Polymer Clay Daily

Treasurefield’s heart soars

Hearts appear everywhere as Valentines Day approaches. This polymer clay winged pendant heart from Alisa Treasurefield is my season’s favorite. It’s for sale as My Heart Soars on her Etsy site.

Reading her story, I realize why it works. Alisa has been doodling winged hearts for years and it’s one of her favorite designs. “It’s pretty rare that I like something I make right away without any tweaking,” she admits. Isn’t that the way it works when you’re working on a design that’s a “natural” for you? (Here’s an older post about Alisa.)

On a similar theme, I like this quote from Tory Hughes’ latest post, “…during tough times, more people start their own businesses. These times give us the chance to act from our deeper purpose.”

Fashionable, industrial polymer clay

Melanie West is waking up from her long winter’s nap with a new polymer clay BioBangle and a line of polymer filled brass bangles for her Etsy shop.

In Fashion

In Elizabeth Yarborough’s “Collection Two,” platters of polymer clay miniature sweets and savories are perched on silver rings.

She finds unexpected beauty in traditionally unwearable objects. Her collections are handcrafted in NYC and carried by Bergdorf Goodman and other fine stores around the world. The link is from Susan Lomuto.

Industrial strength

Have you been watching Wes Warren gear up to make 4,000 beads from his soccer ball cane? His methods, which include the use of an industrial clay sheeter, bungie cords for reduction, and very precise mathematics, make for flawless canes.

Erickson’s recyclables

Illinois’ Karna Erickson’s polymer clay charms and sculptures are more Mad Max than Steampunk. Her robot assemblages include nuts and bolts, found items and erector set leftovers.

Under the names of EanyMeany and Cocoon Designs, Karna pieces together a collection of brightly colored sculptures made from recyclables.

Her soft villages are made of a material hodgepodge that includes recycled sweaters, vintage buttons, yarn and more. She uses polymer to create the creatures that populate the villages and to give found objects exciting second lives.

Creagers’ extra heads, new blog

A spare head might come in handy this Monday, don’t you think?

Jodi and Richard Creager have a pile of extra polymer clay ones on the shelves of their studio. Jodi says in her new blog that the heads also come in handy as Christmas ornaments.

The Creagers have been in the polymer clay fine art doll and miniatures business for 30 years. Their web site is a testament to their mastery of the art form.

They’ve also added four free sculpting tutorials on their YouTube page. The intriguing tutorials are small segments taken from their sculpting DVD series.

via CreatingDollhouseMiniatures

Ponsawan’s polymer mosaic

Another blast of polymer clay color and energy from Ponsawan Silapiruti (Silastones) finishes this otherwise white week. You must click on the image to get the full effect of this 6″x12″ wall piece made from cane slices.

Ponsawan explains that this technique is “…perfect for me who get bored easily and hate repetition, and can’t sit still very long.” Her Flicker site shows that even while she looks after her daughter she continues to produce work that reflects her heritage and her indomitable spirit.

For earlier posts featuring Ponsawan’s work, click here, here, and here. Have a colorful weekend.

Baker’s Yucatan polymer colors

The blinding white snow outside makes me search for warmer polymer clay colors on my computer. Betsey Baker’s work on her new 1000markets site hits the spot.

On her blog (Stonehouse Studio) Betsy talks a bit about her online experience and why she’s trying various venues.

She says her new “Maya” series was inspired by the vivid colors of the Yucatan – the azure blues of the ocean, the yellow/greens of the lush vegetation, the desaturated reds and oranges of old hacienda walls and the texture of Mayan artifacts – and that’s just what I need today.

Clawson brings organics to polymer clay

In the depths of winter Kate Clawson‘s green polymer clay tiles look especially appealing. Kate attaches one of these small gems to each of her business cards.

Her “Organic Odysseys” galleries include corn pens, cherry tomato earrings and nasturtium bracelets. Here’s her Etsy site.

Kate says that her local organic Quiet Creek Farm in Pennsylvania, “…sparked a greater interest for me to explore each plant and all its components on a level that is deeper than can be had by supermarket fare or produce stands.”

Pressing vegetation into polymer clay, Kate captures the minute details in each leaf and seed, allowing her to explore the layers of beauty in the simplest edibles. The finished work is like a modern day fossil that recalls memories of farm days and great meals.

French Obama by Perrin

How did I miss this wonderful polymer clay Obama by France’s Sylvie Perrin? A cruise through her blog will have you amazed and laughing out loud. Her web site is today’s pick-me-up.

Speaking of smiles and pick-me-ups, have you seen the teapots on the latest Polymer Art Archive post? The teapot bodies were formed around sand-filled fabric bags. Rebecca Mazur created these delights in 1998!

Those of you who are captivated by today’s organics and undersea designs will want to look at what Australia’s Robyn Gordon was coming up with in polymer clay in 1981! Here’s our first post about her.

Tuesday is a good day for tidying loose ends and boning up on your polymer clay history.

Finnish artists create visual glossary

Two Finnish polymer clay artists, Petteri Leppikallio and Pörrö Sahlberg (Hiidet), have launched monthly challenges for themselves that they’re posting on their site. Their blog posts (this is just a small sampling) are becoming an online sketchbook and a visual glossary that they hope will inspire others.

This month Pörrö has been using two colors which she shapes into basic shapes using basic techniques. Petteri, a woodworker, has been exploring textures.

The ground rules for the year-long project specify that the ideas are more important than results.

“I need to study simplicity. There are tons of techniques available in the literature and the net, however I feel the simplest things and themes are somewhat unstudied. There must be lots of new ways to do old things and probably some new ideas rise from repeating the old ones,” says Pörrö.

With their studious and structured approach, their collaboration will be a fascinating one to follow.

Campbell’s polymer pastiche

Utah’s Heather Campbell uses simple polymer clay techniques in layers that she builds up into a rich pastiche of cane patterns, texture and color. The pieces draw the eye in to study the detail.

Heather’s sculptures are also dense with meaning and deliver complex messages such as “Enlightenment” (pictured here), “Glorious Struggle” and “Off the Deep End.”

It’s no surprise that two of Heather’s sculptures were named winners in in this year’s IPCG’s Progress and Possiblities Exhibition.

Thanks to Annie Hooten for sending us to Heather’s updated PurpleDoor site.