Polymer Clay Daily

Polymer Clay Recycles


With the big move toward eco-friendly products, polymer clay artists are once again apologizing for their plastic material. Let’s not be too quick to abandon our craft. Polymer clay is nothing if not adaptable…and we must be too.

We’re experts at recycling! We cover and reclaim tins and glassware. We combine polymer with fibers and found materials. We alter and reuse books.

I’ll be searching out artists who move with, rather than against, the tide of public sentiment and ecological sensitivities.

These recent assemblages from California’s Dotty McMillan illustrate the point. (I love the titles, "Too Much Time on Her Hands" and "Life Has You Nailed Down.") Here’s a recent interview with Dotty.

Mertz’ New Work

Online photo galleries give us the added benefit of tracking how a polymer clay artist’s work is developing. I was startled by the changes in Austria’s Bettina Mertz’ work.

Her June class with Sarah Shriver must have struck a chord and her work became much more detailed and controlled. Next she shows crocheted beads where again she takes to the technique with ease.

Bettina’s combination of new skills are helping her find her voice that shines through her new pieces. Her "blackberry" beads are crocheted combinations of polymer and seed beads that look just like their name. Her polymer clay sand beads are shown here. Her earlier work is shown on her guild’s site here.

Wilfrid Wood Works

England’s Wilfrid Wood sculpts 4" to 12" polymer clay interpretations of people, animals and creatures from his own personal perspective. His pieces may make you laugh or squirm or blush. Part caricature, part fantasy, their unflinching honesty is sure to elicit a response and as Wood says, "…they’re straight from the heart." He talks about his work here.

Wood starts with a pencil drawing then makes a wire armature which he covers with polymer clay. He paints and varnishes the baked clay. Some characters are duplicated in vinyl editions.

Thanks to Susan Lomuto for getting us off to a thought-provoking start this week.

Zilliacus Tapestries

Maryland’s Carol Zilliacus has been a pioneer in polymer clay. Early on, she replicated tapestries, needlework and fabric in clay, cutting and reassembling sheets of clay in unusual ways. Then she began incorporating watercolor and painting techniques into her polymer works.

I still refer to Carol’s article “New Ways to Think About Polymer Clay” that appeared in the April 2001 issue of Bead and Button. She was one of the first artists to play around with Skinner blends, adding colors and shapes in surprising ways. And she continues to play.

Carol’s teaching a class November 18 at Artway and has a video available through the store. Have a playful weekend.

Chandler’s West Coast Muses

Canada’s Gera Scott Chandler is getting ready for her holiday shows with a bevy of new polymer clay beauties. You can follow along and pick up some great tips (check out her unusual vessel price tag design).

She’s about to unveil the redesign of her booth.

For a closer look at Gera’s work, visit her Flickr site. It’s filled with the west coast seaside muses that inspire her.

Cookie Cutter Canes

It’s turning cold. Nearly time for snowflakes. As a kid I loved folding and cutting paper to reveal an endless variety of snowflake patterns.

Sandy from Canada is having a grand time doing the same thing in polymer clay with a simple cane pattern she’s developed. She calls it "cookie cutter caning." I found this post on her site in August.

After a class with Marla Frankenburg in September, Sandy started creating her flakes in translucent clay. This almost makes winter look like fun.

Polymer Clay in Baskets


Another move away from canes and colors. Here’s a polymer clay, waxed linen and acrylic paint basket by California’s Victoria James, her entry in the Great Basin Basketmakers show at the Nevada State Museum this month.

Pawing through Victoria’s site, I found the new website of the Clayville (yes, it’s a real place) guild and had fun looking at their members’ works and sites. A little Tuesday dalliance.

Antique Jewel Replicas in Polymer

Need a break from creating canes and mixing colors? Take a look at the regal bezels and Roman settings that London’s Kotomi Yamamura fashions from gold polymer clay. Her fall line of antique replicas includes a Tudor and a Roman series that retain the chunky, mystical appeal of ancient jewelry.

Though there’s not much information on her technique in English, Yamamura’s sketches give you a good idea of how she works.

Every once in a while I thumb through my copy of "Creating Your Own Antique Jewelry" which is full of photos of antique jewels and ideas on how to replicate them using polymer clay.

Polymer Clay Jewels for Men

We’ve featured two men this week so how about a bit of polymer clay man jewelry?

Leslie Blackford made these pendants which incorporate an ancient arrowhead and a spear point that she found in her area in Kentucky. My husband eagerly added her “modern relics” to his collection of manly polymer bling. See more on her deviant site and take a look at her booth pictures from the recent MakerFaire in Austin.

Wendy Malinow’s husband and boys love to wear her rough exotic pieces. Her brother sometimes wears one of her polymer clay antler cuffs on his bicep for a primitive effect. Very cave man.

Have we spotted a new trend? What polymer pieces are your male customers and the men in your life drawn to?

Susan Lomuto found this terrific link to a "Pins for Men" show at Facere Gallery! What a coincidence! And primitive isn’t the only look, as our commenters point out.

Eliazar and Dali

If you like the art of Salvador Dali, check out the work of Israeli polymer clay artist Reuven Eliazar. At the same time, his coiling technique brings quilling to mind.

Be ready for odd combinations and jarring juxtapositions. He takes a surreal approach to the clay. His plants and butterflies reflect another world. Sometimes it’s good not to be too comfortable.

If you’re a more pragmatic sort, hop on over to Lindly Haunani’s blog. She’s working through a list of her top 100 polymer clay tips. It’s invaluable information. And there’s still time to submit photos to her next book!