Polymer hats

Blackford, Terlizzi and Friesen on PCDaily

Pink polymer everywhere! Artists hopped on the craze for this symbol of women’s marches around the globe.

These brooches were made by Leslie Blackford (Instagram), Melissa Terlizzi (Flickr), and Christi Friesen (Instagram).

I can vouch for the vibe at the Washington, DC site which was very friendly and upbeat (more in StudioMojo which will come out Tuesday). Many polymer artists joined in marches and cleverly added their wearable reminders that women are united and strong.

Does this inspire you to make your own version?

Marching as one in polymer

Rachelle from our polymer classes at the Ohio Reformatory for Women made the We March Together pins for Jackie Burns and me.

Faces were the subject of last month’s class and Rachelle has been making face canes ever since. Mine is has orange/blonde streaked hair and Jackie’s hair is white.

Their brooches certainly remind us that we march together in support of all women’s issues.

Then Pennsylvania’s Andrew Thornton put a pink hat on his baby dragon to show his support for the marchers. He explains the details of his process on his blog. Off to march with a wild cast of characters.

Lighthearted polymer

Dayna Corbitt (WhimsyCalling) perks us up with a lighthearted beginning to the season. “You hold the key to my heart…” says the accompanying love poem that you can read on Instagram. Her so simple approach doesn’t rely on red clay and fancy designs. It’s pure romance and love.

She’s cleared the shelves on her Etsy store in preparation for romantics who want something that goes right to the heart of Valentines Day.

Between our eyes

Portland polymer artist Meredith Dittmar has appeared on PCD many times, initially for her small sculptures, now grown into the show, Between Our Eyes, at Mirus Gallery in San Francisco from January 20 to March 3.

The gallery describes Meredith’s work as human-animal-plant-energy relief-like amalgams that contain threads of common elements and colors to express deep levels of union across themes of biology, technology, and consciousness. The characters are frequently involved in quiet expressive moments, or lounge facing an audience, sharing their inner space. Dittmar believes it is this space we recognize in ourselves, and through convening in that space, the interconnectedness of all things is revealed.

The gallery’s exhibits are edgy and modern and Meredith’s paper/polymer works are dynamic. If you’re not quite sure about the fantasy/technology/biology scenes that you’re looking at on Meredith’s Instagram, Facebook and Flickr, relax and enjoy the mix of paper and polymer, shapes and color on these large works. Let them hit you between the eyes.

The story in your work

Thumbing through Elena Kalashnikov’s Flickr photos you’ll see how she’s taken popular techniques and given them her own spin.

She’s interpreted others’ designs with such exuberance and skill that it’s only a matter of time until she discovers something all her own.

These earrings have the luster of a silk kimono with gold and blue mokume gane pieces applied on top. Elena is Russian and lives in Israel. She started out making lace so it’s not surprising that her works have resonances of fabric and embroidery.

Your story is written in your collection of works. You might as well own it, capitalize on it and celebrate it.

Polymer off the beaten path

France’s Sonya Girodon enjoyed departing from her usual path and traveling into the woods.

The result is these polymer thistles, burrs or alien pods created especially for the upcoming Into the Forest exhibit in Valley Forge during Synergy4 and in Pittsburgh next November.

How are you coming with your contribution to this big show? The deadline is April 4.

Sonya’s having a banner year. Just look at all the breakthroughs and game-changers that she’s come up with on her Facebook and Flickr.

As long as we’re looking at our to-do lists, have you registered for Synergy4? Can’t attend? No worries. Even if you can’t go, enter your artwork in the IPCA Awards competition and you’ll be there in spirit. The awards online entry isn’t showing up on the new IPCA site but I’m sure it will be activated soon.

Sonya shows us how to stretch our creative muscles and try out new ideas in 2017.

Charming ladies

There are secrets behind these lovely lady Nambi charms from Serbia’s Nevenka Sabo.

Nevenka tells all in her tutorials and she’s forming a support group for those who are hooked on her methods. The clean, simple portraits pack a punch. I don’t know her secrets. Paints, inks, markers?

See if you can figure out how she achieves her vibrant colors and clean designs by checking out her Instagram and Facebook. Go to her Etsy page for instructions if you get hooked. Have a warm, cozy weekend.

Questionable polymer

Your eyes may have to wander around these Ford/Forlano beads for a while.

What kind of mokume gane monkey business is going on here? How is that grid happening? Why are the colors working so well? No answers, just questions worth asking.

Dave and Steve use this work-in-progress as a header on their Facebook page. They also show up on the Velvet Da Vinci Gallery’s Instagram and show some new works on their own FordForlano site.

Wrong side out is right

Argentina’s Flavia Miranda puts flat cane slices (Cernit) together in an unusual way. As you fly through photos on the web, sometimes a simple, carefree piece stops your eye.

It’s her playful, unselfconscious construction that intrigues. Isn’t that wrong side out? Why is the thread showing? The disks overlap and bunch.

As you can see on Flavia’s Facebook pages here and here, bunching the beads and integrating the stringing materials are all part of her vibe. How great she looks wearing a similar piece in her profile picture.

When your eye yells Whoa!, it pays to stop and investigate.

Polymer mixed media redux

Kim Korringa purchased two great-looking ceramic birds from Etsy artist Natalya Sots. She loved them.

But the space on Kim’s kitchen wall begged for something more. So Kim designed this polymer pot of leaves and flowers for the birds to fly over. Kim posted the entire (now 3-piece) art on Facebook.

Kim started assembling this collection last fall. She had brought real-sized photos of the birds and her design to a retreat. But the mountain winds were blowing when Kim put her first try in the oven. The outside ovens spiked turning Kim’s bright dimensional blossoms a charred brown.

Try, try again! Kim’s kitchen is complete.

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