Variations in Faux Metal

December 12, 2013

Wendy Orlowski, the new proprietor of the online polymer clay supply shop Shades of Clay, has been an innovative artist in the polymer community for some time. Her CaBezel molds have been very popular with many clayers. I have quite a few myself. They’re easy quick solutions to creating a well-fitting cabachon and bezel, but that is not what we are here to talk about today. (Although if you’ve needed to add to your wish list for potential gift givers, CaBezels and the many other unique items sold at Shades of Clay might fill out your list well! They’re great stocking stuffers!)

In the necklace pictured here, Wendy created medallions with her “straight and narrow” texture stamps. She then cuts apart the different lines of texture, applies Guilder’s paste to the surface of the textured clay, and staggers the lines of texture around a centerpiece or CaBezel form. For a little more excitement, she adds a few colored highlights. The result is faux metal with the richness of texture and depth of color one sees in real antiqued metal jewelry.

Just Steampunk 4

There is a video tutorial illustrating how to make this faux metal technique with polymer clay on the Shades of Clay website as well if you’d like more details on this.  And, of course, you have to browse the Shades of Clay offerings for new toys and supplies while you there!

 

If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.

Cover 13-P4 web  120113 snowflake display ad  WhimsicalBead051512

Mixed Media Full of Grace

March 25, 2013

Mixed media is part of the theme of the next issue of The Polymer Arts (coming out in May) so my recent research has been focused on how polymer is combined with other mediums. Here we have one of my favorite mixed media and polymer artists, Grace Stokes. Grace is not afraid to combine whatever works to create the designs she has in mind. Can you guess what she has combined here?

LavendarSonata

Chances are polymer is one, right? (Being that is what I usually talk about here, that’s a pretty sure bet.) So yes, it’s that and sterling silver. That’s all she lists. Can that beautiful cabachon in the center be polymer?

Not only does Grace mix materials, she mixes approaches to creating her pieces. She uses traditional metal craft, polymer craft, bead making and CAD drawing. Yes, technology is something she likes to use in order to create the forms she wants to cast in precious metals. And why not? If it helps produce your vision, there is no good reason not to use it.

Creating is not about the medium. It is about the artist, what they want to create, what they want to share. What you use (and how you use it) to get there is of little importance as long as the design and vision is authentic you.

Variations in Faux Metal

December 12, 2013
Posted in

Wendy Orlowski, the new proprietor of the online polymer clay supply shop Shades of Clay, has been an innovative artist in the polymer community for some time. Her CaBezel molds have been very popular with many clayers. I have quite a few myself. They’re easy quick solutions to creating a well-fitting cabachon and bezel, but that is not what we are here to talk about today. (Although if you’ve needed to add to your wish list for potential gift givers, CaBezels and the many other unique items sold at Shades of Clay might fill out your list well! They’re great stocking stuffers!)

In the necklace pictured here, Wendy created medallions with her “straight and narrow” texture stamps. She then cuts apart the different lines of texture, applies Guilder’s paste to the surface of the textured clay, and staggers the lines of texture around a centerpiece or CaBezel form. For a little more excitement, she adds a few colored highlights. The result is faux metal with the richness of texture and depth of color one sees in real antiqued metal jewelry.

Just Steampunk 4

There is a video tutorial illustrating how to make this faux metal technique with polymer clay on the Shades of Clay website as well if you’d like more details on this.  And, of course, you have to browse the Shades of Clay offerings for new toys and supplies while you there!

 

If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.

Cover 13-P4 web  120113 snowflake display ad  WhimsicalBead051512
Read More

Mixed Media Full of Grace

March 25, 2013
Posted in

Mixed media is part of the theme of the next issue of The Polymer Arts (coming out in May) so my recent research has been focused on how polymer is combined with other mediums. Here we have one of my favorite mixed media and polymer artists, Grace Stokes. Grace is not afraid to combine whatever works to create the designs she has in mind. Can you guess what she has combined here?

LavendarSonata

Chances are polymer is one, right? (Being that is what I usually talk about here, that’s a pretty sure bet.) So yes, it’s that and sterling silver. That’s all she lists. Can that beautiful cabachon in the center be polymer?

Not only does Grace mix materials, she mixes approaches to creating her pieces. She uses traditional metal craft, polymer craft, bead making and CAD drawing. Yes, technology is something she likes to use in order to create the forms she wants to cast in precious metals. And why not? If it helps produce your vision, there is no good reason not to use it.

Creating is not about the medium. It is about the artist, what they want to create, what they want to share. What you use (and how you use it) to get there is of little importance as long as the design and vision is authentic you.

Read More
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