Here are a couple of openwork polymer clay pieces by Maryland’s Keith Brown to tantalize you this Monday morning.
After looking at this for a while I’m still not sure how he constructs his works and I’m intrigued. You can see that Keith has mastered the technique if you look at his bowls and trays.
Light and shadow, positive and negative – a mystery to start your week. Thanks to Bettina Welker who pointed out the new additions.
Donna Kato has provided a weekend treat for us. Just when I think canes are so “over” and boring, Donna brings back canes that pack a wallop.
Her end caps are genius and her palette is simply lovely. She describes how she cuts thickish slices and bakes her big beads on cornstarch to minimize distortion.
Return to your studio with renewed enthusiasm. Thanks, Donna (and thanks to Barb Fajardo who spotted the new beads).
A jolt of color to start your week. Ohio’s skies are very gray and I’m drawn to Gera Scott Chandler’s bright polymer clay poppy theme on her new framed compositions.
The Vancouver artist is launching into the year with some new box designs as well. The photos are on her Flickr site.
I’m a little slow getting started this week. Go check out Kim and her fun links while I get my brain in gear.
Several trends emerge as I study last year’s posts. The first is the explosion of Etsy where you’ll find 982 pages of polymer clay works offered for sale today. Interesting pieces, like those of Pennsylvania’s LaBeana (Lauren Cole) pictured here, jump out as fresh and new from this vast reservoir of talent.
Three other 2007 events seem especially significant – the new NPCG web site which reveals a newly invigorated group, the Craft/MakerFaire movement (and Leslie Blackford’s polymer clay entré into that group), the revitalization of the American Craft Council (and the magazine).
There’s also the phenomenal growth of art blogging. That’s for later this week.
Don’t get too comfortable this Monday. Take a look at the edgy polymer clay work of Philadelphia’s “Perishables.” The Etsy artist calls his works, “Unusual, ostentanious creatures destined to enhance the visual identity of all those who wear it.” “Don’t wear it if you’re trying to be ignored,” he says.
The artist includes nuts, stones, shells, seeds and other found items among organic-looking polymer forms that writhe and undulate. The ear plugs make me wince and the models look tribal and angry. Still, I can’t look away from these eccentric pieces.
Good things for shaking up your sensibilities this week. Ronna Weltman sent the link.
Understanding Etsy
If the Etsy, DIY, craft mafia phenomena seem baffling, be sure to read Rob Walker’s piece in Sunday’s NYTimes. He paints a clear picture of the movement (70,000 Etsy sellers, average age 34, $4.3 million in sales in November) and hints at what it means and where it’s headed. Thanks to Rachel Carren for sending the article along.
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Judy Dunn has done some clever things with simple polymer clay shapes. By combining a single shape covered with companion patterns in eye-pleasing palettes, she’s created an exciting new series that she calls Shibori.
Again we see how working in a group (see the earlier post on Dayle Doroshow’s theory about making multiples) forces artists to explore and refine…and ultimately improve their concepts. You can see this theory working as you scroll through Judy’s slideshow.
Online photo galleries give us the added benefit of tracking how a polymer clay artist’s work is developing. I was startled by the changes in Austria’s Bettina Mertz’ work.
Her June class with Sarah Shriver must have struck a chord and her work became much more detailed and controlled. Next she shows crocheted beads where again she takes to the technique with ease.
Bettina’s combination of new skills are helping her find her voice that shines through her new pieces. Her "blackberry" beads are crocheted combinations of polymer and seed beads that look just like their name. Her polymer clay sand beads are shown here. Her earlier work is shown on her guild’s site here.
Sharon Sahl, formerly of Ohio and now from Washington, has added her 2007 line of polymer clay ornaments to her web site enabling her Ohio collectors to get their annual fix of her charming and precise works.
Sharon’s added a couple of interesting demos. If you scroll down her demo page you’ll see an example of her process for a cathedral windows quilt and witness Sharon’s legendary attention to detail. Be sure to browse the gingerbread houses section.
Italy’s Bernard Stimpfl-Abele shows some high style polymer clay rings on his gallery site complete with his working drawings. Stimpfl-Abele’s work is a collision of organic and surreal in the vein of Peter Chang, Wendy Malinow and Ford/Forlano.
It’s a type of design in polymer clay that’s gaining momentum. Food for thought and a feast for the eyes.
I’m sorting my conference pictures and notes and will share them later this week.
No better way to start your week than with a look at these new polymer clay purses from Kathleen Dustin. (Click on each one.) Her "voluptuous vegetables" signal a move on from Dustin’s layered transluscent women and more recent boar bristle series. These new species made me gasp with awe and admiration.
Thanks for the pictures go to super friend Hollie Mion who tracked down Kathleen at the Ann Arbor, MI arts festival. I’ve included a few larger images of her works and her display.
