Christine Dumont has had another outbreak of Cellularia in her studio and it’s a colorful, complex strain. These multi-layered pieces have been punctured and and stacked precisely to reveal mystery underneath. See lots more cellularia on her site, Flickr, Facebook and in this FIMO video.
Christine is the program chair for this summer’s EuroSynergy2 in France and she’s gathered programs and workshops that are guaranteed to spread enthusiasm and excitement throughout the polymer community.
The latest batch of textured and segmented circle earrings and pendants from Croatia’s Nikolina Otrzan may have you running for her Etsy site….but they’re not listed for sale yet.
Her meticulously rendered textures look as though they could be textiles. Miniscule round pops of color have rolled into the crevices. Nikolina has turned her experiments on these shapes into new pendants and earrings.
I never wear her work without getting comments and questions and I sure hope she lists the new ones soon. See the earlier PCD features here and here.
No reason we can’t make a few ornaments for the tree this year. I’ve collected easy snowflake features on PCDaily each year and wistfully yearned to make my own. Now’s the time to get busy.
Heather Power’s newest holly cutout ornaments make it looks easy and she shows how.
If that’s not enough here are three past PCD features that use flat clay and mini cutters in the most clever and fun ways. Pick one or try them all.
Think you’ve exhausted ideas for extruding? Take a look at how Virginia illustrator Joseph Barabaccia turns spaghetti-sized strands of polymer into portraits and scenes like this Raven Steals the Moon.
The raven piece was Joseph’s entry into the 2016 Niche Awards where he joins Wiwat Kamolpornwijit, Doreen Gay Kassel and Christi Friesen as a finalist in the polymer category. Emily Squires Levine is a finalist in the basket category.
Start your week with unusual and intense award-winning works.
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.
You’ve probably figured out that sometimes I choose pieces to feature just because they’ll make a bright spot on the PCD site design. And some shapes are fun to cut out in Photoshop. I indulge myself.
Pavla Cepelikova’s organic brooch struck all the right notes and doesn’t it look pretty here? I have no idea how she’s making those patterned swirls. She adds sparkly bits in the crevices.
The brooch is part of her Ammonite series and she tells all in a tutorial on Etsy. You may remember that she offered her version of polymer batik a couple of years ago. Pavla shares lots of examples on Flickr and Pinterest.
Indulging
Speaking of indulging yourself, there are a raft of conferences coming up early next year. Need a treat to put on your gift list? The New Jersey Clayathon has a very attractive price tag especially if you register within the next two weeks.
It was a rainy day and Baltimore’s Linda Loew had some time on her hands so she created this simple square bowl. Its mid-century, Mondrian vibes might make you believe it’s a 50’s ashtray but stubbing out your cig on polymer wouldn’t be smart.
The playful slump of the shape, the minimalist use of color, and the gilt edge combine for an artful, amusing, MadMen effect. Would you guess that the grid lines are transferred on? That’s my theory.
Linda prefers to fly under the online radar. You’ll have to befriend her on Facebook. The previous times that PCD has snagged her at conferences are here and here.
Sophie Arzalier (Cristalline) starts her holiday decorating with polymer that hints of enamels. The poinsettia petals and backgrounds are made with subtle blends that make them glow.
Sophie takes advantage of one sure-fire palette and combines the components in ways that make them each one-of-a-kind.
I’m hugging my computer and blessing my studio now that we’re home after too long on the road (extra time for ice). Now to sort the mail, take care of the dangling loose ends and retrieve the balls I dropped. Thank you for hanging in there with me.
These polymer clay earrings from Lindsay Locatelli (WazoDesigns) are all lines and angles and not quite matching in a thoroughly modern way.
Lindsay sometimes carves wood and her expertise shows. We usually think of faceting using triangular shapes. Here she cuts straight down to form rectangular planes. Her use of climbing ropes for stringing beads is another favorite departure for Lindsay.
Let me share Mari O’Dell’s holiday greeting that reminds us all to remember that: ..
If your blessing is wealth, share it. If your blessing is health, take care of it. If your blessings are people, love them. This season we see more clearly now we’re blessed by giving and receiving. We know deep down what matters most is family and friends.
