Have you got a “thing” for dots? Join the crowd. Slovenia’s Petra Volavšek (oceana_jewelry) is one of us!
She gathers her dots into many configurations, making them collide in an unending array of patterns. Monochrome or multicolored dots in a variety of sizes cluster to form jewelry with soothing patterns that look like they may have escaped from a chemistry lab. Let’s see where she takes her experiments next.
This darling tree made from a stack of polymer clay circles is a reminder to me courtesy of the Whimsical Bead in Australia.
Every year I tell myself to make some ornaments and every year time gets away from me. Something about these is so simple and light-hearted and yes, easy. And dots are very in.
I count 27 circles in 4 colors. Yikes…but only half of them require painted dots or stripes. And some circles are the same size.
Ok, I’m getting my Tuesday night girls together in the studio for a session. String circles onto a wire, slap a star on the top and we’re done. My friends swear they’re not artists but for an evening, I’ll persuade them otherwise.
Check out the other color palette Dani offers in her kits.
California’s Linda Brooks scooped up the brightest circles – the ones that didn’t have proper mates during her spinner earring production.
Look at how nicely they all play together as a necklace. Her textile-like sketchy patterns threaded on a red string turn any outfit into party attire.
California’s Sarah Shriver sounds tentative when she talks about her new collection of painted circle necklaces. She’s been a polymer artist for decades and this minimalist style is a departure. One admirer said the circles reminded her of tiddlywinks, the kids’ game.
Sarah’s complex cane work and signature color palette have been distinctive. But the past year and now fear of wildfire have shifted her thinking. She has to be able to move at a moment’s notice. She’s pared down.
These circles painted with layers of Genesis and strung on silk thread contain Sarah’s same rich and luscious colors but with a nod to efficiency and minimalism.
She’s also been refining mobiles and hollow translucent beads and more. Her new directions reflect the smart, adaptive strategy that our times require.
These joined circles from Texas’ Myranda Escamilla (shapeandformstore) are trendy with some twists. The carving on the lighter circles reveals a flash of hot pink beneath. And the speckles in the clay add another element of interest.
Add to that, the slight twist, like a flirty turn of the head, as the circles link.
And who can resist the juicy dark purples? Lots of care and quirky personal touches will add loads to the allure of your work.
This week’s StudioMojo brings you a conversation with Kathleen Dustin who’s cutting back on her shows and production work. But from the sound of the new classes and projects she’s dreamed up, she won’t be binge-watching tv anytime soon. Join us for the complete scoop.
“Not too big, not too small,” says Colorado’s Phyllis Cahill of her newest collection of layered circle earrings.
Script from a French poem, a leaf pattern, vintage flowers, copper discs, echoes of William Morris patterns – all combined into restful, layered combinations with subtle references to other times.
This is no Lady Gaga dove splashed across her chest. This is about comfort and calm and a throwback to nature and history. Ahhh.
And “just right” is what we’ll be looking for on StudioMojo this weekend. Heidi Helyard joins us for a video conversation about the Australian scene. Heidi is a force there and we’ll hear how she built her business, balanced her life, and how she follows US politics. Join us.
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.
Virginia’s Wiwat Kamolpornwijit calms his jittery nerves with a new spring line. This bracelet with magnetic closure reads differently depending on your perspective.
Patterned circles bend to reveal black and white graphics. “I’m too tired of being worried,” says Wiwat. “I started getting my hands on polymer again, and it really helped getting my mind in the right place.”
Would your mind feel better if your hands started moving?
A jolt of color propels us through the week. This one is an award winner from France’s Alabala Bijoux (I couldn’t find her name). It was named the winner in round one of the Lucy Clay Cutters Challenge for October.
You can’t lose with circles and she shows us how with cane slices of several sizes, colors and gradations layered on a base. It’s a cheerful and energetic piece to help us round out the week.
