Here’s a new discovery (new to me anyway) from upstate New York. Loretta Lam calls her work "primitive modern."
Browse her site, Trinkets Gallery, for a selection of very nice work. Thanks to Ronna Sarvas Weltman who alerted us to Loretta’s site.
Humbug…no shopping for me. I’m going to stay home and work on my polymer clay projects. For my money there’s nothing better than a handmade, heartfelt gift. These beautiful bugs are from Babs Young in Michigan.
I’ll admit that I look forward to the holiday art shows (our Winterfair starts later this week) to see what’s new. Let me know what you spot at your local shows….remember to take your camera along.
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While browsing through reports from the Philadelphia Craft Show, I came across this link to a great felt artist. Looks an awful lot like polymer, doesn’t it? See more below. Felt seems to be the new polymer this season.
Below is a picture of felt ornaments from another artist…quilling meets felt which could be polymer. The cross-pollination is great.
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Says Christi Freisen, "As with many artists, I enjoy creating in more than one media, but sculpting suits me best. I have chosen to work primarily in mixed media, embellishing polymer clay with gems, pearls, beads and found objects which are worked into the sculpture while the clay is uncured. I feel this allows for a very organic design. It’s also very interesting joining forces with nature to create something memorable."
Her new Dragons Book is available through her online store.
Found these pictures from the workshops of Dan Cormier and Tracy Holmes on the Northwest Polymer Clay Guild site. The guild reports that, "Dan debuted a new system for creating patterns in polymer clay. After four years of experimenting, Dan shared his latest breakthroughs in surface and veneer design. Simple two-toned canes became the source for an endless collection of intricate patterns, all without any cane reduction. We also explored "Mokume Dan-eh."
The Canadian site, Shades of Clay, is promoting three workshops (two in Canada, one in France) with Dan and Tracy in 2006. Here’s the info in .pdf format or you can contact them at hoco@island.net.
I found pictures from their 2005 workshop in Gloucester online as well. Dan and Tracy are some of those folks that I have to work hard to find on the web.
I thought that I’d soon mine the depths of polymer clay artists online. But I keep finding new exciting discoveries. How did I miss Gloria Askin of Baltimore, Maryland?
Gloria says, "These bright floral forms were inspired by the work of the master glass artist Dale Chihuly and are among my foundational works. I was also inspired by the Yoruba Peoples who believe that the more bright colors you wear the more positive energy you put into the universe."
My dear daughter filled in for me a couple of weeks back. My clever girl googled polymer+clay+halloween and came up with the P’orn site showing Desiree McCrory’s pin-on horns. What my daughter wouldn’t have known (nor would I) is that these cuties were the brain child of Linda Geer who has sold and traded them for years.
I love the page Linda sent showing various wearers. Thanks for the heads-up, Linda. Our apologies.
Judy Kuskin sent me this link to Jeffrey Dever. I wasn’t familiar with his work and was bowled over. Talk about ombre!
Jeffrey is featured in November in the Function+Art Gallery in Chicago. The gallery newsletter says, "His highly organic approach and bright polychrome palette combine for animated yet elegant brooches, pins and necklaces." They showed his work at October’s SOFA.
Thanks so much for the tip, Judy. If you find an exciting link, please send it along!
It sounds dangerous and fun. Las Vegas (the Imperial Palace) from February 3 to 5 with Donna Kato, Judy Belcher, Leslie Blackford, Kim Cavender, Cathy Johnston, Sue Kelsey, Jacqueline Lee and Gail Ritchey. There’s a whole lot of talent here…and we’re not talking at the craps table. Get all the lowdown here.
I hadn’t seen Cathy Johnston’s site before. I’m a real fan of her little books/pins. Be sure to take a look.
What is a "Skinny Skinner" you ask? Lots of polymer artists attribute this variation on the Skinner blend to Dorothy Greynolds (shown here at a 2004 Columbus, Ohio workshop). Instead of the typical triangle blends, narrow rectangular bands of color totalling the width of the pasta rollers are laid side-by-side (look on the table in the picture).
Folding and rolling them through the pasta machine gives you a marvelous blend. In Santa Fe, Lindly and Maggie showed us how to refine and control this blend further. One trick is to keep the very light and very dark bands quite narrow, allowing stronger colors to prevail.
