I smile as I look at these polymer Party Peeps from Texas’ Lisa Renner. The colors, balloons, and hats scream PARTY as they smile and close their eyes. Maybe they’re making a wish.
If you’re wishing to snag some on Lisa’s Etsy site, too late. That party is over. Maybe she’s making more.
Lisa’s fanciful creatures often have a melancholy air about them. Maybe 2021 is pushing her in a new direction. Keep an eye out for Lisa’s online classes.
New Hampshire’s Kathleen Dustin reinterprets her grandchildren’s artwork as polymer brooches in her newest series.
The artwork combines the kids’ loose and colorful style with Grandma’s distinctive wirework and polymer skills.
See the rest of her series on Instagram.
What could you turn into a polymer heirloom in your family?
Ponsawan Silaparuti knows how to turn storm clouds into lovely jewels. Wire forms have captured her attention and she’s discovered some tricks to sketching outlines by bending and twisting lightweight wire and then giving the image dimension by filling in with polymer.
The polymer is often carved, faceted and further embellished. She’ll be teaching this pendant in a Rain Cloud class that combines her latest methods at the June L’Atelier conference in Indiana.
Ponsawan’s productivity and drive are impressive and you can see the results on Facebook and Flickr. (Her Flickr site is also loaded with mouthwatering pictures of Thai food.)
Ponsawan’s tutorial site is a treasure trove of some of her earlier tricks and tips. You have to scroll back to find some oldies-but-goodies like her famous easy flower canes and bubble beads.
Hope your skies are clear this weekend!
Ponsawan Silapiruti has been playing with positive/negative space as she makes wire brooch and pendant forms. " I use bigger gauge wire to make the form, then use smaller wire to wrap around the big wire and in the middle. When I put on a sheet of polymer to fill it up, the clay grabs onto the wire," she explains.
You can see how Ponsawan has progressed with her wire working on her Flickr site and get even more details on her Facebook page. One of the wire forms below became this polymer-filled brooch.
Oregon’s Dede Leupold added these dramatic Gypsy earrings to her Etsy site recently. She embeds the silver wires into the polymer, fires the clay and suspends the amethyst clusters and topaz drops later.
Dede has a delicate touch in both caning and wireworking and finishes the backs with equal care.
The blues of Dede’s color palette are distinctive. Check out her Ode to Spode button photos on her Facebook page for more examples.
The UK’s Alita Porter (DoricDragons) helps us continue a theme with a few of her new works. Like yesterday’s Elvira Lopez del Prado, Alita helps me see new possibilities in wire wrapping.
Alita’s also been experimenting with air-drying Lumina clay which is particularly good for creating delicate flower petals.
This collaborative piece with Christine Damm’s (StoriesTheyTell) polymer beads and Deryn Mentock’s wirework looks just right for Monday.
Christine has only worked in polymer for a year and she explains that, “I have been a potter, a dressmaker, a textile designer, a graphics artist. All my creative paths have led me to this one medium, which awakened my true creative style. It is the most versatile, colorful and technically flexible art material I’ve ever worked in. And it has my favorite artistic characteristic: it allows the most spontaneous expression of my vision.”
Her work shows an ease and confidence that is expressed in simple round beads and complex color. The blogs of both Christine and Deryn are inspirational reads. You’ll find them on Etsy (here and here) too.
I’ve discovered the joys of simple metalworking. After getting the magnificent Alexander Calder jewelry book
And I just ran across a promising site, Jewelry Lessons, that seems to have simple wireworking tutorials. The site looks perky and fun. Has anyone tried it?
Oh, there’s so much to learn once I get my power and internet connection back. Maybe today!
Italy’s Marina Lombardi’s (Ali di Libellula) polymer clay creations are perfect for a summertime Monday. She bases her designs on floral illustrations and adds wire to simulate climbing vines and tendrils, often adding pearls and stones.
Her wire work style is unusual and distinctive and the combined effect is that of a lush old-fashioned bouquet.
My Italian translation didn’t give me much insight into how she acheived her effects. You’ll have to draw your own conclusions. Enjoy her flowery Italian summer palettes.
In case you missed this link from yesterday’s globe-spanning comments, you’ll want to look at the glowing colors and distinctive wirework of France’s Celine (aka gRIS bLEu). She credits Melanie West for the inspiration for some of her organic, oceanic pieces.
Celine also experiments with simulating the heavily patterned lampworked beads of German artist, Melanie Moertel in polymer clay. (Moertel’s beads are reminiscent of Kathleen Dustin’s in some ways.) While both experiments are derivative, Celine’s own sensibilities make the work unmistakably hers.
If you’re like me, you’ll follow these links all over Europe thanks to yesterday’s comment from Eva.
New Nom: Susan Lomuto’s work, now under the more appropriate heading of DailyArtMuse.com, is unmistakable too. Susan’s wide ranging tastes and impeccable tastes will keep your muse in fine fettle.
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