Polymer Clay Daily

Artists

Leslie Blackford and Ira Glass – Keep making art

I’m allowing myself an existential moment. And Leslie Blackford’s polymer clay figure says it all (the mask flips up to reveal a much less benign character).

I’m doing a little self-talk about how to be a studio artist. Who knew the prospect would panic me? Here’s a great little video piece by Ira Glass. It’s not my usual Friday fare but this is special.

I love the idea of closing the gap between your good taste and the quality of the work you produce. Have a special weekend.

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Balombini’s inspirations

Laura Balombini’s sculptures mix melancholy expressions with color and pattern that sizzles. You’ll have to see the larger images to appreciate the vibrancy of her work.

Laura is often imitated so I gravitated to her work as I listened to Seth Savarick’s first virtual master class (From Imitation to Inspiration) on Alison Lee’s site. Even though we bumped up against the technology a time or two, the online class was fun and an overall success.

I download Craftcast interviews to my ipod for listening during a haircut or an oil change. It’s like carrying crayons to keep the kids busy.

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Haunani’s polymer clay leis

Lindly Haunani never strays far from her Hawaiian roots. The picture above (which she used for her updated blog header) actually captures three of her latest polymer clay lei necklaces laid next to each other.

Slices of skillfully graduated colors are pinched into petal shapes and strung into sumptuous necklaces. An expert at mimicking nature’s colors and shapes, Lindly produces pieces that transport the wearers to the tropics.

She stacks smaller pinched circles onto headpins to produce another blossom effect. Feel the Hawaiian breezes.

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Shum’s crawly couture

Let’s start the warm weather off with some Crawly Couture. That’s how one Canadian newspaper labeled Wanda Shum’s seasonal polymer clay bug and dragonfly brooches. Here’s a great shot of her bugs.

This Winnipeg Vancouver artist is known for her distinctive glassware and teapots that often incorporate women’s faces among brightly colored millefiori patterns. Wanda’s taking her teaching on the road with a September workshop in Godfrey, Ontario.

Frame’s organics

Colorado’s Jan Frame used to have a day job as a researcher and organizer so she makes the perfect tablemate at polymer clay workshops. This was her recent project as she ventured into organic, flowing shapes.

She’s methodical in her process and unafraid of questions along the way. Together we wandered into our unknown artistic territories, got lost, made mistakes, and found our way again. Here’s her result. I’ll show you mine next week. Have an adventurous weekend.

Laska’s green studio

The pictures of Marcia Laska’s West Virgina studio are stuck in my head. Even though it’s still under construction, her three-level creative retreat looks dreamy to me. Marcia has a companion web site also under construction with just a few pictures in her gallery.

She says of the location, “We’re miles from the nearest neighbor or tarred road. We generate all our own power, mostly from solar and wind generators, and we communicate with the outside world through a satellite downlink.” Solitude, self-sufficiency and an internet connection! Heaven.

Marcia’s first love is fiber and she began using polymer clay as accents for her hand-dyed and knitted scarves. She’s also the Recording Secretary for the National Polymer Clay Guild. Now maybe I can get back to work and stop daydreaming about spring in West Virginia.

Polish sites feature polymer and more

The link to Jan Suchodolski’s flickr site is a major inspiration and a time sucker. I went there because Tserenbadam Enkhtsetseg (Enkhe) wrote that Elise Winter’s polymer clay work was featured on this Polish blog about contemporary jewelry.

I found Elise and Ford/Forlano and was stunned by the wealth of visual inspiration on the Zero925 and Panie Przodem sites. If you’re in need of a mid-week jolt to your creative batteries, click on any of these links.

O’Dell extrudes

Mari O’Dell extrudes icons in polymer clay that she uses to embellish her pieces. Thinly sliced butterflies hover above a box, flowers sprout from a lid. The trick is integrating the extruded slices into the design and she does that well. This peek at her recent class work area gives you some idea of how she assembles her creations.

Mari has produced several videos on her techniques through the Polymer Clay Express and she puts their extruder through its paces.

My vacation filled me up with ideas and plans and refreshed my spirits. Happy Monday.

laptop died

Thanks for your concern and for the day off. The computer’s backed up and part of me welcomes this “forced upgrade”. I tried to post from my I-touch but typing was slow and it kept erasing my words. (Thanks to Sue Gentry for the loaner computer.)

I’ll have lots to share next week. Have a wonderful weekend.