Polymer Clay Daily

George’s solo polymer exhibit

Ellen George’s Nose Touches Twig solo exhibit of polymer clay sculptures inspired by nature will be at PDX Contemporary Art in Portland, Oregon through May 30.

A former dental technician Ellen pushes the clay in new directions with her abstract forms that vary in density, color and translucence.

The imagined forms are evocative of undersea life, water, clouds, and geological formations. The relationship to the wall is explored in pieces like this 14.5″ by 14.5″ Scatter where holes are carved out of coral-like pieces of large flat pieces of polymer clay.

Here’s a post about an earlier exhibit. I love the vibrancy and size of this new series.

Arscott’s polymer clay riddle

This polymer clay sculpture from Dean Arscott’s Ringling College senior illustration show is good for a Friday chuckle. It’s a twist on the old “Why did the chicken cross the road?” riddle.

Arscott says of his sculptures, “This pervasive silliness was and is a great escape for me in this sometimes up-tight world.” You can see a quick video of his polymer clay silliness here. Susan Lomuto sent the link.

I’ll be on the road for the next couple of weeks, bouncing between Starbucks and MacDonalds web connections to keep in touch with you as we visit friends and relatives in the south. Have a great weekend.

Kewy’s clay babies

Greek artist Tina Kewy starts our week with a basket of fresh spring possibilities. She has been making polymer clay babies since 1999 and her expertise shows.

Tina has sculpted more than 1000 dolls of all sizes including realistic premature babies for hospital use. Her attention to accurate anatomy is remarkable and you can see it all in her self-published book about sculpting which features her recent work. See my previous posts about little polymer clay sprouts here.

Dittmar’s polymer Earth Day

The polymer clay artist whose art most resonates with today’s Earth Day is Portland’s Meredith Dittmar. Many of her pieces express deep levels of union across biology, technology and consciousness.

It’s what Meredith has called “psychepolymereganics” where the interconnectedness of all things is revealed. She sees the act of spontaneous artistic creation as part of a larger practice of being present, and a way to better understand herself and reality.

One of the Same, the 24″ x 12″ piece shown here, was mounted in an acrylic case, lit and shown in a dark immersive environment in the 2008 Biome Show in Brooklyn.

Perhaps today is a good day for all of us to consider our psychepolymereganics.

Pattee’s odd times

Just like Pattee’s polymer clay sculpture, Harold, I’m wondering what time it is as I head back across time and temperate zones after our lovely visit with my daughter. The California/Ohio swap is a bit of a shock to my system (to say nothing of leaving my baby behind).

Pattee (Odd Dolls) says she likes her world “a little off kilter” and you may enjoy her sculptures to begin your little-off-kilter week too. Look inside her studio where she’s surrounded by bits and bobs that inspire her.

I’ll be synced up and back in gear tomorrow.

French Obama by Perrin

How did I miss this wonderful polymer clay Obama by France’s Sylvie Perrin? A cruise through her blog will have you amazed and laughing out loud. Her web site is today’s pick-me-up.

Speaking of smiles and pick-me-ups, have you seen the teapots on the latest Polymer Art Archive post? The teapot bodies were formed around sand-filled fabric bags. Rebecca Mazur created these delights in 1998!

Those of you who are captivated by today’s organics and undersea designs will want to look at what Australia’s Robyn Gordon was coming up with in polymer clay in 1981! Here’s our first post about her.

Tuesday is a good day for tidying loose ends and boning up on your polymer clay history.

Hughes mobiles, new blog

Tory Hughes is working on polymer clay mobiles for the Sculpting Color in Your Hands show August 8 through November 22. The event will be organized by the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA and curated by Kathleen Dustin. This exhibition will include a variety of large scale forms, including sculpture, furniture, wall pieces, and installations by artists who are pushing the qualities of polymer clay.

Tory found mobile design a different and very compelling type of design challenge. “It involves things that move in space, things we see from below or across. Personally it is nice to have more reasons not to use my imitative techniques; I like the opportunity to develop a different esthetic given the design criteria,” Tory added.

Be sure to bookmark the new Log Notes section on Tory’s updated site. In her intro she explains that, “My job is to navigate the landscape of creative action and come back to discuss what I find. Check in regularly, because I’ll be telling you all the juicy and useful things I encounter.”

Polymer clay hands speak for themselves

We start the new year with a new idea. MoonlightAura has opened an Etsy shop with polymer clay sculptures that can spell your favorite color (“blue” pictured here) or word in American Sign Language. Brilliant!

The Buffalo artist works with children and finds signing helpful in teaching children, even those without hearing loss. It’s a great learning tool as well as an intriguing decoration. Susan Lomuto discovered the link and generously forwarded it for your Monday inspiration.

On TV

HGTV running the That’s Clever series again and Mags Bonham is scheduled to demonstrate her polymer clay work on January 9, episode number 404. The fast-paced craft show often makes its subjects look quite silly and Mags is quite sure that her episode won’t disappoint.

Press reset, reboot your muse

Nobody does polymer clay party people better than Dinko Tilov. This one looks like the morning after to me. If you’d like to find some of the characters you partied with on New Years Eve, look here or here. Dinko has an entire gallery of “face dice” to roll.

If you’re done with partying and more interested in pressing the annual reset button for your life and rebooting your muse, today is a great day to visit polymer clay artists who enjoy helping you: Dayle Doroshow, Tory Hughes, Judy Dunn, Amy Crawley, Heather Powers. Let me know if you have names to add to the list (see the comments for some additional names). I suggest wandering over to ZenHabits for inspiration as well. I hope that 2009 brings you many happy moments and new adventures. Happy New Year.

Dembicer’s polymer reflections

Peggy Dembicer’s “Self Absorbed” polymer clay and seed bead piece is a perfect theme for today. What were the highlights of 2008 for you? What do you want to leave behind in 2008 so that you can start 2009 with a clean slate?

Change for handcrafts

The first round of voting for the Ideas for Change in America competition will end tonight (12/31/08) at midnight Pacific Time. The competition is a citizen-driven effort to identify the best ideas for how the new administration can turn the broad call for “change” into specific policies.

The idea that, “American-made souvenirs and handcrafts should be displayed and sold in our National Parks” needs more votes to qualify for the final round. The idea was proposed by arts advocate and American Style publisher, Wendy Rosen. You can help increase the chances of this proposal reaching the final round by voting here.

Niche finalists

The coming year has started off on the right foot for these 2009 NICHE Finalists in the Polymer Clay and Jewelry/Fashion categories. Happy New Year to you all!