Paula Pindroh from Lakewood, Ohio, joins the ranks of polymer clay illustrators (see the new category in the right hand column).
Artists like Meredith Dittmar, Doreen Gay-Kassel, Sylvie Perrin, Marcia Rocha and others take the clay in a direction that few of us pursue and many of us admire. Most of these illustrators started out working on paper and were lured to polymer because of its three dimensional possibilities and the immediacy of its color.
Thanks to Susan Rose for the link.
The Holmes/Cormier team is taking the show on the road this fall. From Montreal to Maryland, Tracy and Dan will be serving up a series of workshops showing you how to make better beads on the cutting edge. The duo is entertaining as well as informative.
In Tracy's one-day workshop she reveals the secrets of her polymer beach pebbles which are indistinguishable from the real thing (but much lighter weight). Check the class listing for a class near you.
Potter, poet, printer Ebby Malmgren finds that she can call upon all her talents by using polymer clay for her printing plates. "Soon after I started making prints I realized I missed the 3-D possibilities of clay and it occurred to me that polymer clay might be a solution," says Malmgren.
Her detailed description of the process makes me want to experiment. See one of her prints at the left and the polymer printing plate at right.
The artist splits her time between Annapolis, Maryland and Taos, New Mexico. She recently received a lifetime achievement award from the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County. Many thanks to Susan Rose who alerted me to this wonderful artist.
Jana Roberts Benzon has a designed a necklace that says "Beware!"
Jana was inspired by the rattlesnakes in Utah and simulated their warning signal in a polymer clay necklace. Her "Vrindavana Rattlers" are much more colorful than the snake's and they rattle when shaken.
I've sent you to this site before and it's time for another look. Velvet DaVinci has changed its format a bit and beefed up the artists' sites.
I salivate when I hover over the links that say "more images." And the portraits of the artists feel like an added bonus.
Did I mention that there's no polymer clay represented here? Their loss. The designs are spectacular. Thanks go to Ronna Weltman for the link reminder.
The person behind yesterday's "empty vessel" blog is none other than Susan Rose who's been forwarding terrific links to me for months! Small world. Beautiful blog. Bookmark it.
And of course she's sent a couple perfect links to round out our week of "intensity." While artworks made from fruit pits and spools of thread may seem a long way from polymer clay, they round out our week of demonstrating how what's in your head and your heart translate into art.
"Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art."
Leonardo Da Vinci
And a couple of links to intense sites (here and here). It's been a frantic day that needs some calm.
The topic of intensity seems to have struck a chord with readers. Take a look at a couple more along the same line. Harriet Estel Berman creates bracelets from tin cans and Kate Cusack makes pins from zippers. It's the "vision thing" that speaks loudly. These artists are following their own creative impulses and aren't waiting for the next new technique.
Since it's back-to-school time, here's one for homework. Visit the site of the Plastics Historical Society. The next time you're asked about when polymers were discovered, you'll be able to answer with confidence.
One of the characteristics that draws us to great pieces is intensity. Two polymer clay artists sent in this link to Jennifer Maestre who sculpts using colored pencils. They both found her works inspiring. I'll add Liana Kabel's jewelry made of Tupperware (or try this link) and Margaux Lange's series made entirely of Barbie doll parts as great examples.
This bracelet from Portland's Wendy Malinow makes me smile. The deer hunters in my office stop in their tracks and ask how (and why) I have an antler on my arm. I've developed an elaborate spoof about soaking shed antlers in special solutions and then forming them. They can't believe it's polymer clay anyway.
It's one of the only pieces in my collection that I share with my husband who wears it when he's feeling particularly primitive.
Wendy's imagination has free range. A Google search will bring up lots of references to her book illustrations. Now she brings that same carefree and colorful spirit to her creations in metal and polymer. Be prepared to stretch your mind as you look at Wendy's other-worldly works.
