Polymer Clay Daily

Polymer clay balance

Many things have changed in our world this week which has drawn me to polymer clay designs that match my off-balance mood and introduce me to new concepts.

England’s Christine Dumont introduces her two collections (ossocopia and cellularia) which are strangely beautiful. I like the offset beads surrounding this pendant. There’s much more on her site. (Thanks to Loretta Lam for the heads up.)

And then from the Dutch “Girls Next Door” site comes this multi-strand necklace that combines large and small beads. Marjon and Saskia and their friends (the purple beads are from friend Jellina) have compiled projects that run the gamut from imaginative stringing ideas to a faux-Burberry cane and scarab bracelets.

Enjoy finding your balance this weekend.

Levine puts polymer in the kitchen

Philadelphia’s Emily Squires Levine has launched a new site that showcases her decorative tiles built with a polymer clay base covered in a two-part resin. Durable and heat resistent, these tiles can be used as kitchen backsplashes or as coasters. She’s also drawn to polymer clay bowls and eggs.

Frustrated with the early clays’ stiff consistency, Levine gave up caning for a few years and was delighted when she returned to softer reformulated clays. Says Levine, “My next goal is to create a larger piece, combining multiple tiles which are connected visually through color, pattern and shape.”

Thanks to Martha Aleo for introducing us to Emily’s new site.

Mathews’ polymer clay audacity

Georgia’s Lisa Mathews called it with her polymer clay image of Barack Obama. Her African-American characters exhibit lots of hands-on-hips attitude and style.

“My work is generational, past and present,” she says, “It reflects the tremendous love I have for this culture and the pride I have for the strength and perseverance of its people. I endeavor to use my artistic gift to create sculpted images that capture the spirit and essence of a people who through great trials and tribulation have birthed traditions of family, faith, social contributions and human conscientiousness that are the foundation of our existence.”

Askin’s color philosophy

Gloria Askin’s polymer clay creations are colorful, free-wheeling and fun-loving. The necklace to the left is entitled, “Color Me Happy.” She’s added some new pieces to her web site.

In her artist statement she says, “Much of my inspiration comes from my extensive travels throughout the world. My love of color is best expressed in the Yoruba belief that the more colors you wear (or, I believe, use in art), the more positive energy you are putting into the universe.” Makes me want to learn more.

Polymer clay flash drives

This polymer clay covered flash drive speaks to my inner geek. Manila’s Aileen of ClayCreations and her two sisters have carved out a nice niche making custom designed drives as well as whimsical charms, figures, cake toppers and more.

The flash drives created for one couple’s wedding (Karl and Mimi) figure prominently in their wedding video. Watching it was a fun way to kick off the week.

The link came to us from Ruth Ann Husted via gadgenista.com.

Second Look – Marcia Palmer, Loretta Lam

Let’s catch up with a couple of artists that we haven’t heard from in a while. Niche Award winner Loretta Lam hasn’t had time to update her site so she sent PCDaily some of her most recent work for you to enjoy. Her polymer clay jewelry is in a NYC gallery and she’s been thrilled to hear local customers say, “Didn’t I see your work on Madison Avenue?”

Marcia Palmer has refined and expanded her ethnic looking ivories, chunky bracelets and stamped switchplates since we last visited her. She has a bold, decorative style comes through no matter what technique she uses or what item she embellishes. I subscribe to her “Home is where the art is” philosophy. Thanks to Ronna Weltman for reminding us to look Marcia up.

NOTE: In an attempt to improve those slow load times and ditch the nuisance hackers, I’ve moved PCDaily to a new host where a person answers the phone and the head geek is a polymer clay artist’s husband (thanks, Barbara). Got to purge the gremlins this Halloween. Have a gremlin-free weekend.

Bogosian’s polymer puzzles

New Jersey’s Helena Bogosian is a polymer clay illustrator with two new books coming out next week. If you’re a puzzle person of any age, you’ll love solving her matching problems, finding hidden pictures, and working your way through her mazes. Extruded clay strings maked great tangled webs.

These two books, Clay Quests: Hidden Picture Puzzles and Clay Quests: Maze Magic, are the first in a series published by Sterling Publishing. You can view samples at her site.

Newfry’s journals

Geraldine Newfry has added this polymer clay covered book to her site. You’ll see more of her work not only on her Etsy site but also in the new Lark book, 500 Handmade Books.

Geraldine explains her interest in blank books, “I have journals dating back to the second grade. Mostly they are filled with angst and silly ramblings, but I love looking back on them. I had worked with polymer clay for ten years before I took a book binding class on a whim. Once I realized I could connect my polymer art and my first love, there was no looking back.”

Lopez del Prado’s polymer clay adventures

Barcelona’s Elvira Lopez Del Prado mixes her media and works with polymer clay in unconstrained ways. Her use of color is refined and her designs are exhuberant. She dabbles with many polymer clay techniques and comes up with some brilliant pieces like the stunning red beads below (transfers? stamps? canes?).

She’s equally adventurous with felt, wire, fabric, paper and resin and her fearless approach is just what I need to start my week in the studio. She shows her work on several sites and you’ll want to visit them all here, here and here.