Modern artifacts

Luann Udell moved from Vermont to California, switched her workspace from a barn to a small studio and added woodworking and box-making skills to her mix of media.

Now her polymer artifacts from lost cultures and imagined prehistories are sometimes housed in refinished antique boxes as in this Shrine: Red Deer Clan.

Her story’s a good one and you can read it and see an overview of her work on ArtsyShark.com.

Follow her on Facebook and Etsy. Thanks to Lyn Tremblay for sending the link along to PCDaily.

Luann adds that she’s having an Open Studio in Santa Rosa this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, August 6 & 7, from 10-5.

Gypsies, tramps and thieves

It’s rare that my husband suggests artworks so I paid attention when he said, “Have you seen Leslie’s new Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves on Facebook?” He has his own collection of manly polymer and Leslie’s pieces are his favorites.

Kentucky’s Leslie Blackford feels a kinship with outcasts of all types and you need to look closely to catch the personality, humor and heart in her lovable characters.

Leslie’s gearing up for her classes with Porland’s Wendy Wallin Malinow at Art & Soul, the popular mixed media conference in Virginia Beach on October 1.

You won’t want to miss this duo teaching their version of the Garden of Earthly Delights. Wonderful art emerges when they put their considerable talents together. See what I mean by checking them out here and here.

Rock solid polymer

Martin Pottjewijd, freelance graphic designer and sculptor from the Netherlands, likes to mix polymer with rock and sometimes with boulders!

“My work varies from an array of strange characters to architecture from different worlds and bygone days. With my work I want to make the world more colourful and make people smile,” he explains. See more of his castles and characters on Facebook and his site.

Martin was also the creator of The Adventures Polly and Mur comic strip (sponsored by Polyform) that appeared in the From Polymer to Art magazine.

Dreamy polymer

Dreamy isn’t a word used often when describing polymer but Sonya Girodon’s pieces evoke that. This pendant is floating, misty with moody colors intersected by vibrating lines.

Sonya’s been so prolific lately that it’s hard to choose something to feature. Just when you think you’ve got her style pegged, she turns a corner and creates a new look.

Her Pinterest tagline gives us a clue. “Eternal dreamer! Dreaming of the perfect world. Dreaming of creating touchable dreams in polymer clay,” it says.

She’s been mysterious and organic and edgy. Now she’s back to graphic. She’s mixing her media, adding tribal sculpted polymer heads onto a dramatically painted canvas. Where will she head next? Monitor her progress on Facebook.

Polymer kindred spirits

North Carolina’s Michelle Davis Petelinz (KindredSpiritStudios) hangs six large mixed-media pieces across a display wall to make a bold statement. Polymer elements add punch, texture and dimension to the shallow painted plates.

Michelle often work in a series, visually exploring the significance of symbols from many cultures. The visual elements strike the viewer as both unusual and familiar, speaking across cultures. Her fusion of art, culture and media can be appreciated in many settings.

See more of her mixed-media series on her site, her blog, Pinterest and Facebook.

Miro Monday

Cecilia Leonini (of Italy’s ImpastArte) channels the spirit of Miro for today’s inspiration. “No transfers,” says Cecilia of this 26″ necklace of her flat drawings joined by copper rings.

She’s become adept at mixing alcohol inks, pens, pastels and other media with polymer to paint her small pieces of design.

Born and raised in the Tuscany area, Cecilia was trained in music and taught piano for many years until she discovered polymer.

“For me the clay is the synthesis of all the arts that I love,” she says.

You can see how her work has evolved on her Flickr site and note her influences on Pinterest. You’ll find more on Facebook and Etsy.

Polymer coloring book

“If as a child you loved coloring in a coloring book like I did, then this is the class for you.” says Laurie Mika about her Coloring on Clay workshop this September.

These class sample tiles show how acrylic paint on clay expands the range and intensity of Laurie’s colors.

She starts with light polymer clay which is stamped and/or textured then painted. Gold leaf and sparkly bits add finishing touches.

See all the mosaic wonders that Laurie composes with her richly decorated tiles on her site, on Pinterest and on Facebook

Clay on clay

MaryAnne Loveless shares her own brand of mixed media. She throws ceramic pots, leaving spaces for polymer. Clay on clay.

A polymer stopper top or a band of color are added after the piece has been kiln fired. Of course the ceramic piece can tolerate another baking.

She added a wire and polymer handle to the ceramic teapot below. See how she mixes media on tins, wood bases, ceramics by checking her out on Flickr and Pinterest. What can you pair with polymer?

Nuts! I published early. My site’s clock seems to have a bug in it. I’ll try to fix it and bring you your regularly scheduled programming as soon as I can figure it out.

Italian inspiration

My heart did a little spring flip-flop when I spotted the work of Italy’s Monica Rotta on Facebook. These pieces come from her Tribute to Claire (Maunsell) series. The further I clicked through her photos, the more delighted I was. Transfers, textures, appliques with startling colors and a look all her own.

“In my case the geographical context in which I live (the hills of Brianza) flavors especially my sensitivity to respect and to wonder at the marvels of nature,” she says in an interview. She satisfies her need for organic materials by mixing leaves, black rice, stones, wood, dried fruits, shells, paper and other objects with polymer.

Monica worked for 6 or 7 years with no formal instruction until she took her first classes in 2013. Here she is on the Ganoksin website and on Flickr. On Pinterest you’ll see work-in-progress shots from an exhibition of works in collaboration with the painter Annare Gioielli. Now Monica teaches and she has a couple spots left in her Trees of Life class this Sunday.

Leather and polymer

Leather is all the rage and Russia’s Anna Bragina is all over mixing polymer with leather.

Seeing the photo of her bracelet layed flat makes it more understandable and the magnetic clasp is very au courant.

The slight flare of the four polymer squares help them hug the wearer’s arm. Go to Facebook, her sales site and Flickr to get the complete picture.

Friday follow-ups

Jot Wednesday evening down on your calendar for the Craftcast Organically Speaking class with Kelly Russell. It’s a polymer clay/metal clay media melange.

Check out Tammy Dye’s all-polymer version of the Anna’s bracelet. Tammy will be revealing her secrets at the L’Atelier Polymer Clay Workshop in Indiana June 14 to 16. Early bird prices are still in effect. Register here.

‹ 1 … 7 8 9 … 26 ›