Polymer Clay Daily

Faux bohemian batik

This Bohemian Nouveau mixed media wall piece by Heather Campbell leads us down her unusual polymer path. She tends toward large, ornate mixed media pieces that tell fanciful stories.

Heather says, “I am drawn to the wandering nontraditional nature of the Bohemian, which is evident in the shapes and layers of color and the intermingling of techniques. I am captivated by the beautiful flowing scrolls, floral motifs and distinct design elements of the Art Nouveau era. Together they seem to merge into a style and feeling that reflect my own life experience.”

The background on this piece is done with a faux batik polymer technique that Heather details in an article that was published in the July issue of Art Jewelry Magazine. You can download the template (shown at the right) for Heather’s sample batik from the magazine’s website.

Adding color

Edgar Hernandez’ world is inhabited by red-nosed Santa or W.C. Fields-like characters who combine cranky, sad and amusing traits. This piece, Adding Color to My Life, is from his Lost Kingdom series of mixed media pieces that combine paintings and polymer sculptures, each representing the lost, lonely feelings that we all experience from time to time.

Edgar Hernandez was born in Mexico and has been a musician, sculptor and animator since moving to the U.S. See more of his work on his Etsy site and Facebook page. The link was passed along by Etsy polymerist, Marcia Palmer.

Letting polymer do the heavy lifting

Celie Fago admits that the high cost of silver was inhibiting her work until she asked herself, “Why not take this as a challenge and let the other materials do the heavy lifting?”

In response she began remaking heavy clasps and other carved solid silver pieces out of polymer embellished with little bits of metal clay.

Here you see one of her signature Ouroboros toggle clasps as she used to make it and as she’s making it now. She’s one of a growing number of artists who are using the rise in prices to nourish their creativity and revisit polymer clay. Read her full explanation. See more of her polymer/metal work in her Etsy shop.

Tending your garden

How does your garden grow? Illinois’ Zuda Gay Pease creates wearable polymer dahlias, sunflowers and other garden delights that require no weeding. She’s added leaves and buds to her line of pendants and beads. Enjoy this summer weekend.

Mix and match harmony

Two new names for you today. The colors Angela (claynine) and Kim Peters used blend beautifully with PCD’s colors and may give your week a harmonious start.

These new works will keep you occupied while I take my grandson to the airport. Our lovely visit is over and it’s back to work/play.

The faux ceramic necklace above is from the UK’s Angela. I like the variety, dimension and color of this piece and its fanciful, “no worries” approach.

Kim Peters is a Pennsylvania mixed media kind of girl whose eye finds all kinds of baubles in colors that will perfectly accentuate her polymer pieces. She has a way of recycling vintage accents to fit right in with polymer. You can read more about Kim in an interview on ArtBeadScene. Here’s her Etsy address.

Micromosaics and metal clay

Just in time for Easter, Cindy Silas finished her micromosaic from our recent class with Cynthia Toops. Cindy’s leaping bunny is set in a metal clay bezel that she textured with photopolymer plates.

Here’s the in-progress shot in case you missed it. Baked, splinter-sized pieces of rolled polymer are set into unbaked clay, a tedious but meditative process.

I’m leaping to the west coast today for a vacation. If you see beach pebbles and sea glass creeping into PCDaily posts, you’ll know why.

Polymer potpourri

Barbara Briggs‘ polymer Flora beads are part of her new collection of polymer, metal clay and glass beads that form this Potpourri bracelet.

It’s hard to tell where the metal stops and the polymer begins and that’s part of the delight. I love how common this mix and match approach to media has become…especially when silver prices reach over $40/ounce!

On her Etsy site Barbara offers the bracelet as a pattern and/or a kit to assemble.

Buttons that top the cake

The fashionistas among you will salivate as you look at the hand-loomed knitwear, complete with polymer buttons and pins, from New York’s Andrea Geer.

I love the easy, asymmetric drape of her knit pieces and appreciate her use of models of various ages and sizes. (More views on FB.)

And to have designer polymer buttons topping off the look, so cool. Rollover details to see them up close and be sure to catch the necklace at the end of the gallery.

Andrea is new to the Craftboston Spring Show and the Smithsonian Craft Show next month. Note some new pictures from Karen Noyes on the Craftboston show site too. Thanks to Ronna Weltman for introducing us to Andrea.

Using cutters

Celine Charuau’s polymer Cathedral Flower brooch is very understated for the usually flamboyant Gris Bleu. The stepped, layered, dimensional cutouts immediately put the viewer in mind of a cathedral window. Delicate, simple and amazing!

On closer inspection, you can see how Celine used simple graduated cutters to achieve this brilliant effect. Then take a look at the snowflakes from Camille Young (and closeup here) that were featured more than a year ago.

Are you using your humble clay cutters to their full potential?

Edgier romance, easier extrusion

This Lovely Bones pendant from Georgia jeweler Jenny Baughman reminds us that not everything romantic has to be hearts and flowers.

Jenny often uses polymer to fill her deep bezels and add color to her modern primitive metal shapes.

See more of her work on her Etsy site and on FaceBook. The new link comes from another polymer artist with a primitive bent, Ronna Weltman.

Extraordinary Extrusions

I’m gathering my tricks to teach an online class on Alison Lee’s Craftcast next Wednesday called Extraordinary Extrusions. I find polymer extrusions fascinating and have made it my mission to assemble the most easy-to-use and easy-on-the-joints equipment.

I’ll even share my bulging file of design ideas from sites around the world. Alison’s a terrific hostess and you’ll leave with secrets, links and videos. Join us. Sign up here.

Mixing polymer and paper

It’s been a year since we visited Virginia’s Angie Wiggins who happily mixes paper and bead work with polymer. These paper bowls are embellished with beads and polymer legs. Angie learned to embroider at a young age and it shows in the delightful details sewn onto many of her pieces.

On her Facebook page you can roam through her tidy, cozy studio and see some of her most recent mixed media efforts. Don’t miss her metal clay and polymer jewelry in her gallery page.

I’m putting these wine stoppers here to remind myself how cool and useful they would be in my kitchen. Here’s what we posted about Angie earlier on PCDaily.