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.
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
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.
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!
You must have one final, tasteful polymer clay Halloween treat this season. French artist Delphine Roche de Montgrand was inspired by another illustrator’s drawing to make this bloody necklace. If you’re looking for a last-minute costume, here it is.
I was snooping around in Susan Lomuto’s Polymer Clay Notes and followed one of her features to this goodie. Montgrand’s site is full of lovely creations. Thanks, Susan.
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These polymer clay FreakMagnets are meant to be displayed on the back of your car. They’re made by Etsy artist, SonofaMother.
He’s from Biloxi, MS and was inspired by traditional African masks. SonofaMother dips liberally into his toolbox for wires and screws to embellish his creations in unusual and clever ways.
The link was sent in by Cassy Muronaka (you’ll find her in these publications) and she purchased the mask/magnet shown here.
The best way to see the exciting polymer clay work by Tokyo polymer clay artist Nagumo Rie is to go to her site. Once there, keep reloading the front page to see nice big photos of her thin, delicate designs. Lovely inspirations to start your week.
I’m desperate for her new book, Polymer Clay Accessories, and am trying to figure out how to get it from Amazon Japan.
In the meanwhile I’ve google-translated and scanned her site and learned that she’s a multi-talented artist who started in textiles and works in PMC and polymer. Her blog is chock full of pictures of her world travels and classes.
I found her link on Alev Gozonar’s Turkish site! There’s more to this globe-spanning story. Stay tuned.
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Maine’s Melanie West resisted the urge to make a face cane until her idea was just right. It was worth the wait. The resulting round beads are cheerful and fun in her new Etsy gallery.
Melanie’s work took a leap forward after her classes in Italy this summer. Take a look at the great translucent earrings she made after taking Louise Cozzi’s workshop. There’s lots of new inspired work on her site.
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I’m pleased to see that many of you are as curious about studios as I am. (Thanks to yesterday’s Betsy Baker for sharing hers.) To continue the theme, here are a few pictures of Sandra McCaw’s small workspace. Sandra’s muse likes a comfy chair too. I like her combination of sage and turqouise wall colors.
Is your studio in the middle of things or hidden away? Are you tidy or is chaos comforting? Do you prefer an open space or a cozy corner? If you’ll send me pictures of your inner sanctum, I’ll share them here from time to time.
And in case you missed this a few months back, there’s a demo of Sandra’s signature cane (pictures taken a mere ten years ago). Oh, and don’t miss her web page.
Boston’s Betsy Baker takes simple polymer clay shapes and gives them an interesting twist as in this necklace with alternating long bi-conal and rounded square beads. Take a look at her offerings on Etsy and her web site.
The neatness extends to Betsy’s studio space where she says she must have a comfortable chair or her muse will refuse to visit.
Betsey’s does a bang up job of distilling her notes from her class with Maggie Maggio in Stresa, Italy. If you want the color smashing crib notes, read Betsy’s blog.
