Polymer Clay Daily

Scrap clay or story scraps?

Layl McDill, the creator of the Silly Milly line of polymer clay canes, has found a very clever way to use all of those mountains of leftover trimmings and scrap.

She creates Story Scraps, wall sculptures which show animals and figures celebrating all aspects of life.  The title of each piece is the doorway into the story, but a closer look at the whimsical and intricate details in each work soon draws one in until it isn’t long before the viewer’s own imagination starts to fill in the gaps.

If you’ve tried to title your work, you know how much time it takes to find just the right title, but what a difference it makes, as does taking the time to add just a bit of story.

Consider Layl’s Reader on the Stairs which tells her story of rushing up the stairs toward a goal, only to find herself being wise enough to pause along the way to read a book.  And just why are those birds there?  And the towers … and …

Layl’s site opens to a whole world of creativity, so consider settling yourself on the stairs as you take the time to read through it. You’ll be glad you did.

guest post by Maureen Carlson

Super size polymer

Hi all! This is Christi Friesen checking in while Cynthia is off having adventures! I’ve always appreciated that PCD showcases such a diversity of polymer creations. I’m especially delighted to see what others are doing. Like this guy, Adam Rees, whose work I came across in a gallery in Washington.

I was part of a group and we were all astounded at the size of his work! His octopus was about two feet tall and at least three feet across. It’s hard to tell from his site exactly how he creates and bakes such large pieces (the gallery owner thought he had a custom-made oven). However he does it, it’s pretty impressive.

His canework reminds me of exuberant folk art, and adds a wonderful voice to his sculptures. I especially like his massive polar bear piece. Hmmmm, that would look pretty good in my living room….

Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Carol Dotin, winner of last week’s giveaway, an autographed copy of Terra Nova – Polymer Art at the Crossroads. Thanks to all who took the survey.

Guest post by Christi Friesen

Polymer Cornucopia

It’s October! We’ll try to ease you gently into this season’s creepy, scarey polymer art with a look at Suzicq’s voodoo doll with her basket of charms. Suzicq specializes in small art dolls (check out Fred, Ethel Mae and Lola) and fairie houses. She’s new to PCD and was sent to us by Claire Maunsell.

Lance Perry (CrescentHillDesigns) offers another light look at Halloween with a candy corn cottage which is part of his Cornucopia Village.

Look for Lance’s Alfred Hitchcock Moon Man Sculpture in the current issue of Somerset Studio!

Polymer pie

Start your week with a big helping of polymer pie from Madrid’s Fabi. She heaps up nine polymer clay decorative bowls in graduated sizes. The shaping, carving and painting of white polymer makes these into a most appetizing pile of saucers that stack up into a lovely sculpture.

You can see Fabi’s progress from white to color on her site. She’ll be offering this class in her studio. Rebecca Watkins pointed us to the link.

Stroppel cane examples

The Stroppel cane has traveled around quickly after Friday’s post. See two examples that popped up on the weekend from Randee Ketzel in Texas and Elsie Smith (Sweet2Spicy) in Vancouver.

Polymer for regeneration

Regeneration is the title of this polymer and mixed media sculpture from Christine Harris. An artist and art therapist from Virginia, she uses her artwork as “…a record of the pathways that I have taken in my process of becoming.” On her blog she shares the very personal and poignant stories behind her work. She’s featured in the first issue of the new ThePolymerArts magazine.

She adds that, “As important as it is for me to use my art to make sense of the world, it is just as important that viewers take their own experience from my work and the juxtapositions in my artwork leave room for their personal interpretations.”

What courage it takes to put so much of yourself in your art! How much do you reveal in yours? Have an inspired weekend.

Polymer piranha

This Piranha Plant earring could take a bite out of your Monday. Arizona’s Elizabeth Kohn makes polymer accessories for Super Mario Brothers fans.

Or if you prefer, you can picture Little Shop of Horrors’ Audrey and “Feed me, Seymour.” Either way, this lobe-eating earring will wake up your week.

Elizabeth makes Pokemon, Nintendo and other gamer icons in polymer too. Since her Etsy shop in June she’s been so popular with the geeky crowd that she’s having trouble keeping up!

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.

Beat-the-clock polymer

Japanese designers Yuji Kawauchi and Yuri Hamaguchi of Atelier Sango sculpted mini-portraits out of polymer clay (Bend and Bake) at the recent Dwell on Design event in Los Angeles. Twice a day they picked someone from their audience and created a portrait in 30 minutes.

The duo produce figures for claymation videos and presented their work as part of the Yakitate! (fresh baked) show of emerging artists.Watch the video in the right column to see Kawauchi in action.

Can you imagine sculpting a likeness in front of a crowd with the clock ticking? They’re used to working fast since a 30-minute movie requires approximately 21,600 stops to change the figures for the frames.

You can see their animations and more information about them on the DesignBoom site. The link came to us from DailyArtMuse/Susan Lomuto.

Bewildered polymer

Anne Klocko’s Balls suits me just fine today. Her character has a head full of beads (like me) and looks bewildered (also like me). Must be the heat.

Anne’s pensive and peculiar polymer characters all seem to be working out answers to important questions in her beautifully framed spaces.

Her thick portfolio should keep you busy while I get my brain back in gear.

Anne, Sarah Shriver and Louise Fischer Cozzi can be found at the ACC San Francisco show August 12-14.

Tiny polymer treasures

Portland’s Sofie and Nicolas (bewilderandpine) operate three Etsy shops offering small polymer HO scale views of the world including this French country windmill from “The Hermitage” series. The miniatures can be used for model railroad layouts and other collectors.

“The designs of all of our Hermitage series buildings are also meant to be a charmingly simple reminder of the necessity for simplicity, solitude and for peace within our daily lives,” says the artist. Additional small treasures include houses from Venice, Provence, Santa Fe and beyond.

Their other shops focus on finger puppets and ancient Egyptian amulets.The link to these small, nostalgic pieces comes from Genevieve Williamson.

In the same vein, C. Rohal offers an array of miniature polymer teapots and flowers. This one measures 3/4″ and is hollow with a removable lid. These tiny treasures are loaded with details.