Our Winterfair had only three polymer exhibitors, down a couple from last year. Today I shopped a bit, tomorrow I go back with a camera and get serious.
I limit myself to shopping on one day and devote another to photographing work, examining displays and noting salesmanship, ambience, etc. In my experience, shopping and studying can’t be done at the same time. The ornaments here are again from Columbus’ Sharon Sahl.
Seattle’s Susan Hyde makes the most wonderful polymer fabrics to dress her sassy blondes. Susan is one of those polymer artists who lurks in the background. She’s rarely in shows and sells only locally. You’ll see her work in many books, however.
I’ll hound her to get better pictures so that you can witness the colorful detail in her work.
Perhaps when she retires from her day job in the spring we can coax her into showing us more. In the meanwhile, you’ll have to email her to get in touch.
Here’s a new discovery (new to me anyway) from upstate New York. Loretta Lam calls her work "primitive modern."
Browse her site, Trinkets Gallery, for a selection of very nice work. Thanks to Ronna Sarvas Weltman who alerted us to Loretta’s site.
Humbug…no shopping for me. I’m going to stay home and work on my polymer clay projects. For my money there’s nothing better than a handmade, heartfelt gift. These beautiful bugs are from Babs Young in Michigan.
I’ll admit that I look forward to the holiday art shows (our Winterfair starts later this week) to see what’s new. Let me know what you spot at your local shows….remember to take your camera along.
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While browsing through reports from the Philadelphia Craft Show, I came across this link to a great felt artist. Looks an awful lot like polymer, doesn’t it? See more below. Felt seems to be the new polymer this season.
Below is a picture of felt ornaments from another artist…quilling meets felt which could be polymer. The cross-pollination is great.
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…and just in time for your holiday shopping, Judy Belcher’s new book is out.
From the book jacket – "Polymer Clay Creative Traditions lets both beginners and experienced artisans draw inspiration from painting and drawing, ethnic carving, quilting, ceramics, sculpture, glass, metalwork, and more. Through 300 stunning photographs and fascinating text, author Judy Belcher reveals how these influences can be expressed in polymer clay. Polymer Clay Creative Traditions an invaluable guide to creating works of art that blend a great material of today with the greatest design ideas of yesterday."
Slight disclaimer – my work appears in the book.
If you’re in the mood for something new but not up for a master class, check out Step by Step Jewelry.com. They offer downloads of articles for $4.00.
Petroglyph Polymer Pins by Gwen Gibson, Making Triangle Canes by Steven Ford & David Forlano and several others are available for downloading.
Says Christi Freisen, "As with many artists, I enjoy creating in more than one media, but sculpting suits me best. I have chosen to work primarily in mixed media, embellishing polymer clay with gems, pearls, beads and found objects which are worked into the sculpture while the clay is uncured. I feel this allows for a very organic design. It’s also very interesting joining forces with nature to create something memorable."
Her new Dragons Book is available through her online store.
Found these pictures from the workshops of Dan Cormier and Tracy Holmes on the Northwest Polymer Clay Guild site. The guild reports that, "Dan debuted a new system for creating patterns in polymer clay. After four years of experimenting, Dan shared his latest breakthroughs in surface and veneer design. Simple two-toned canes became the source for an endless collection of intricate patterns, all without any cane reduction. We also explored "Mokume Dan-eh."
The Canadian site, Shades of Clay, is promoting three workshops (two in Canada, one in France) with Dan and Tracy in 2006. Here’s the info in .pdf format or you can contact them at hoco@island.net.
I found pictures from their 2005 workshop in Gloucester online as well. Dan and Tracy are some of those folks that I have to work hard to find on the web.
I thought that I’d soon mine the depths of polymer clay artists online. But I keep finding new exciting discoveries. How did I miss Gloria Askin of Baltimore, Maryland?
Gloria says, "These bright floral forms were inspired by the work of the master glass artist Dale Chihuly and are among my foundational works. I was also inspired by the Yoruba Peoples who believe that the more bright colors you wear the more positive energy you put into the universe."
