This worktable full of polymer pin variations makes fabulous Friday eye-candy. You can get lost in the textures and colors tucked into the layers of these Ford/Forlano O’Keeffe brooches.
These variations came from a technique the duo developed for their Shell series. “We like the jumpy colors and textures,” says Steve. You can see the pins mounted in their bezels on their Facebook page.
Victoria James‘ texture sheets are a favorite of mine because most of them replicate stone, wood, plants and other real textures. It’s helpful that for most of her designs she shows polymer examples. This one caught my eye. The pattern comes from her shingle cracked growth ring texture sheet.
Victoria explains that, “PearlEx was lightly rubbed on the out-y part of a silicon texture sheet and the clay was impressed. This textures the clay and transfers the mica powder at the same time. Next PearlEx was rubbed directly onto the out-y part of the clay surface. The clay was then rolled flat.” Super easy mokume gane!
One of the satisfactions of attending a workshop for polymer artists is watching how others work.
The black marks that Loretta Lam sketched across these beads gave me a clue as to where she was headed with her design. The baked gray base beads are made from blended scrap clay (ultralight and polymer) which she covered with veneers, adding a few sculptural elements and textures.
This week Loretta posted a picture of the final necklace with the juxtaposed lines, patterns and shapes all in place. The mixture of elements forces your eye around the piece and offers something interesting no matter where your focus lands.
You can read more about Loretta’s art and business in this recent interview and on her Facebook fan page. Does this make you rethink your process?
Watch the water glide over Leila Bidler’s polymer creation as you consider the possibilities for your own garden. In Leila’s home in Italy the 4″ x 11″ fountain recirculates water that flows out through holes in the flower on the top and trickles down over the sides. Click the video to see it in action.
The housing is made of bronze, copper, brass and black Premo which Leila has textured and sculpted. The aged look comes from a wash of Swellegant copper brass and black patinas topped with Tiffany green and darkening dyes.
A small submersible fountain pump housed inside keeps the water circulating.
Leila introduced this piece on her Facebook page and the conversation continues there. Thanks to Anke Humpert who brought the link to our attention.
The “painterly” adjective is an easy one to attach to some works. But lately, “painterly” polymer has been pushed to a whole new level as in these Rustica Erosion beads.
Alison Sachs of BeadsByEarthTones paints, textures, scuffs, and swipes her beads into something more than you may have thought possible. “Down to earth and full of imperfect texture…like me,” she says.
Polymer is attracting more fiber artists, glass artists, ceramicists and, well, painters who bring very different expectations and sensibilities to our craft.
Thanks for piling on your comments to Dave and Steve yesterday. Speaking of painterly, I’ve looked and looked at this new collage from them and my head can’t quite take it in.
A leisurely spring web walk led me to Arden Bardol’s site. She’s a Niche Award winner with a spring/summer collection that will start your juices flowing.
Pour your coffee before you dive in. Mining her site will take a while. I’m liking these polymer rings stacked over textured surfaces. The muted colors are restful and very wearable.
These platypus beads from Lena Fadeeva in Belarus take their shape from the small Australian animal with a distinctive bill.
Such an intriguing shape! Inspiration for new bead shapes can come from unlikely sources.
Lena’s blog is in Russian so you may want to try your own translation (and correct me if I’ve blundered). She’s been sharing her work on Flickr and in her sales gallery for a couple of months and this new direction looks very promising.
Colorado’s Jainnie Jenkins gives her polymer beads a spring twist. She coats the solid colored clay with mica powders which are scrubbed off after baking to give the quirky shapes more depth and dimension.
Jainnie usually appliques and textures small pieces onto polymer. This shape represents new growth! Spring blooms in unexpected places this week.
When you take a close look at this new Encrusted polymer bracelet from Jana Roberts Benzon are you as mesmerized as I am? The colorful texture is sumptuous and mystifying. How could you possibly make such a multi-dimensional pixel-like construction? It’s a Monday mystery.
Jana admits, “Honestly, when I finished it, I was just like dang, this is the coolest thing I’ve ever done.” More pix on Flickr and Facebook. Jana’s teaching in Philadelphia in April.
Can a pasta machine handle survive the heat of the oven? Lisa Pavelka tested hers and the answer was yes. The next step, of course, was to cover it with a base layer of scrap clay and start adding cane slices.
She’ll never lose her handle in a class! Lisa’s theory is that you make better art with artistic tools.
Page McNall’s day job as a California dentist may pay the bills, but she has the soul of an artist. You can see proof of that on her Flickr pages where she shows her talent working with color, pattern and texture.
Page is another artist who makes great use of scrap clay. She also credits other artists such as Maggie Maggio, Bettina Welker and Rebecca Watkins as some of those who inspire her work.
If it’s cold and blustery outside, cuddle up with your computer and browse her 30-plus pages of polymer and metal clay creations. It always warms the heart to see where an artist has been and where she’s going.
guest post by Barb Fajardo
