Polymer Clay Daily

Anything Goes Monday


"Anything or everything goes," says Connecticut’s Peggy Dembicer of her girl in the white dress, "polymer clay, stones, metal, plastics, fibers, sequins, beads, wood, buttons, paper, bark, fabrics, push pins, hat pins, yogurt caps." There’s an attitude to start the week.

It looks like this piece is loosely based on a William Merritt Chase painting (or is it a John Singer Sergeant)? Peggy particularly admires the work of the Huichol Indians of Mexico who set bead designs in beeswax.

You can read more about Peggy and her fiber arts background here and here.

Sneakers

The Manabu Ito site (Clay Work Technique) is rich not only with polymer clay illustrations and sculptures but with links to lots of other Japanese artists who work in a similar vein.

The pieces are amazingly detailed and stylized. There’s even a video showing the artist at work and a peek at his workspace. I wish I knew some Japanese so that I could understand more about his extensive sneaker collection.

If the language is garbled (I’m not even sure about his name), it’s because I picked up this Japanese link via the Kiwi site in Belgium. There’s plenty here to keep you entertained all weekend.

3D Cartoons

Virginia polymer clay artist Ann Lukas has been described as a three dimensional cartoonist. For fifteen years she has created humorous custom logos, character and spot illustrations for use in publishing and advertising.

You’ll find Ann’s work on the sites of several artist representatives. Look here for a few more of her illustrations. Thanks to Susan Rose for passing the link along.

Be sure to catch Maggie Maggio’s new color scales video tutorial on her Smashing Color site. It’s a terrific way to learn color mixing.

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Spring

It feels like spring and time for a bit of pastel sweetness. The carefully crafted polymer clay sculptures and jewelry of Florida’s Holly Jayne Cohen reflect a fresh, charming outlook that’s completely in tune with the season.

And as a youth herself, Holly Jayne has a bounty of blogs and sites and myspace pages on which she shares her works. She even has a fairy gallery. Want to see what young polymer clay artists are doing? Check out Holly Jayne and her friends.

Thanks to Denise Culberson for sending the link along.

Fishy Art

What I look for in polymer clay artwork is authenticity and passion and sometimes it pops up in the strangest places. Wisconsin’s Joshua Knuth has a passion for fish and wildlife which he recreates in polymer clay, resin, wood, bronze and taxidermy.

This Black Crappie is painstakingly crafted from polymer clay and faithfully replicates nature’s palette. Thanks to Susan Rose for sending the link along.

Discovery

Yesterday we happened upon an Australian artist. Today I discovered Jules Knowlton who lives a few blocks from me in Worthington, Ohio.

Knowlton’s polymer clay works have a very thick, painterly, appearance. In doing a little further research I found her referenced on a French blog which talked about the materials she uses – paints, polymer clay, resins and foams. I must get some better pictures of these intriguing works.

Transcending

Snooping around in Paula Pindroh’s portfolio and her home site is like returning to childhood. Her polymer clay illustrations are playful and open.

Paula’s blog shows her latest work, including a peek at her preliminary sketches. She also writes about her other pasttimes…one as a parttime cookie decorator for a Cleveland caterer.

Paula’s skill translates perfectly into edible delights. The cookies are works of art. Scroll way down her blog page to see them all. Whether it’s illustrations in clay or cookies in sugar, this artist’s vision transcends her materials.

Wall Dancers

Keri Joy Colestock creates series of polymer clay "Wall Dancers" that are colorful and lively. The optimism of these creations is surprising since they were started in response to a health challenge.

I wish I could zoom in on the pictures and get a better grasp of Keri’s techniques. But techniques aside, these wall pieces are terrific to look and show a quirky, resiliant spirit as well as a fine command of color and shape. Thanks to Susan Rose for starting our Tuesday so brightly.

Pendulum Swing

We’ve gone pretty far into sweetness and fantasy this week. Time to swing back to the organic world, to science and the unseen richness and beauty of the sea as illustrated by a Seattle artist. Take a look at Carolyn Zick’s polymer clay radiolaria.

Radiolaria are microscopic plankton, single cell organisms whose delicate variations and beautiful forms Zick was compelled to draw and recreate. Her show, Pale Sun, displayed these and other works created while she was an artist in residence in Listagilio Center in Akureyri, Iceland.

Thanks to Susan Rose who linked us to this walk on the wild side.

Po

Another Etsy artist with a bit of a seasonal twist for your viewing pleasure.

These polymer clay "Po" characters are from Tomoko, who calls herself a Japanese bird who "perched herself in the New England area and never left." She says of her work, "I can’t explain it well, but Po seems to have this weird presence to lift your spirit up. Whenever I feel a bit cranky, I look at him and I feel better."

In her blog Tomoko shares some introspection and insights into her process. If you’re in the mood for pure sweetness and smiles, visit her Flickr site. Thanks to Cassy Muronaka who led us to the links.