Polymer Clay Daily

Covered for the cold

Sarah Wilbanks covers for a cold winter on PolymerClayDaily.com

Seattle’s Sarah Wilbanks mixes her media so I’m only guessing that these earrings are polymer. She often starts with translucent and adds metal leaf.

Sarah says the frosty colors of this pair reminded her of winter. The outer strips hang over the underlying cones like a warm sweater.

Go look at her Instagram and see if you can identify her materials. I’m usually irked when artists don’t name their media but in this case, it’s as if the material is beside the point and I’m cool with that.

No two the same

No two of Wanda Shum's snowflakes are alike on PolymerClayDaily.com

These samples are from Victoria, B.C.’s Wanda Shum. She usually uses her cane slices to cover teapots and make bowls and jewelry. Now for an ornament class.

Her Papercut Snowflake Cane workshop brings back fond memories of creating snowflakes from folded paper. Wanda’s method also appeals because it allows you to control the chaos of a kaleidoscope cane.

You’ll find more samples on Instagram and on Facebook.

Boffo color

David Forlano prepares pops of color for the Philadelphia show on PolymerClayDaily.com

Boffo colors from Santa Fe’s David Forlano start our Monday off on the right foot with this photo on Instagram.

Color is the first thing we see as our eyes skitter over the simple patterns. Everything is contained within big silver bezels that become earrings.

You might expect fancy techniques but they are loose and playful and ready for the upcoming Philadelphia show November 2-4.

You’ll spot Bonnie Bishoff and Lindsay Locatelli at the show as well.

Finishing your homework

Elizabeth Hamilton's quilt bowls help her remember what she learned on PolymerClayDaily

North Carolina’s Elizabeth Hamilton turned her veneers from Lindly Haunani’s class into these charming square dishes.

This week PCD has featured homework of students from a variety of classes and tutorials. Finishing your homework and turning what you’ve learned into a finished product is often a struggle.

The benefits of persisting are worth it. Not only do you have a tangible memory of the event, but you also cement the process firmly in your fingers and your brain.

Hungry for more? Jump on over to StudioMojo and join the growing group of polymer fans who are figuring out how to put more of themselves in their art. 

Tempted by tribal

Tribal echoes resonate with Dani Kirova on PolymerClayDaily.com

UK’s Dani Kirova (temptedbyartjewelry) has been feeling tribal with a series of masks and images.

You’ll find shield shapes, geometric ethnic caned patterns and echoes of Africa in her works on Instagram. Whether she’s carving or caning, these images are strongly imprinted on her spirit.

They jump out from her other works. Instagram’s presentation of many pieces at a glance give you a quick overview of work and allow themes to emerge.

 

Polymer persistence and style

Lucie Blaauw brings her own voice to each class on PolymerClayDaily.com

The Netherlands’ Lucie Blaauw has taken classes from an impressive list of polymer artists. This recent necklace and earrings set is from a Nikolina Otrzan tutorial.

If you click through Lucie’s Instagram photos you’ll see her style change and her techniques improve as she continues to explore. Her works have become bolder and more dramatic and she injects what she creates with her own voice, no matter whose methods she’s trying.

Best of all, she finishes a piece in each workshop so she can track her progress. Most of us have a drawer full of abandoned efforts. You’ll like her style and love her persistence.

Mokume gane magic

Kay Burns discovers mokume gane in a Carol Simmons workshop on PolymerClayDaily.com

This big reveal is from Kay Burns (beadhappyshop), a student in Carol Simmons’ weekend class in Ireland.

Carol teaches her own distinct way of stacking and mark-making that results in dense and jewel-like layers. There’s something exciting about the first slice through the layers and then there’s the excitement of figuring out how to make use of every lovely bit of magic.

Fancy polymer acorns

Perfectly autumnal acorns from Kathy Koontz on PolymerClayDaily.com

South Carolina’s Kathy Koontz (FlowertownOriginals) gathered up a stash of these exotic looking acorn tops from under a burr oak tree (in a Michaels parking lot). What would any self-respecting polymer artist do with such a fabulous find?

She’s put these colorful and properly topped acorns on Etsy to decorate someone else’s window sill for fall. I am so very tempted to snatch them up, aren’t you?

Blue Yonder in polymer

Lyn Tremblay explores the Blue Yonder in polymer for a group art show on PolymerClayDaily.com

Ontario’s Lyn Tremblay takes painting with polymer in a different direction with her Blue Yonder, a 12″x12″ square abstract for a group show, Art with Panache. Colors collide, textures bump into each other, layers reveal and hide each other. Lots of energy here!

Lyn’s painting fits in nicely with this week’s StudioMojo discussion about what it means to bring joy to your workspace. We’ll consider what we like to look at and live with and why. Come on over and join us for a little bit of Saturday morning joy.  

Slow show, new work

La Perle Rouge found a new way to work at a slow show on PolymerClayDaily

France’s La Perle Rouge admits in a post that one of her shows was not well attended so she kept herself busy making canes and visiting nearby thrift stores.

Voila! A new way of working!

Unleashed from her usual setting, she sliced thick cane pieces and formed them into cuplike shapes that she arranged on the thrift shop finds. The results have a happy and unconstrained look.

We could use your help with the artist’s name which we couldn’t find on either the La Perle Bijoux site or Facebook page.

Thanks to PCD reader Aims Abson for the link!