay designs (check out the piano key theme) and following BeautySpot’s links will lead you to other treasures like the gallery of Meella (Camille Young).

Newspaper earrings

My web connection is down today and I’m hitchhiking on a friend’s network. Start your week with a bit of exploration. I’ll wait for the repairman. Thanks to Lindly Haunani for helping me out with today’s link.

Celebrating polymer 1000 times

The Venice Biennale is the world’s oldest and most pretigious international forum for contemporary visual art. This year the polymer and mixed media work of New Zealand-born Francis Uprichard will be exhibited there.

Her polymer sculptures in the installation Save Yourself include searchers, dreamers, dancers; consumed by their acts of meditation or lost in reverie. One reviewer calls her a doctor of contemporary voodoo and says that,”…the mix-up of history, mischief and meaning is a potent mixture.”

The polymer community is a potent mixture too – jewelers and miniaturists, illustrators, dollmakers, celebrities, sculptors, fine artists and hobbyists around the globe. Today PCD marks 1000 posts that have covered it all – from dining room tables to the Venice Biennale. Thanks for following along!

The icing on today’s cake is the fine polymer work of Oregon artist Dede Leupold which made its online debut in her budding site and Etsy gallery. Have a sweet weekend.

Note

Yesterday’s artist, Mary Tempesta, writes that she is from L’Aquila, Italy, the site of that monstrous earthquake in April. Mary and her family have to rebuild their home and she says, “My work with polymer has been great therapy and has given me a push to start over anew.”