Wiwat Kamolpornwijit showed his latest petal necklaces at an art fair in Orlando before moving on to Houston, Atlanta and then Washington.
The curved petals fold over gracefully to reveal alternating patterned surfaces. Wiwat is known for his geometric construction tricks.
This feels like a new venture into more lyrical designs. Zoom in for a closer look on Facebook.
This gorgeous chunky collar from Chicago’s Marina Rios (fancifuldevices) includes thirty-one handmade polymer clay beads with textures, pits, facets, and inclusions in a soft array of greens and pinks graduated in size from large to small.
To ensure a smooth visual transition between beads Marina created special spacers including vintage rhinestone rings and gemstone rondelles. The necklace is adjustable from 19 to 21 inches.
As I composed this post, her lovely spring-like necklace sold on Etsy but have a look anyway.
Marina shares some of her methods in tutorials. If you’re thinking about making faceted beads, review her free step-by-steps here on Instagram.
Texas’ Adriana Allen (adrianaallenllc) has concocted a secret sauce for her new Nebula and Sunset earrings. She adds very bumpy grunge over great colors and amplifies the effect with a dash of gold.
Polymer artists continue their tradition of camouflaging the material with finishes that beg to be examined more closely. The trend is exciting and encourages lots of experimentation. Seems we’re getting bolder.
StudioMojo (the weekend newsletter) offers 6 tips for talking about our work. We look at the latest products that will help us mix up our own signature finishes and refine our personal aesthetic. Join us!
Colorado’s Ann Kruglak (MysticDreamerArt) has helped save thousands of acres of rainforest with her polymer art. She has donated 100% of her earnings since 2010 to the Rainforest Trust.
The project allows Ann to put her money where her mouth and her heart are. At the same time, her art has taken leaps forward as she has created hundreds of pieces of wall art and jewelry. Her colors have grown brighter and her textures deeper on clearly defined shapes to match her energetic retro patterns.
Ann is passionate about both her art and her service project. She sends each piece off with prayers of peace. It’s a win-win use of time and talent. Here she is on Instagram. Thanks, Ann.
Kansas’ Carol Beal (beadunsupervised) hits a sweet spot with this layered pendant. What grabs you? The glowing color? the intersecting lines? The overlapping shapes? Note how the cording color is repeated in a slim sliver on the edge of one layer.
The red stripe finds its way to very small bead at the bottom. Distress on the edges adds an allure too.
Don’t you love the idea of working “unsupervised” with only your very arty self suggesting what to try next? It works for Carol as you can see on Instagram and Flickr.
Utah’s Jana Roberts Benzon can’t stop carving polymer and now she understands why. Jana explains.
This newest mash-up of my carving and murmuration techniques has been rewarding, As I was making these small arrangements I realized that something felt very familiar. For 20 years, I had my own floral design company! Assembling these new little gardens woke up some old muscle memory from my floral work. There it was, ready for service! The body doesn’t forget. Those things we practice lie in wait for later use.
Textiles, illustration, painting, cooking and other crafts we’ve loved can imbue works with our history. What echoes from your past reappear in your designs?
Virginia’s Christine Harris has built a growing body of work about change, including this Transmutation which is one of her works on exhibit at Lemon Tree Gallery.
Being both a sculptor and an art therapist, Christine welcomes change and has a strong interest in art as a vehicle that makes growth possible. As a child, she was deeply affected by her trips to the cemetery every week with her great-grandmother.
That helps explain why she is drawn to mythology, nature, the animal world, and scary movies. Learn more in this YouTube video, on Facebook and her blog.
As you approach spring, are ideas of growth and the changes it brings appearing in your work?
Switzerland’s Anouk Stettler (Habetrot) looks like she’s having fun as she bends and twists ropes of polymer into earrings like these.
She explains, “I make costume jewelry. I do not use gold, silver, and gems. I am not a goldsmith. My works are made of polymer clay, leather and brass – beautiful to look at and memorable for its wearer. Its value lies in the individuality, the creative process and the time I invest in each piece.” Get Anouk’s full effect on Instagram.
After pushing ourselves toward increasingly complex shapes and techniques, it’s good to circle back to simple and delightful ideas.
If you’re looking for more info about the quirky and weird paths your fellow artists are taking, join us at StudioMojo on Saturdays where we gather the most interesting ideas, tools, and trends I run into so that you can round out your polymer education. Join us!
We love to search Artful Home from time to time to see if polymer is on target and selling in the trendy online places. Louise Fischer Cozzi’s target earrings are light and balanced. Look over her full line and be sure to note all her clever connections.
We want to stay on target for fundraising for the Namaste Tour too. Hop on over to the angels in the right column and donate in any amount. Ron Lehocky has a supply of Samunnat angels ready to fly off to your home. Contact him at rlehocky@bellsouth.net
Becoming an Instagram follower of SammunatNepal is another way to show them you’re watching and supportive. Thank you!
Virginia’s Melissa Terlizzi takes us to the jungle with her polymer Safari Portraits. On the finished piece, Melissa included two more portraits – a giraffe, and an elephant – onto the finished canvas.
She sculpts mostly wildlife and mostly for home decor, with a real fondness for her subjects and an understanding of their habitats. Note how she pulls the viewer into her scenes with layers of interest and loads of surprising details. What could have been a good animal portrait makes you part of a story.
