Polymer Clay Daily

Shish kebabs are hot

Ashley Hicks glamorous shish kebabs sell out on PolymerClayDaily.com

These Table Totems from the UK designer Ashley Hicks look as refreshed and silly as I feel. One fan calls them glamorous shish kebabs. His variety of polymer shapes are stacked on rods and perched on painted wooden bases.

Here’s an in-process shot. He seems to relish the love/hate responses from his commenters.

Ashley makes much larger, resin sculptures with the same vibe. Carried by trendy London decorating stores, his works are often sold out. Follow him on Instagram and his site.

I missed you PCD readers in October but our separation was a good thing and I’m happy to be back home. 

On a polymer bender

Mosaic artist Susan Crocenzi is on a polymer bender on PolymerClayDaily

Well-known California mosaic artist Susan Crocenzi says, “I am currently going through a major polymer clay bender. You wouldn’t believe how many tiles and doo-dads I’ve created over the past month!”

She sees polymer as an amazing material, especially for mosaic artists. “You can make tiles in the size, shape, and thickness you need! You can create super-flashy textured embellished colorific tiles, or quiet, flat, subtle ones. Seriously, this stuff’s flexibility will amaze you,” she gushes.

Here’s the info on her September 9 class in Portland, OR. Flip through her Instagram to see how she combines handmade polymer clay tiles with mosaic materials, most notably tempered glass.

If mixing media makes your heart sing, the flash and sparkle of mosaic might be just what your polymer muse yearns for.

Polymer for gardeners

Celine Charuau contrasts flower petals against white stones on PolymerClayDaily.com
Celine Charuau turns Saxifraga petals into post earrings on PolymerClayDaily.com

The spiky red petals on this polymer and silver Saxifraga become dramatic post earrings from France’s Celine Charuau (GrisBleu).

She continues her garden interpretation with a few more blossoms protruding from two flat white polymer disks that she joins as a pendant.

Celine includes Octotilla, Erythrina, Snow Flowers and other unusual species in this year’s garden of mixed media jewels on Flickr. How does your garden grow?

Jumping through hoops with polymer

Wolodkiewicz' polymer embroidery mixes hard with soft on PolymerClayDaily

The last time PCDaily posted about the work of Poland’s Justyna Wolodkiewicz she was making jumping jacks and clocks.

She’s moved on to 3D mixed media pieces that blend embroidery hoops with polymer. It’s hard to picture, right?

Look on Instagram, her blog and Facebook to get the idea. Read what ArtUpon has to say about her.

Three of Justyna’s pieces appeared in the Feminist Fiber Art exhibit in Seattle. How cool is it that this 20-something represents our community on the feministfiberart.com scene?

Watch her how-to video on Facebook as Justyna explains, “First I sculpted colorful rings, circles and spikes out of polymer clay and baked them. Then I started stitching. The mixture of textures is rich and eye-catching. Thread makes polymer look softer. Polymer contrasts with the fluffy look of fabric and thread.”

What happens when you mix polymer with another medium?

Collages to wear

Doroshow's fabric/jewelry wall art on PolymerClayDaily.com

Florida’s Dayle Doroshow will exhibit six mixed-media wall hangings in a popular restaurant (Le Tournesol) near her summer home in Durfort, France.

Each collaged fabric panel is 5′ x 2 1/2′ and is embellished with polymer. Each contains a brooch that can be removed to wear.

Doroshow's fabric collages with polymer on PolymerClayDaily.com

I can almost hear the sighs of students who have experienced the charms of a week of classes at La Cascade. Karen and Ann Mitchell, Dayle, Doreen Kassel and Loretta Lam will all have polymer workshops there this summer.

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Jar art for your desk

Renner on PolymerClayDaily.com

Lisa Renner’s 10″ tall Jar Head makes a handy desk item that comes with its own feathered pen. Lisa sculpted this whimsical face over a glass jar and added details with inks and paints.

The feather-topped pen becomes a stunning hairstyle and it’s not likely someone would abscond with that. The container could be used to hold paintbrushes or other tools. 

Renner on PolymerClayDaily.com

See more of Lisa’s pensive polymer people on her site, Instagram, Facebook, and newly on Etsy.

Lisa’s teaching in Phoenix at Art Unraveled in August (Laurie Mika will be there too).

Upcoming

There’s nothing like a class or conference to up your game. Registration has opened for this June’s French Lick Atelier in Indiana (featuring Libby Mills, Leslie Blackford, Ponsawan Sila, Tammy Dye and Lynda Gilcher.

The Northwest Polymer Clay Guild is accepting reservations for its May 18-22 Clay Camp in Washington. Synergy4 offers you an even deeper roster of talents and techniques at its August events.

In this weekend’s StudioMojo, readers will get an extra helping of eye candy and tool updates that were shared in Claire Maunsell’s surface class for NEPAG. If you’re needing a weekend boost, join us!

Visible projects

Wood on PolymerClayDaily.com

Elizabeth Wood chose the word “visible” for 2017 as she committed to completing 10 larger pieces during the year.

She describes April’s bowl as Deconstructed Polymer. It’s a macrame mix of polymer and waxed cord that she had fun making even though it took more time than she anticipated.

Hundreds of slices of clay with striped edges sprout from the sides of the bowl. You can see her progress this year on Instagram. You can also see the changes she went through during her journey through making 365 beads.

Her project is indeed making Elizabeth more visible!

Polymer on a string

What may look like a modern painting with layers of wire over watercolor is Alev Gozonar’s latest exploration into using polymer extrusions.

This Istanbul artist’s long flat strings of black polymer curl across the surface, ending as faces in silhouette. On the paper Alev has drawn circles of watercolors that overlap, creating a shadowy background.

If you look back through Alev’s Instagram shots you’ll see how she played with these forms and arrived at this latest iteration which combines polymer and watercolor and takes both in a new direction.

What crazy idea is stuck in your head that need to be played with and explored?

Furry polymer

Helen Violet sculptures on PolymerClayDaily.com

Toronto polymer sculptor Helen Violet has a full schedule of commissions for 2017. In late summer/fall of this year she’ll open a shop for those pet lovers hoping to get on the 2018 list and you can read the details of her ordering and pricing here.

Previously an illustrator, Helen created her first polymer and acrylic sculpture in November 2015 as a gift. She was quickly swamped with orders for the 7″ to 8.5″ replicas of favorite pets (like Brutus here) which you can see on Instagram and Facebook.

“This is not a ‘business’ to me, but an opportunity to connect my love for animals with my love for creating and share that with wonderful people who have been touched by their fur friends as well,” Helen says.

What a treat to see polymer art that hits the sweet spot on so many levels!