Inside a Lentil
November 15, 2014
Inspirational Art
I’ve been wanting to do a hollow lentil bead with a peek-a-boo hole in it all week, but it’s a rather common design these days, at least as a base form. Some people are doing beautiful things with it, but I felt it ought to be really different and objects well recessed, so they look more hidden, and that was harder to find. Then I remembered these window-like hollow lentils Wendy Orlowski created a couple years ago.
Down below the lip of the open window in the one on the right, you can see what looks like a nest with an egg inside it. I wish I could get a closer look. But, this is what I’ve been talking about all week. You know something is there, and our natural curiosity pushes us to look closer to get a better look at it. We simply like the surprise of hidden things. This is a great addition to a piece in that there is definitely more than meets the eye when there is something sitting just inside, beyond our view.
Wendy mentions that she had planned to create a tutorial of this, although I couldn’t find one. If you are interested, you might want to give Wendy a shout through her Etsy shop or with the contact information on her blog. In case you didn’t know, Wendy is the designer who created CaBezels, which I highly recommend. They are a lifesaver for quick and easy bezels to show off your great surface treatments or faux stones. You can find them on her Etsy site as well through Shades of Clay.
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.
Outside Inspiration: Hidden Aesthetic
November 14, 2014
Inspirational Art
Most of what we see in nature has a very particular purpose or is an expected result of some process or circumstance. Something a person makes, well … it can be such a mystery! When something in nature opens up to reveal its treasure, usually it is something that has to do with its survival–seeds in a pod, a pearl in a oyster shell, the brightly colored interior and/or stamens in a flower. But, when man makes something that is opened to reveal something, it can be simply a show of that artist’s aesthetic, or it can be a statement.
Which do you think we have here? Andy Rogers is heavily influenced by nature, but he will mix up the components, so you have to stop and think about what it is he’s showing us. This form with its alien-looking exterior and mysterious red seeds feels like both his aesthetic and a statement about our curiosity. This is just one in a series, and one of the few whose seeds can be seen in the photographs. But, many of the other ones have truly hidden treasures stashed away where you have to be in its presence and take a peek inside to see what Andy has to show you.
Since we can’t see what he has inside from his photos, go ahead and jump over to his page and take guesses at what forms and colors might be the most eye-catching or surprising to find inside these forms. Would that get you thinking about what could be hiding in your own work? It’s kind of fun to consider! While you’re there, take a look at the rest of Andy’s gallery. I think his forms, colors and textures are particularly inspiring for the polymer artist, especially if your aesthetic leans towards the organic.
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.
Embedded Surprises
November 13, 2014
Inspirational Art
The pull to look inside something to find out what cool thing might lie within it is quite strong. And, so is the let down when there is nothing there. I am quite the proponent for avoiding viewer disappointment. If you build a box, a lidded bowl or something with a deep cavity of any kind, I think there should be something to surprise and delight a person who opens it for the first time. Yes, this is my point of view, but that open interior seems to be wasted space that could be decorated, used to make further statements or simply to place something fun or shiny that might give a person a smile.
I think that’s why I like this ring by Klavdija Kurent so much. She calls it her Little “Garlic” Ring. And yes, it definitely looks garlicky, but it also has a few unusual aspects for any garlic-like item. The blue peeking out of its interior for one. The little sprouts of silver for another. But, the real joy is seeing a big colorful gem deeply embedded in the open, hollow end. I don’t associate crystals with garlic, but that little surprise works. It might be hard not to just stare at a ring like this on the wearer, not just because of it’s big bold shape, but the glint of the gem as the wearer’s hand moves would make me intensely curious to see it closer. And, what a fun surprise to finally see what it is inside there.
Surprises like that not only make a memorable design, they create a memorable connection for a potential buyer. They see what is inside or on the back of something that no one else can see unless they also come in for a closer look. So, it then becomes a secret they are privy to as well. I’ve seen this at shows, where an individual drags a friend over to see what they’ve found on the backside or inside of a piece of jewelry, box, vase or piece of clothing. Those little surprises can cinch a sale. And, the buyer will have a little secret they can share or not and revel in their little bit of fun.
Klavdija, herself, is always full of surprises in her work. She is fearless, exploring a whole range of techniques and approaches, most of them very uniquely hers. Checking in on her Flickr pages and her blog is always an inspiring visit.
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.
Trapping Roses
November 12, 2014
Inspirational Art
It would be particularly difficult to pass up a week dealing with the hidden and barely glimpsed without bringing up a huge influence of mine in that area, Wiwat Kamolpornwijit. Hiding little handcrafted roses and gems beneath strips or folds of clay or held by a lattice work of polymer to faux metal or black bases was the stamp of his work for a long time. It’s still his mainstay, although, he branched out into abstract forms and much more color in recent years. However, his little roses still grab me every time.
There is something in particular about a flower being trapped or hidden away that goes against our standard for flower presentation. They are usually centerpieces, standing proudly in vases or flowing from bowls or planters. They are left to present their color and grace to the open air, to enliven a room or an outdoor space. To take them and hide them or restrict them seems to be a very intentional comment, something along the lines of controlling or holding back beauty. I find it intriguing, both visually and conceptually, and I think most people, when first encountering Wiwat’s work, are also intrigued by this unusual presentation of the revered rose.
Do take a little time to peruse his website, especially if this is your first exposure to his work. He is active at shows but less so online, so his newer pieces like these earrings can be found on Pinterest boards and by searching Google images. He has a featured gallery spread in the Summer 2012 issue of The Polymer Arts as well if you would like to get a closer look and read more about this unique artist.
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.
A Sliver of Silver
November 11, 2014
Inspirational Art
As an illustration of how powerful the draw is when we catch just a mere glimpse, a hint, the sight of just a sliver of something, I thought I’d share this pin by Margaret Regan. This is not a new piece, but it has such a classic composition. And tell me that when you look at it, you aren’t drawn to the slim bit of silver shimmer in the center and find it really hard to look at the rest of the piece. That silver is barely there, just peeking out from between a simple textured side and a collection of cane slices on the other. The bit of silver is no more complex than the other sides, but it has three things going for it–it’s the center of the piece, it’s shiny, which will always catch our eye, and it’s recessed and slightly shadowed making it a harder surface to discern, making us want to look closer and clarify what we are seeing.
This whole piece is rather quiet and uncomplicated, but it’s gorgeous for it’s simplicity and eye-catching for using the barely-there sliver of silver. The fact is, when creating a piece with barely-there or peeking elements, simple is probably the best way to go. The mystery of what is in the shadows or recess will be the draw and can give it a quiet energy that doesn’t need to be complicated by a lot of other elements. Not that a more complex piece can’t be done well; you would just want to consider whether it would give it added impact or take away from the draw of the hidden element.
Margaret was one of the pioneers of polymer. Her website is sparse, but you can find little bits about her all over the Internet. Here is a nice article done on her work with a bit of her philosophy.
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.
I’ve been wanting to do a hollow lentil bead with a peek-a-boo hole in it all week, but it’s a rather common design these days, at least as a base form. Some people are doing beautiful things with it, but I felt it ought to be really different and objects well recessed, so they look more hidden, and that was harder to find. Then I remembered these window-like hollow lentils Wendy Orlowski created a couple years ago.
Down below the lip of the open window in the one on the right, you can see what looks like a nest with an egg inside it. I wish I could get a closer look. But, this is what I’ve been talking about all week. You know something is there, and our natural curiosity pushes us to look closer to get a better look at it. We simply like the surprise of hidden things. This is a great addition to a piece in that there is definitely more than meets the eye when there is something sitting just inside, beyond our view.
Wendy mentions that she had planned to create a tutorial of this, although I couldn’t find one. If you are interested, you might want to give Wendy a shout through her Etsy shop or with the contact information on her blog. In case you didn’t know, Wendy is the designer who created CaBezels, which I highly recommend. They are a lifesaver for quick and easy bezels to show off your great surface treatments or faux stones. You can find them on her Etsy site as well through Shades of Clay.
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.
Most of what we see in nature has a very particular purpose or is an expected result of some process or circumstance. Something a person makes, well … it can be such a mystery! When something in nature opens up to reveal its treasure, usually it is something that has to do with its survival–seeds in a pod, a pearl in a oyster shell, the brightly colored interior and/or stamens in a flower. But, when man makes something that is opened to reveal something, it can be simply a show of that artist’s aesthetic, or it can be a statement.
Which do you think we have here? Andy Rogers is heavily influenced by nature, but he will mix up the components, so you have to stop and think about what it is he’s showing us. This form with its alien-looking exterior and mysterious red seeds feels like both his aesthetic and a statement about our curiosity. This is just one in a series, and one of the few whose seeds can be seen in the photographs. But, many of the other ones have truly hidden treasures stashed away where you have to be in its presence and take a peek inside to see what Andy has to show you.
Since we can’t see what he has inside from his photos, go ahead and jump over to his page and take guesses at what forms and colors might be the most eye-catching or surprising to find inside these forms. Would that get you thinking about what could be hiding in your own work? It’s kind of fun to consider! While you’re there, take a look at the rest of Andy’s gallery. I think his forms, colors and textures are particularly inspiring for the polymer artist, especially if your aesthetic leans towards the organic.
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.
The pull to look inside something to find out what cool thing might lie within it is quite strong. And, so is the let down when there is nothing there. I am quite the proponent for avoiding viewer disappointment. If you build a box, a lidded bowl or something with a deep cavity of any kind, I think there should be something to surprise and delight a person who opens it for the first time. Yes, this is my point of view, but that open interior seems to be wasted space that could be decorated, used to make further statements or simply to place something fun or shiny that might give a person a smile.
I think that’s why I like this ring by Klavdija Kurent so much. She calls it her Little “Garlic” Ring. And yes, it definitely looks garlicky, but it also has a few unusual aspects for any garlic-like item. The blue peeking out of its interior for one. The little sprouts of silver for another. But, the real joy is seeing a big colorful gem deeply embedded in the open, hollow end. I don’t associate crystals with garlic, but that little surprise works. It might be hard not to just stare at a ring like this on the wearer, not just because of it’s big bold shape, but the glint of the gem as the wearer’s hand moves would make me intensely curious to see it closer. And, what a fun surprise to finally see what it is inside there.
Surprises like that not only make a memorable design, they create a memorable connection for a potential buyer. They see what is inside or on the back of something that no one else can see unless they also come in for a closer look. So, it then becomes a secret they are privy to as well. I’ve seen this at shows, where an individual drags a friend over to see what they’ve found on the backside or inside of a piece of jewelry, box, vase or piece of clothing. Those little surprises can cinch a sale. And, the buyer will have a little secret they can share or not and revel in their little bit of fun.
Klavdija, herself, is always full of surprises in her work. She is fearless, exploring a whole range of techniques and approaches, most of them very uniquely hers. Checking in on her Flickr pages and her blog is always an inspiring visit.
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.
It would be particularly difficult to pass up a week dealing with the hidden and barely glimpsed without bringing up a huge influence of mine in that area, Wiwat Kamolpornwijit. Hiding little handcrafted roses and gems beneath strips or folds of clay or held by a lattice work of polymer to faux metal or black bases was the stamp of his work for a long time. It’s still his mainstay, although, he branched out into abstract forms and much more color in recent years. However, his little roses still grab me every time.
There is something in particular about a flower being trapped or hidden away that goes against our standard for flower presentation. They are usually centerpieces, standing proudly in vases or flowing from bowls or planters. They are left to present their color and grace to the open air, to enliven a room or an outdoor space. To take them and hide them or restrict them seems to be a very intentional comment, something along the lines of controlling or holding back beauty. I find it intriguing, both visually and conceptually, and I think most people, when first encountering Wiwat’s work, are also intrigued by this unusual presentation of the revered rose.
Do take a little time to peruse his website, especially if this is your first exposure to his work. He is active at shows but less so online, so his newer pieces like these earrings can be found on Pinterest boards and by searching Google images. He has a featured gallery spread in the Summer 2012 issue of The Polymer Arts as well if you would like to get a closer look and read more about this unique artist.
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.
As an illustration of how powerful the draw is when we catch just a mere glimpse, a hint, the sight of just a sliver of something, I thought I’d share this pin by Margaret Regan. This is not a new piece, but it has such a classic composition. And tell me that when you look at it, you aren’t drawn to the slim bit of silver shimmer in the center and find it really hard to look at the rest of the piece. That silver is barely there, just peeking out from between a simple textured side and a collection of cane slices on the other. The bit of silver is no more complex than the other sides, but it has three things going for it–it’s the center of the piece, it’s shiny, which will always catch our eye, and it’s recessed and slightly shadowed making it a harder surface to discern, making us want to look closer and clarify what we are seeing.
This whole piece is rather quiet and uncomplicated, but it’s gorgeous for it’s simplicity and eye-catching for using the barely-there sliver of silver. The fact is, when creating a piece with barely-there or peeking elements, simple is probably the best way to go. The mystery of what is in the shadows or recess will be the draw and can give it a quiet energy that doesn’t need to be complicated by a lot of other elements. Not that a more complex piece can’t be done well; you would just want to consider whether it would give it added impact or take away from the draw of the hidden element.
Margaret was one of the pioneers of polymer. Her website is sparse, but you can find little bits about her all over the Internet. Here is a nice article done on her work with a bit of her philosophy.
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.
