Polymer Clay Daily

Unprecedented flowers

Bragina on PolymerClayDaily.com

Russia’s Anna Bragina’s brooches have an unmistakeable heft, a smoothly rounded solid feel to them. These are from her Unprecedented Flowers series of brooches shown on Flickr and Facebook.

Bragina on PolymerClayDaily.com

The solid shapes are created with the cutters she sells on Etsy. She combines the shapes in unusual ways topping them with glass beads and stones.

A flawlessly smooth finish completes the feeling of solid beauty.

Join us over at StudioMojo this Saturday for a newsletter full of more tools and unusual tips for your work. 

Polymer super power

Gummert extrusions on PolymerClayDaily.com

It’s true, happiness can sometimes be found in an empty Cheez Whiz jar.

Iowa’s Lynne Rutter Gummert swears that she doesn’t know exactly what she’s doing but what comes out of her extruder shows that she understands more than she admits. 

Gummert's Klimt-like extrusions on PolymerClayDaily.com

Her colors are Klimty and bright. She mixes and matches a selection of extruded patterns. Slices are applied to a glass form that gets popped into the oven and emerges as a treasured desk accessory.

It’s a no-fail approach and a daily reminder of the her creative super power. Do you have a treasured piece that reminds you of your polymer superpower?

 

Bead & Button begins

Picarello heads to Bead & Button on PolymerClayDaily.com

Even the smallest bits that California’s Julie Picarello reveals on her way to Bead & Button whet our appetite for her signature colors whipped into lizard tail beads and mokume gane pendants.

There’s a little more on her Facebook page but you have to go to Milwaukee for the full effect. Julie and several other polymer teachers will be teaching and selling.

Enter to win…and to stretch

Elkina's entry into the Polymer Week Awards on PolymerClayDaily.com

Another way to stretch your skills is to enter a competition or exhibit.

That’s what Poland’s  Nadia Elkina does with her Crystallizing Brooch, a polymer clay, enamel and silver entry in the Polymer Week Awards.

The small brooch measures 2.3″ x 1.5″ x 1″. Another view may give you a better idea of the dimension of this stunning piece.

If deadlines inspire you, perhaps the rapidly approaching June 12 due date for the IPCA Awards is just the push you need.

Picasso to polymer

Prais-Hintz collaged beads on PolymerClayDaily.com

A group challenge pushed Wisconsin’s Erin Prais-Hintz out of her comfort zone and into these collaged beads and surface treatments.

Picasso’s Bowl of Fruit painting was the starting point. Erin decided not to stress over not being able to see any fruit and instead focused on the colors and bits of paper and writing that resonated with her.

Picasso bowl of fruit painting

She took the opportunity to apply some of the Debbie Crothers surface tricks to create raw and rusty veneers. Erin did it her way and yet the resulting beads have a Picasso feel. She nailed it! Read her story on Facebook.

What a great way to stretch and try something new. Do you have a favorite painting that you’d like to try in polymer?

Talking hydrangeas

Pasieka small art tile on PolymerClayDaily.com

Karen Pasieka (subtledetails) seems surprised that her little art tiles sell quickly. “Nothing overly unique about this design in terms of my own collection, but they have been very popular so it can’t hurt to have another one available to purchase!” she says.

This Hydrangeas is a work in progress. Its delicate petals jump over the edges of the softly gradated tile, bursting with delicacy and energy. No surprise to us that they’re popular. Here are more of them.

Are you sometimes surprised by what’s popular in your work? It pays to listen to your customers.

Carried by color

These breezy, summery earrings from Spain’s Elena Fernandez Guijarro are made from scrap clay pieces laid next to each other in an easy, casual way.

Sometimes we forget about easy and casual. Color carries Elena’s design forward.

Try going simple and let color carry your work along.