Polymer Clay Daily

Theory meets reality

Sue Wartell's student piece from a Lindly Haunani master class on PolymerClayDaily

Our master class with Lindly Haunani exhilarated us to exhaustion. She wraps color theory and head-slapping tricks and her years of experience into a two-day blitz of information and exercises.

This piece from Ohio’s Sue Wartell is a lovely one of many examples created by students in the last couple hours of class. But more importantly, we understood the how and why of what we were doing. It’s no wonder that many students in the class were back for a second time. Learning from a polymer master is a heady experience.

My poor brain needs a well-earned rest.

Mixing spring in your hands

Clare Lloyd celebrates spring with soft seasonal colors on PolymerClayDaily.com

UK’s Clare Lloyd mixes up spring colors that make us breathe in lilacs and peonies, closing our eyes to exhale.

One of the true pleasures of polymer is the ability to create spring right in your hands. Color mixing is a particularly satisfying studio chore this weekend.

Speaking of studio chores, our class will be mixing colors galore with Lindly Haunani. What a week it was for StudioMojo research. I can’t believe how many spring goodies I found. Come on over and celebrate spring with us.

Blooming spring

Tracy Feldwick's bloom opens on PolymerClayDaily.com

How do I know spring has sprung? There are delicious colors all over including this pod from Australia’s Tracy Feldwick (Mimosa Muse on IG and Twitter)

But wait, March isn’t Spring in Australia! Ah, this was posted several months ago. That explains.

She mixes patterns inside and out. Her stamen are gaining color as they grow. Spectacular.

Spring shapes and colors

Cecilia Leonini blends inks into a spring fantasy of color on PolymerClayDaily

Thinking of spring? This pendant from Italy’s Cecilia Leonini (ImpastArte) says it all – fresh colors, delicate lines, light flowery shapes. Here she is on Instagram.

Cecilia is teaching her Comic and Chopped techniques at an April 13 workshop in Turin sponsored by Staedtler.

Cecilia Leonini blends inks into a spring fantasy of color on PolymerClayDaily

Her background is in illustration so drawing smooth blends and fine lines with inks on raw polymer suits her just fine and delights the rest of us.

Monika Busch stacks punchy colors on big hole beads on PolymerClayDaily.com

Germany’s Monika Busch (Efmoni) tells us that, ” I like to be inspired by artists like Mucha, Hundertwasser, Monet, and Klimt. The luminosity of colors and strong contrasts fascinate me.”

But you already sensed that, right?

Monika Busch stacks punchy colors on big hole beads on PolymerClayDaily.com

Monika makes big hole beads and buttons, many of them a variation on the Bettina Welker cane into which Monika injects great colors that wake up your Monday.

Mardi Gras dancing polymer

Laura Tabakman wins the prize and gets the party started with her Mardi Gras on PolymerClayDaily.com

Pennsylvania’s Laura Tabakman won both Best of Show Members’ Choice and
Best of Show Jurors’ Choice prizes in this year’s IPCA Awards competition. 

Entitled Mardi Gras, Laura’s pieces are carefully balanced so that the slightest breeze brings the party swaying to life.

The 16 separate units each have delicate polymer vessels 1/2″ to 1 1/2″ tall which are suspended on steel wires drilled into islands made of flooring material.

The units take up a 20″ x 16″ x 9″ space but the grouping can be reconfigured in many different ways.

Over at StudioMojo, we take a closer look at these and other outstanding works that inspire us. Plus we’ll cover tools, trends, and classes aimed at nurturing your creative spirit and pursuing your unique and crazy ideas. 

Designs for every mood

Tennessee’s Susan Dyer captures polymer in silver bezels. The backs are textured so that if you’re not feeling colorful, you can turn them over and opt for textured silver instead.

Though she’s stayed away from the big shows of late, you can still find her on Etsy and she’s popular on Pinterest.

Since social media was acting up on Wednesday, I dipped back into the archives. Susan’s been creating these beauties for years and they’re still perfectly in style. Good to know!

Art deco spring

Eried's earring blooms will make you believe in spring again on PolymerClayDaily

Greece’s Eri Dimitriadi (Eried) restores our faith in spring with these ocean blue earring dangles. She calls them art deco. You may see them as spring blooms.

 

Eri is a full-time architect and part-time polymer artist. She has a delicate touch and a spare, architectural sensibility. If these grab you, you’ll want to see more on her Instagram.

Dustin’s students’ purse beginnings

Kathleen Dustin students sculpt their purse shapes on PolymerClayDaily

What is so soothing about the golden shapes from students in Kathleen Dustin’s purse class in Georgia? The forms have a round-edged, ponderous, shape that puts me in mind of Henry Moore sculptures.

This “before” shot may make you scurry over to the Creative Journeys Facebook to see the “after” shots here.

The student work gives me “class envy.” You too? It’s almost spring and time to wake up our spirits with a class.