Here’s a lovely piece by California’s Julie Picarello. The piece hints at Julie’s earlier 20-year career designing integrated circuits with computer-aided design tools. Her unusual use of watch parts is intriguing and her color palettes are inviting. Take a peek. Thanks to "River" for the link.
We sometimes focus only on the safe and ornamental side of polymer clay art. The Extreme Craft blog often looks at more raw and edgy works where we found Canadian artist Shary Boyle.
Boyle uses the "dainty" arts to amplify her own themes of sexuality, transgression, and secret and disturbing worlds that lie beneath the surface. She’s recently moved beyond her porcelain figures into the world of polymer clay, which allows her more spontaneity. Critical, enchanting and at times humorous, Boyle’s work is raw with human vulnerability and dysfunction.
She lives and works in Toronto, spreading her talents between drawing, painting, making projections for musicians like Bonnie Prince Billy and Sonic Youth.
A solo show featuring seven years of Shary’s miniatures will be shown at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery. Read more about her art in this "Broken Pencil" article. Have an exciting weekend.
How is it that "voice" comes through in an artist’s work? This example is from Ivana Molinari Schwab, a Swiss artist who has studied with Kathleen Dustin and Louise Fischer Cozzi and others.
Ivana brings her own emerging voice to experiments such as these Dustin-influenced brooches. She communicates a twist and a laugh in her "color" series. This makes me want to see what’s next and to hear the rest of this promising artist’s story.
How did it happen that the "purple pill" or the "blue pill" came to identify specific medicines that we all recognize? The New Yorker magazine features an interesting article on color in this week’s issue. The power of color certainly has infiltrated our culture.
Chili Pepper was selected by Pantone as the color of the year for 2007. They describe it as, "A bold hue that catches the eye and projects confidence, sophistication and engages our senses. We’re seeing shifts in people’s opinions on current events and major changes in the way they are expressing themselves through new technology. People are open to the possibilities of the future and Chili Pepper celebrates that."
Of course I look to see what our polymer clay pals are showing in the upcoming round of shows like CraftBoston. Check out these earrings by Louise Fischer Cozzi or new bracelets from Elise Winters and works by other familiar names.
Drifting beyond the "jewelry" category is a treat. The fibers are luscious and the mixed media works are playful. Makes me dare to think ahead to spring.
These chunky diva art bangles are from Steven Ford and David Forlano at Charon Kransen Arts. A tour through their slide shows some other new works that look like a significant departure from earlier work with more reliance on metals and other materials. Susan Rose found the link.
Correction: Dan Cormier couldn’t believe his eyes at Ford/Forlano’s work. And he was right. Steven says the gallery attributed several pictures of someone else’s work to them (the enamel and metal works in the slide show). Thanks to Dan for the detective work.
Your new work? The National Guild folks remind us that you have until April 1 to submit your best new work to the guild’s "Progress & Possibilities" juried exhibit. Welcome and good luck to the new officers of the NPCG who have great plans to move the guild forward this year.
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This Flickr link charts the growth of Tatana (Natalia García de Leániz) from Madrid, Spain.
What strikes me about this young artist’s work is that even when she’s taking a class from Dan Cormier or Judy Kuskin or Jeff Dever and the resulting work is naturally derivative, Natalia’s own voice comes through loud and clear.
It’s wonderful that there’s no question that this is not the work of the teacher but rather an homage to the teacher with her own story shining through the design and the palette. It takes confidence to make that happen. Hats off to Natalia as she finds her voice in polymer clay.
I’ve been on a Buna Binge lately. It started with Donna Kato, then Maggie Maggio took it further. A tutorial at Polymer Clay Express shows how to paint it. Now the French are playing with it.
Buna cord can be such a simple solution to stringing and fastening. Here are a couple more examples from those wild French women (Mathilde Brun, Mariane and others). It’s gray here and they perk me right up. Have a lovely weekend.
The Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy takes the guild concept into new, uncharted territory. Not only do their designs reflect a youthful sensibility but they also bring a fresh approach to collaboration. (This piece is by Block Party Press.)
They explain their mission this way, "We are a global group of artists working in polymer clay, and united through Etsy.com which is a shopping site for all kinds of handmade goods."
It may take me a while to explore the site and get my head around the concept. I thought you’d like to take a look too. Susan Rose passed the site along.
Speaking of art in unusual places, check out this link to New York City’s arts for transit from Lindly Haunani and Elise Winters.
Don’t miss the new pix of Kim Cavender’s work (at the bottom of that page) that accompany the descriptions of classes she’ll be teaching in Salem, NH in March.
Her torso pendants, bangles, and sticks and stones look intriguing if you’re in the mood to learn new techniques. Kim’s caning is some of the most refined you’ll find.
Christi Friesen teaches at the same gallery in March. Check the class listings.
A look at Donna Kato’s new personal site will inspire and tire you. All those pets, a whirlwind travel schedule, classes galore, online tutorials and wonderful polymer clay work. Plus the books and the business. And she’s teaching herself how to post it all to the web.
This is a lovely glimpse into how a busy successful artist works. She’s easing up a bit and with any luck, 2007 will be the year she learns to ride. This is a site you’ll want to visit again and again.
Donna’s new book is due out this summer. You can pre-order your copy now.
