Melanie West’s newest polymer clay life form needs a name. This undulating orange pod is the newest in her Bio series which has been inspired by nature’s extravagant forms, colors and patterns.
Perhaps this piece appeals to me because it looks like a psychedelic soft serve ice cream cone.
Click through the rest of Melanie’s flora and fauna inspired collection (plus her Trunkt gallery here) and help her name this baby.
The Path from Nothing to Something is the title of an article on Tory Hughes in this month’s Ornament magazine. Tory’s path usually leads to new levels of play, experiment and expansion and it should be a good read.
If the article and the delicious photos aren’t enough, you may want to consider Tory’s creativity retreat, Perception and Play, in France this fall. The two basic concepts of the retreat are:
Doesn’t that sound enticing? Find all the details here.
Jana Roberts Benzon has tidied her website and added new polymer clay works that draw upon her past life as a florist.
Inspiration from a post in the DailyArtMuse got her started. A picture from BlockPartyPress moved her further. It’s a perfect example of last week’s buzz about source materials. You can read more about where Jana took it from and see where she’s taking it to on her site.
And speaking of new things, DaMuse also found some wonders in Kathleen Dustin’s new pod series on Kathleen’s site.
Sandra McCaw‘s new stunning falling leaves series hasn’t been posted on her web site yet and I couldn’t wait to share this lovely work. Her slideshow on the Crafthaus site includes Sandra’s new polymer clay pieces exquisitely photographed by Hap Sakwa.
The balance and symmetry perfectly mimic leaves floating on a breeze. Sandra pairs the tight geometric canes for which she’s known with shibori-like washes of color.
Judy Dunn gave me a shout out about the new pictures.
Meisha Barbee’s studio and store back up to the San Diego Zoo. Early Thursday morning she treated us to a walk through the zoo’s rain forest and we were thrilled to see an exotic pheasant’s colorful plummage revealed (see our video) in his mating dance. Meisha went on to work and we continued through the zoo.
When we met hours later Meisha had composed this cane based on our pleasant pheasant experience. I took a few quick snaps of her work in the Spanish Village shop she shares with her brother and sister-in-law. I’m still nagging her about her lack of a web presence. Here’s an earlier post about her work.
I’ll catch up with you and all my email next week. Have a colorful weekend.
I stumbled on Lisa Pavelka’s spiffy new site as I was looking for the lowdown on the second Cabin Fever Fest (looks like it was a smash). Lisa’s site showcases her growing line of polymer clay tools and products.
I also rediscovered Kelly Russell (beadfuddled.com). Kelly’s first love is precious metal clay and I’d overlooked her dazzling polymer clay work which has been included in many books and magazines.
Start your week with their colorful inspirations and the latest tools and techniques.
“A little of this and a little of that,” is how Donna Kato describes her gallery of polymer clay work. Recently she added these music pieces. They were titled that by her mother who said simply, “They look like music.”
The making of a president
You must go and see Julie Eakes’ Obama cane. His poster begged to be translated into polymer and Julie did it beautifully. (Here’s an earlier post about Julie.)
Have a harmonious weekend.
Feldman’s Iphones
One more thing…as long as we’re examining canes, take a look at Barb Feldman’s Iphone polymer clay cane earrings which were featured in a CNET post. The editors don’t know whether to love or hate them but they sure are intrigued and the link to her Etsy site is an online merchant’s dream.
Dayle Doroshow’s polymer clay and fabric brooches are part of her larger body of works inspired by her visits to the gardens at Versailles Palace. The bottom layer of petals (see the back of a brooch here) and the center of the flowers are polymer.
Her bracelets on a fabric band (part of the same theme) were a hit with all who saw them and I scored one for helping her spiff up her web site.
I’m in travel mode and gravitated to this polymer clay postcard from Dayle Doroshow. I’ll be hanging out with her and if anyone can wake up my muse and kick-start my mojo, it’s Dayle. Go visit her site and you’ll see what I mean.
For more travel vibes, go to Tory Hughes site. Navigation, travel, and stamps figure prominently in many of her works. With any luck, we’ll run into her while we’re on vacation too.
Ronna Weltman’s polymer clay brooch called “Three-Ring Circus” seemed an appropriate feature today in the middle of our country’s craziness.
This crisp .pdf sneak peak at Ronna’s new book on polymer clay and wire is the perfect thing to distract your thoughts and brighten your day. Ancient Modern is coming out from Interweave Press in the spring.
“As much as I enjoy making art, I probably get more joy teaching and helping others find their voice in art and jewelry,” says Ronna. Check out her class schedule.
