Polymer Clay Daily

Books/Magazines

Appreciating Life in polymer

OWR on PCDaily

Stephanie, one of the students in the Ohio Reformatory for Women polymer class created this lovely frame for the exhibit, Reflections from a Gated Community: Art from Ohio Inmates that opens at our local (High Road Gallery) gallery this Sunday. Reception from 2-4.

The black 10″ square wood frames were made by my husband and the inmates could decorate them with polymer however they wished. Because we can’t take glass into the prison, the mirror was added last. This frame is called Appreciating Life.

Seeing Stephanie’s children’s names and birthdays carved in the background bricks brought tears to my eyes as I typed the artwork’s label which reads, “The gifts of life, the beauty of nature and these three precious people make me who I am and remind me of what I have.”

The inmates have no internet available for tutorials, Pinterest and PCDaily.They have no tissue blades, nothing sharp, no fancy tools. They rely on books, occasional classes and their own creativity. Still their art is raw, powerful and full of conceptual content and personal meaning. In each class, I teach them techniques and they teach me about art and life.

Shout out to Lindly

I wondered why Lindly Haunani was sending PCD so many good links this month. Turns out she’s been convalescing and spending more time than usual online. She’s on the mend after quite a long siege but I know she’d like to hear from you all. Lindly will recognize that Stephanie’s been studying her color book! Appreciating Life, indeed.

Buoyed by success

Williamson on PCDaily

Genevieve Williamson’s 16″ Buoyline necklace is part of retailer Anthropologie’s new arrivals in their spring online exclusives.

You can witness Genevieve building her inventory on Instagram and her blog. Her husband and mother packaged and bar-coded to meet the deadline. Stay tuned as Genevieve reveals what she learned about wholesaling, about business and about herself from this big venture.

In case you need some fashion advice, Anthropologie’s designers say,” We’d pair this neutral strand with skinnies and a boyfriend buttondown now, and with a strapless sundress when the weather warms.”

You can also shop for Genevieve’s works on Etsy. I smile when I remember that she’s one of the featured artists in my book, Polymer Clay Global Perspectives.

Retro extrusions

Tinapple on PCDaily

 

Today we announce the launch the anticipated Volume II – RETRO that so many of you have been waiting for! We are over the moon about this collection of Cynthia Tinapple’s newest extruder disk set which contains 8 fun and fashionable patterns. Cynthia doesn’t like to brag about herself so KazuriWest has taken over the controls today.

Check out the photo above of some of the amazing designs you can make and watch this quick video (below) of the disks in action. We here at kazuriwest.com are excited to launch Volume II – RETRO.

Cynthia is an international award-winning designer, educator, author of the book Polymer Clay Global Perspectives and producer of this renowned and insightful blog. As many of you know, she is quite a talented and amazing artist and loads of fun to work with.

Cynthia originally produced Volume I of her polymer clay extruder disks to meet the need for more clay pattern options and it flew off the shelves with customers all over the world clamoring for more. We cannot believe how popular extruders are becoming. Her designer’s eye has found fashionable icons and translated them into extrudable patterns that you can easily integrate into your work. Order yours here.

Mixed media melange

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There’s nothing like reading about snowy Vermont to get you primed for the season–unless it’s an article about Celie Fago in snowy Vermont.

The online issue of Woodstock Magazine is free. Flip to page 54 and you’ll see Celie in her studio teaching a class how to make one of her polymer bangles that’s loaded with rings of stone and beaded wires.

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The bracelet jangles with a collection of circles made from precious metal clays.

Celie mixes her media and I cheer when I find polymer holding its own in her rich melange of metals, beads and found objects. Browse her Etsy store, her blog and her Facebook page.

Your vote counts

Blackford on PCDaily

I need your vote! Every Fall, Crafthaus awards a micro project grant and my application is in the running.

Prison Polymer: Art as a Lifeline Back to the Community is a project I’d like to nudge forward. This summer Leslie Blackford and Tammy Dye taught one class in Ohio prisons, Maggie Maggio and I taught another. We were all surprised and fascinated by the impact that our medium had on inmates.

What could we do with polymer in prisons that would make a difference? How could our community help? That’s what I’ll use the grant to discover. Please vote for Project #2. Thank you for your help.

It’s hard to look at Leslie Blackford’s Elvis and not smile at his gold leisure suit and sparkling belt buckle. Here are the characters from one afternoon’s class. You can follow her on Facebook too.

Re-Visioning on PCDaily

Catalog giveaway

Would you like to have a memento from the ground-breaking Carthage College Re-Visioning exhibit? In the show catalog Rachel Carren writes eloquently about how polymer art is expanding and reinventing itself.

This slim full color publication would make an elegant addition to your bookshelf. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below. I’ll pick five lucky winners on Monday.

Polymer poultry

McDill on PCDaily

You may see a teapot where Layl McDill sees a fanciful chicken. It flew out of her studio as soon as it was finished.

Layl layers slices from her brightly patterned canes onto vases, pitchers, teapots and more. She piles on the color (see the in-process shot below), hoping to catch the viewer’s eye and inspire wonder.

McDill on PCDaily

In this issue of The Polymer Arts, Layl is one of four featured artists who approach polymer with whimsey and humor.

Layl adds to her site regularly and puts her most recent work on her Facebook page.

 

USA polymer

Crowley on PCDaily

Olympic fervor has thrown us into an oddly patriotic mood. Who better to show team spirit than Chicago’s Dan Crowley? His ladies, loosely based on his aunts, are his favorite characters. This one is called America the Beautiful!

Crowley on PCDaily

Dan is a sculptor and puppeteer and you can watch him build a finger puppet while he talks about his career in this short video interview. He sells online through Etsy and Art Of Toys and shares new works and tidbits on Facebook.

Five winners

Five lucky PCD readers will be picked to win a copy of the Fire issue of From Polymer To Art magazine published by Saskia and Marjon in the Netherlands.

Scroll down and submit a comment to this post and you’re automatically entered in the giveaway drawing. Instead of competing for Olympic gold or silver, you’ll be in the running for Fire if you make a comment by Sunday midnight. Look at the goodies in this issue and have a winning weekend.

Polymer vases

Lehmann on PCDaily

If your winter has been as snowy as ours, you’ll sigh to see these signs of spring from Germany’s Jana Lehmann. Examine her Calyx series of pendants as well.

These polymer Flower Vases are brooches with flowers rendered in her inimitable graphic style. Her Facebook film shows her progression with polymer over the past few years.

Lehmann on PCDaily

Now she’s teaching workshops and has written a new book available in March. The best overview of Jana’s work is on Flickr and you can still sneak a look at her blog here.

The brightness of her palette seems to melt the snow. Have a warm weekend.

Extrusions everywhere

Kellberg on PCDaily

Sherri Kellberg’s earrings from polymer extrusions jumped right out at me. They’re subtle, simple and clever and her site is full of similar examples with fine finishes (she offers a tutorial for that) and appealing color. This Florida artist also offers a tutorial for faux lampwork that is tempting. Here’s her Etsy shop.

I’m working on my Craftcast extrusions class for November 13. You know how when you’re focused on something you suddenly see it everywhere? Be prepared for extrusions this week.