Polymer Clay Daily

Polymer fungi

Kim Heeang layers petals of polymer that mimic fungi on PolymerClayDaily

South Korea’s Kim Heeang (9angko) moves us in a more thoughtful direction.

Her delicately assembled pieces take their central theme from mushrooms, fungi hat ware neither plants nor animals. They are everywhere and then disappear without a trace.

You may note that thin petals of polymer are being used more and more. The newer clays allow us to stack paper-thin layers in ways that mimic nature.

Join us over at StudioMojo if you’re interested in how polymer is being used in surprising and unusual ways. Stay on top of the latest trends with a Saturday morning review of the week. 

Captain America appears

Does this happen in your studio at night? Watching this stop motion sculpt of Captain America by Döuyin (@thdrawing) will make you believe it could.

Ok, very silly but I couldn’t stop looping it.

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Made you look!

How does Jana Honnerova roll up blended colors with cracked edges on PolymerClayDaily.com

When I find myself stuck on a photo, I stop and ask why it’s captured my attention.

That’s what’s happening with these rolled-up earrings from Prague’s Jana Honnerova.

Narrow strips of clay in blended colors are rolled up. But look at those cracked edges! And how does she control the color or is it random? You start drilling down into Jana’s methods and it makes you think about her skill, her tricks.

But on top of that is the elegance of these little gems simply stacked on a headpin. Sweet! And that’s what it boils down to. Do your designs make people take a second look? That’s the real trick.

Monday step by step

Kristi Thorndike-Kent and Jen Young walk you through a vibrant blend on PolymerClayDaily.com

When Monday chores won’t allow you to work on your clay, following another artist’s process can be very satisfying. That’s why these step-outs from Washington’s Kristi Thorndike-Kent and Jen Young (GoInsideandclay) are enticing.

The straight strips of color overlap slightly for a beautiful bend. The vibrant blend thins out and then stacks up into sporty stripes. Kristi and Jen share how they arrived at these cutouts that are just a few steps away from finished jewelry.

They make it look so easy! See the in-between steps on their Instagram.

Early Lehocky

An early Ron Lehocky heart for 2020's V-Day on PolymerClayDaily.com

I went way back into PCD archives to pick out my 2020 Ron Lehocky valentine.

This is an early Ron though I’m not sure what year. Maybe he can tell us.

The background dots are black on color. They frame the dimensional heart whose dots reverse to color on black. It’s loose and carefree, probably from before he set his goal of 50,000 hearts.

Ron can make beautiful hearts in his sleep now. This playful version still sings.

Ron will probably reach his goal this year. That’s $500,000 raised for his Kids Center Heart Pin Project. Who better to feature on this day of love?

Art on a heart

Carol Beal paints art on her hearts on PolymerClayDaily.com

Kansas’ Carol Beal (beadunsupervised) was an illustrator and greeting card designer for Hallmark for many years.

If I’m reading right, Carol painted acrylic on polymer for these beauties. They’re loose and fluid. I can’t quite picture how she combined her illustrating skills with polymer to achieve this effect but I love it.

Carol’s hearts are a refreshing and romantic departure from canes, blends, and kaleidoscopes. There are many ways to speak of love.

Walk on the wild side

Margaret Polcawich takes a different tack on PolymerClayDaily.com

Lindly’s fundraising campaign has put me back in touch with artists who usually lurk quietly in the background.

What a treat to get reacquainted with Maryland’s Margaret Polcawich. Her vessels and wall art have a delicate sensibility….reeds blowing in the wind, small tiles thick with color, vessels with spindly legs.

They trigger some part of my brain that says, “Yes…let’s try that!” Visit her site if you need to walk on the wild side.

Sharing the love

Slovenia’s Marijana Grubic heads us back to Valentine’s Day with these shapes silkscreened with love and topped with teensy hearts. Here she is on Facebook.

By combining two veneers bisected by a band of silver on domed shapes, Marijana makes an unusual pendant and earrings beyond the usual hearts and flowers.

It was all about love and caring as we began our fundraiser for Lindly yesterday. Didn’t you feel proud of your art community as they turned out to help Lindly without hesitation? 

Keep spreading the love. Thank you for your generosity!

Get Lindly back on her feet

GoFundMe helps Lindly Haunani get back on her feet on PolymerClayDaily.com

Lindly Haunani has been gravely injured in an accident and we’re raising money for her care. The other driver was jailed and it looks like a very long and complicated road ahead for her.

She has upcoming classes at Clayathon which Maggie Maggio is covering. Lindly also organizes the Shrine Mont retreat in May. She’s a vital part of many events and the community is rallying to fill her very big shoes.

Please trust that any class reservations and finances will be sorted out. Lindly has to put all her energy into getting well. Contact Arlene Groch about Clayathon and Hollie Mion (via Messenger) who will have some Shrine Mont information. Lindly cannot be contacted for these matters right now.

We have set up a GoFundMe for Lindly. You can read details of the accident and more about her circumstances there. We have a generous global community and we are aiming high. Please share the link and donate now. 

Send cards and letters (no calls) to:

Lindly Haunani
C/O Beverly Grover
8201 Hamilton Springs Court
Bethesda, Maryland   20817

Balanced reds

Pat Bolgar balances a bouquet of polymer pods on PolymerClayDaily.com

A splash of red from Ohio’s Pat Bolgar (AccessoryArt) rounds out the week.

Pat perches a tight bunch of delicate pods on silver circles. Their balance and fine details make them a perfect lead in to Valentine’s Day.

Let the reds and the hearts begin! Here’s Pat’s work on Instagram.

How did we get to Friday already? We’ll parse the developments that rocked the polymer world over at StudioMojo tomorrow morning. Join us!