Just when we thought Halloween was over, New York’s Nicole Johnson (mealymonster) shows us how we can extend the monster season.
But then Nicole (and plenty of other polymer sculptors) envision monsters lurking around every imaginable event. I can’t conjure up these creatures but I’m fascinated by what fantasies lurk in the minds of other artists.
In my ideal Instagram reality, my studio looks as festive and tidy as Australia’s Evelyn Jay’s. I like the idea of holly leaves and berries on a clean work surface.
Who are we kidding? My festive reality involved tossing strings of lights on the bushes and watching the four-year-old across the street build a snowman. That felt right. Close enough.
But maybe, just maybe, I’ll whip myself up a pair of these cute earrings. It’s an odd season this year and we’re allowed to celebrate in whatever way suits us. Raise your hand, if you’re with me.
My studio isn’t tidy but my hard drive is chock full of gift-wrapped goodies that you can play with every Saturday morning in StudioMojo. Find out what Santa brought us!
Soulth Carolina’s Kathy Koontz (FlowertownOriginals) thanks the pandemic for one of her best sellers this season. Yes, Covid slowed the manufacture and shipping of clay but she didn’t let that stop her as she saw her supplies running low.
Kathy got creative with her scraps. “Whether it’s old canes being reimagined or unsuccessful veneers that I somehow knew to keep, they both found a place in these Christmas sweater ornaments. So thanks corona virus!” There are a few left on Etsy.
You may not be ready for the holidays but Jenny Sorensen (WishingWellWorkshop) won’t let you forget.
What really got me about this cardinal in the snow ornament was the unexpected element — a cinnamon stick perch! She often adds a rock or wood or some other natural element to ground her work.
The polymer is smooth and whimsical. The cinnamon adds a natural and fragrant touch. I love the holiday combo.
Let’s kick off the holidays with these cheeky earrings from UK’s Dani Kirova (temptedbyartjewelry).
We’ve been awfully restrained up to now and Dani’s Santa Gonk Gnome helps us begin to put all the 2020 nonsense in the rearview mirror.
At StudioMojo we’ll be looking at how the holidays will play out with virtual festivals and online sales. Handmade gifts, personalized presents are will be particularly important this year as our priorities shift and we chill in place for the holidays.
We’ll look at what polymer elves are making for Santa season. Need a little shove to shift your attitude? Join us.
Luminous, bright, moving Madonna and Child from Washington’s Susan Hyde.
I’d almost forgotten how much I loved my collection of Susan’s works until I saw that Debbie Jackson had featured Susan’s angels on her Facebook post.
This 7″ Madonna hangs on the wall behind my computer desk and is a perfect polymer touch for a merry PCD Christmas. Here are pendants from Susan’s 2019 collection.
Madrid’s Cristina Garcia Alvarez (espiralarte) says Feliz Navidad with polka dots and extruded strings that wind up to form a delightfully minimalist Christmas tree.
No glitter or glitz just blended pastel color lines and dimensional white dots with a faux wood tree trunk.
UK’s Pete Simpson’s Imps and Things can make you a believer in all kinds of fantastical spirits.
Each imp relaxes in a 10cm diameter frosted bauble that’s ready to hang. “He’s completely guaranteed not to misbehave or cause chaos on your tree when you are not looking!” says Pete.
Watch Pete build his faerie folk on Instagram.
PCD viewers have made me a believer in helpful elves. We quickly met our goal of raising funds to purchase an industrial rolling machine for the polymer students at the Ohio Reformatory for Women.
Even better, the exact machine we were looking for appeared on my porch this weekend from a special secret sprite. Get the whole story tomorrow on PCD.
These bright, cheery trees are from Italy’s Erika Bregani (Centodiecigrad).
Their sharp-edged shapes are covered with happily collaged patterns. Because Erika consistently uses bright colors and strong contrasts in her canes, even the smallest bits play nicely with each other and make sense.
She mixes and matches her earring pairs, putting a tree on one and an ornament on the other.
Tomorrow’s StudioMojo takes a look at some of polymer’s current cutting edge artists who are reflecting current cultural thoughts in their work. Join us for a look at what our work says about us.
Merry Christmas! These Christmas trees from Ludmila Eveeva sparkle with jewels.
They are decorated with rhinestones, Swarovski pearls, and pendants. She tops them with ribbons and stars. Ludmila is an instructor with the Deco Craft Academy in Russia.
Enjoy a touch of elegance with your Christmas coffee and see the rest of her bejeweled polymer decorations on Instagram.
