Balancing act


Olga Lednova's balancing act on PolymerClayDaily.com

Maybe this complex piece from Russia’s Olga Lednova appeals because it mirrors the weekend. There’s a lot going on! Houseguests, friends, family, work!

Note the textures, colors, graduations, patterns, layers and a slight shift in size. If we’re very lucky, all the things we balance in our lives come together as well as Olga’s.

See more of Olga’s balancing act on Instagram and Flickr. She’ll be teaching at this year’s Polymer Week.

That’s what the contact form is for

Linda Martin leans into her first wall art and is surprised on PolymerClayDaily

Michigan’s Linda Hoffman Martin bravely submitted her first piece of wall art to PCD via the contact form.

This lovely wire and polymer leafy shadow box reminds me of how grateful I am when artists like Linda take a risk and send a link.

She first put the piece up on the FB Hooked on Polymer group because she was proud of it. When hundreds of others agreed with her, she was surprised and emboldened to try for a wider audience.

If that little voice in your head says, “You’ve got something here!” take a chance and spread your work around. The validation can do wonders for your mojo.

Yes, that’s my cue to tell you that StudioMojo, the weekend newsletter, is another way to push yourself in new directions and shore up your enthusiasm. We’d love to have you join us. 

100 tiles tell the story

Angie Wiggins tells the story of 100 days in 4x4 tiles on PolymerClayDaily.com

Angie Wiggins assembled the results of her 100-Day Challenge into one 40″ x 40″ tribute to tenacity.

Her tiles cover a wide range of subject matter, styles, and techniques. Each one records her unmistakable marks and colors.

Now that you’ve seen the work of 100 days in its entirety, visit her Instagram and Facebook to look at each tile and appreciate the whimsey, the detail and the delight she took in each day’s theme.

Flower pot

Arieta Stavridou makes an unusual flower pot on PolymerClayDaily.com

Arieta Stavridou’s polymer-covered teapot moves away from the usual cane-slice covered pot and turns toward sculpture. Her son has dubbed it a Flower Pot.

See this pot from all vantage points on Facebook and enjoy her whole stash of teapots on her BigFish page.

Round and round polymer

Jana Lehmann winds up with a winner on PolymerClayDaily.com

Germany’s Jana Lehmann begins your week with cheery circles of extruded strings of polymer that wind up happily next to each other.

Well, at least most of the strands are extruded. I’m scratching my head about the patterned ones. See for yourself on Instagram.

Altogether the mix of geometrics forms an eye-catching abstract pendant or brooch.

Culture in clay

Rashmi's miniature portraits speak clearly on PolymerClayDaily.com

This polymer sculpture from India’s Aura Figurines (via Ginger Davis Allman) has a liveliness that’s unusual and compelling… and a little mysterious.

We only know the artist as Rashmi on Twitter. If you discover more about Rashmi, let me know.

While we know we’re a worldwide community, it’s still fascinating when you see how culture and spirit come through the clay. How does she do that?

Friday is StudioMojo writing day so I’ll leave this mystery in your good hands so I can concentrate on organizing the intriguing topics and tidbits that float by us each week. There’s always much to uncover and bring to you. Join us at StudioMojo.org for all the weekend juicy bits.

Summer palette

Anna Nel's colors take you to the beach on PolymerClayDaily.com

If you’re looking for sunshine and summer colors, head on over to Anna Nel’s site.

Anna Nels grasshopper bodies on PolymerClayDaily.com

This beachy combination of layered luminous beads on a necklace wire has become the header on her Facebook.

On Instagram, you can see a whole range of her work and let the colors wash over you.

Anna’s working on some grasshoppers and the canes at right will make stunning bodies.

Layers of polymer ruffles

Victoria Mkhitarian shows us new ways with her ruffles on PolymerClayDaily.com

New Zealand’s Victoria Mkhitarian’s newest framed art makes me want to run my fingers across its many layers of pale polymer, copper and acrylic paint. She calls her series Ruffles and this closeup on Facebook gives you a better understanding of its construction.

Her Flickr photos also give you a good look at her delicate and luminous works.

Victoria Mkhitarian shows us new ways with her ruffles on PolymerClayDaily.com

The layers in her Ruffles1B (right) incorporates the same thin strips of polymer arranged vertically. In this piece, the layers are tinted with alcohol inks and she omits the copper layers.

Victoria frames these delicacies in deep shadow boxes. Yep, I’m gushing over ruffles!