Polymer Clay Daily

Ford/Forlano weigh in

Actually Steve and Dave aren’t weighing in (April fools!) but their 100-bead, 22″ wide polymer clay and silver necklace tips the scales at 3.5 pounds.

Dave Forlano and Steve Ford recently delivered the large double-sided pillow necklace to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA). The piece was commissioned by the Women’s Committee of the PMA and given to the permanent collection in memory of Anne d’Harnoncourt, the late director of the PMA who owned five Ford/Forlano big bead necklaces.

It will go on view in the PMA’s contemporary craft gallery on May 9th and be a part of an exhibition highlighting the permanent collection during the SNAG conference in Philadelphia May 20-24.

The subdued, classical, restrained side is modeled here by Ford/Forlano’s metalsmith, Maryanne Petrus. The other side (shown in the closeup) is exuberant and colorful. Truly diva jewelry.

If you missed the video of the Ford/Forlano studio in our earlier post, you can still watch it here.

Whirlwind polymer swirls

Today I kept bumping into polymer clay swirls and spirals. They struck me as colorful, modern interpretations of ancient, elemental designs. One idea is from Portugal and one from Slovenia.

Alexandra and Teresa (Xana and Te) have momentarily moved away from their flowers and polychromatic palette with a necklace made of Skinner blend double spiral beads. The matching bracelet makes quite an impact as well. Here’s an earlier post about the duo.

The spiraling shell pendant is a repeating theme in Milica Bubanja’s work. She lives in Slovenia and says of her work, “I love a challenge. I love the process. I love the results.” See the dazzling dark reds on her Flickr site.

Polymer spring flowers

I was looking for polymer clay hints of spring to start your week and the daffodils from “SilverPepper23” fit the bill. Her innovative combination of wire, ribbon, seed beads and polymer blooms is impressive.

Problem is, my translators aren’t giving me much more info than the pictures provide. I don’t even know what country we’re looking at. Any help out there?

Israel’s Marcia Tzigelnik (MarsDesign) has a facility for flowers and a reputation for her remarkable rose cane. Her Etsy shop and her Flickr photos are full of inspiration for the season.

Craig’s pro bono polymer

When metalsmith Gabriel Craig took to the streets of Richmond, Virginia to acquaint people with handmade jewelry arts, he used polymer clay to introduce the concept.

His guerrilla marketing techniques earned him a story in the current issue of American Craft magazine and it’s an interesting read about the value and meaning of handmade items. Click on the bottom picture to see the video.

You readers have long understood the popular appeal and immediacy of polymer clay. We don’t necessarily see it as a gateway drug to metalworking however. For us it’s a daily vitamin that we appreciate as an art medium in its own right as demonstrated by the works of so many artists on this site.

Thanks to Elise Winters for the link. Have an inspired weekend.

Will’s polymer fancies

Take a look at Germany’s Andrea Will’s (VarUni7) recent flights of fancy.

When I can’t play in my studio, I like to study the work of other artists who are fearless experimenters.

Andrea’s organic shapes from leftovers, pebbles suspended on memory wire and transfers from shells jump out at me as clever ideas to continue exploring (and to try myself).

Here’s her first work that caught my eye.

Cleo and Cat’s attention grabbing polymer

Claudia and Catalina Pieschacon (Cleo and Cat) are sisters who have combined their artistic talents to produce a bold collection of polymer clay rings, pendants and bracelets.

Their oversize, attention-grabbing polymer jewelry is paired with semi-precious stones, silver, gold and other materials.

The sisters were born in Columbia and both worked in interior design. Cleo now lives in Parkland, Florida. Catalina resides in New York.

Visit FunkyLaLa where you’ll find their works for sale. Thanks to Lisa Henderson for bringing this fresh work to our attention.

Dunn’s polymer spring

Judy Dunn’s “In Blossom” set of Flickr photos allows me to prolong my vacation as I look forward to spring in Ohio. Her delicate polymer clay and glass bead blooms hang gracefully on beautifully designed necklaces and earrings.

Check out Judy’s interpretation of the season as I catch up and find my mojo. Here’s her site.

Pattee’s odd times

Just like Pattee’s polymer clay sculpture, Harold, I’m wondering what time it is as I head back across time and temperate zones after our lovely visit with my daughter. The California/Ohio swap is a bit of a shock to my system (to say nothing of leaving my baby behind).

Pattee (Odd Dolls) says she likes her world “a little off kilter” and you may enjoy her sculptures to begin your little-off-kilter week too. Look inside her studio where she’s surrounded by bits and bobs that inspire her.

I’ll be synced up and back in gear tomorrow.

Pheasant inspired cane

Meisha Barbee’s studio and store back up to the San Diego Zoo. Early Thursday morning she treated us to a walk through the zoo’s rain forest and we were thrilled to see an exotic pheasant’s colorful plummage revealed (see our video) in his mating dance. Meisha went on to work and we continued through the zoo.

When we met hours later Meisha had composed this cane based on our pleasant pheasant experience. I took a few quick snaps of her work in the Spanish Village shop she shares with her brother and sister-in-law. I’m still nagging her about her lack of a web presence. Here’s an earlier post about her work.

I’ll catch up with you and all my email next week. Have a colorful weekend.

French Bollywood workshop

The Slumdog Millionaire effect spilled over into a polymer clay workshop in France! Nathalie Sellem Legrain (Heurebleue) sent us a link to the pictures of the Bollywood workshop. The pictures of their dazzling dancing ladies will make you laugh.

The artists seemed to thrive as they draped their cut out dolls in fabrics created from stamped, layered and painted skinner blends. They continued the Indian motif in polymer frames that surrounded their creations.

Just like the movie, the workshop went from humble beginnings to a feel good ending. (It also reminds me of Susan Hyde’s angels.)