Polymer Clay Daily

Picking up where I left off

Cynthia Tinapple dusts off old bowls and adds new on PolymerClayDaily
Cynthia Tinapple dusts off old bowls and adds new on PolymerClayDaily

This Mendocino bowl brings back memories. I made it while on vacation with friends in California some years back.

I loved that walnut bowl and its polymer inlaid pattern. The photo is being used to promote an upcoming exhibit of works by seven black and seven white artists.

I decided to revive these lively stripes on a new bowl. Finally, I’m tackling the stack of polymer-ready bowls turned by my husband. The bowls languished in my studio while life got strange and creativity waned.

I’m excited (and nervous). Can I do it again? Come back next week to see. Can you tell that I’m forcing myself to finish this project?

Hold me to it.

Bowling over yourself

LA’s Nomi Isak (nomiisak) combines inclusions and translucent, layers and colors, rough edges and cutouts into a delightful bowl. Rather than carefully exploring each ingredient on its own, she gives them a whirl all at once and it works.

Nomi gets out of her own way. Sounds easy but for some of us, it isn’t.

This week’s StudioMojo is about that same concept. Now more than ever we shuffle fires, storms, wars, worries, and to-do lists into the background. How do you shove all that aside to play? Join us as we find a way.

Molecules and moments

Terri Powell was thinking "molecules" with this throwback bowl on PolymerClayDaily.com

You may see circles joined into a shallow bowl but scientist/clay artist Terri Powell (ArtScidesigns) sees molecules. Though this work was a throwback to 2017, Terri correctly foretold the correct 2020 Pantone colors of gray and yellow.

I’m currently fixated on dots and this piece grabbed me. We all see things differently, don’t we?

I had several “moments” this week when things seemed confusing, then clearer. For better or worse, it’s a turning point. On StudioMojo we’ll look at changes that are clearly emerging and ponder what the future of polymer will bring. Join us for the latest scoop.

Sand-filled scrap polymer

Sand provides structure for Claire Wallis-Dovey's pinch pot on PolymerClayDaily.com

UK’s Claire Wallis-Dovey joined the pinch pot challenge over at the Facebook Polymer Clay Success group with this marbled entry. She used scrap Kato clay to create her bowl shape.

She gently folded the bowl’s excess clay over to form the top surface and left the pot opening raw to add to its rugged look.

Then Claire poured sand into the hole and added a trickle of water to firm the sand. The wet sand allowed Claire to roll the top flat. The sand also kept the flat area from collapsing during curing. She just poured the sand out after it cooled.

Tuck Claire’s idea away for your next bowl.

How color controls the composition

Rocky Antonio small ring dish contains big colors and textures on PolymerClayDaily.com

Watching Australia’s Rocky Antonio (RockyBeads) assemble her compositions with little bits of clays and canes is soothing and deeply relaxing. She works on small objects (this ring dish is one of her larger items).

With judicious use of color and attention to placement, she keeps her small items from becoming too sweet or insignificant.

The muted purple background of this shallow dish holds all the bright colors together and the dimension adds interest. Watch her paint on polymer on Facebook or work with a needle tool on Instagram.

Rocky’s Matryoshka dolls from 2012  on PCD still tickle me (she built them on lockets).

Polymer mosaic entry

Bobbi Fraser Davis enters a local exhibit with her tiger lilies on PolymerClayDaily.com

Kentucky’s Bobbi Fraser Davis finished this lovely entry for the Louisville Artisan Guild Annual Exhibit. She shows a grouping of tiger lilies in pinks and rose colors mosaicked on a 5.5″ square shallow polymer dish in rusts and tans.

It’s time for guild shows and fair exhibits. Go ahead, jump in with your work.

A colorful Monday mystery

Monday is delivered on colorful dishes from fimo.passion.vb on PolymerClayDaily.com

This shallow polymer bowl and plate bring together hot colors, soothing shapes, and perfect patterns. The white edge on the bowl shows itself delicately.

Though it’s hard to tell from the photo, it seems as if the pine needles on the plate are raised…perhaps a Sutton slice.

What I can’t tell you is who the artist is other than Fimo.passion.vb who writes in French. Another Mystery Monday post.

Nailed it!

Christine Kaczmarek shows how metallic oxides like polymer on PolymerClayDaily

Florida’s Christine Kaczmarek dazzled us in the bowl swap with her sparkling 4 1/2″ round shallow swirl bowls. Those of us who don’t keep up with the latest nail treatments couldn’t figure out how she’d achieved such sheen and sparkle. See more on Christine’s Instagram.

Lumiere Lusters and Born Pretty powders are her favorites. Many other metallic oxide powders used in the nail trade are available online. These powders almost jump onto wet nail polish and they are equally attracted to polymer clay. Glass artists use them too.

The fine powders are tricky to work with. Sneezing, heavy breathing, and ceiling fans will make them take flight. But once you get the hang of it, they’re immense fun.

Christine gave us a demo of both the powders and how to construct this swirl pattern. I’m staying up late to edit it into a video for StudioMojo. If you want to know the rest of this shiny story, join us for the weekly update every Saturday morning.