Imagination for the Birds
December 26, 2013
Inspirational Art
I met Irene Corman at Synergy this past March. She enthusiastically suggested an article idea of hers which eventually resulted in her sharing her knowledge about teaching polymer art classes in the Fall 2013 issue of The Polymer Arts magazine. Since then, Irene has also answered my call for help in scouting art for the blog and future articles. Her enthusiasm and love of art, not just polymer, has made working with her such a joy.
Irene brought to me this unusual and intriguing artist, Laura Balombini. What a fabulous imagination!
Irene had this to say about why she is drawn to Laura’s work:
“She has created individuality and expression in each bird-form, while controlling any random effects through the simplicity of form and the repetition of each one, holding size and the shape elements that make up each of the birds, constant. Each of the faces and wings differ, creating interest for the viewer, while the even number and placement in 2 rows around the rectangle provide “discipline” for the design. Additional interest comes from the birdlike movement created by the positioning of the heads as they peck, look, stretch their necks, birdlike, yet also, somewhat human in their features. At first glance, the piece has a feel of folk-art, but the naiveté of folk art is transformed into something else when one sees the human features in the faces. The piece seems to tell a story, and also, holds a surprise. Using polymer clay for these forms is an artistic choice that works really well, given its color range, density and malleability.”
Enjoy more of Laura’s imaginative creations on her website.
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: A Few Words on Personal Voice
August 16, 2013
Inspirational Art
Today I’d like to introduce you to ceramicist Carolyn Genders. Her work and her books were brought to my attention by Irene Corman (who has authored an article on putting together a great class and workshop in the upcoming Fall issue, due out this coming week) because of this great quote Irene had pulled from Carolyn’s book, Sources of Inspiration:
“It is easy to get carried away by the feel of the clay, the excitement of mastering new skills…when in fact the most vital consideration is the “idea” and making work that has individuality and a personal voice.”
She may be talking about earthen clay, but quite a few of you know exactly what she’s saying, having experienced the addictive nature of polymer and all its endless possibilities. This quote actually ended up in the article about Dan Cormier’s Broken Telephone Project, as the discussion in the article revolves around the importance of developing and creating with your own personal voice. I thought a bow to the source of the quote and the idea behind it was worth a little Friday afternoon contemplation.
Like most of the artists you’ll find in the next issue, Carolyn’s inspiration comes from nature, but particularly the Sussex landscape where she lives. She sketches her impressions of the landscape, then later takes these visual notes and abstracts them as she integrates them into her vessels and sculptures. Her “Stone Sculptural Form” you see here has some obvious influence from the lines and veins of stone; but then there is the abstraction of color which is highly representative of her personal style and manner of artistic expression. The stone of her home landscape may have been the source for design elements, but the artist has inserted herself with a bold, confident hand.
If you enjoy Carolyn’s colorful, abstracted work, you can enjoy more of it on her website here. Irene highly recommends her book Sources of Inspiration. As for me, I’m waiting for my recently ordered copy to arrive so I can form my own opinion–a “job” I very much look forward to.
I met Irene Corman at Synergy this past March. She enthusiastically suggested an article idea of hers which eventually resulted in her sharing her knowledge about teaching polymer art classes in the Fall 2013 issue of The Polymer Arts magazine. Since then, Irene has also answered my call for help in scouting art for the blog and future articles. Her enthusiasm and love of art, not just polymer, has made working with her such a joy.
Irene brought to me this unusual and intriguing artist, Laura Balombini. What a fabulous imagination!
Irene had this to say about why she is drawn to Laura’s work:
“She has created individuality and expression in each bird-form, while controlling any random effects through the simplicity of form and the repetition of each one, holding size and the shape elements that make up each of the birds, constant. Each of the faces and wings differ, creating interest for the viewer, while the even number and placement in 2 rows around the rectangle provide “discipline” for the design. Additional interest comes from the birdlike movement created by the positioning of the heads as they peck, look, stretch their necks, birdlike, yet also, somewhat human in their features. At first glance, the piece has a feel of folk-art, but the naiveté of folk art is transformed into something else when one sees the human features in the faces. The piece seems to tell a story, and also, holds a surprise. Using polymer clay for these forms is an artistic choice that works really well, given its color range, density and malleability.”
Enjoy more of Laura’s imaginative creations on her website.
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.
Read More
Today I’d like to introduce you to ceramicist Carolyn Genders. Her work and her books were brought to my attention by Irene Corman (who has authored an article on putting together a great class and workshop in the upcoming Fall issue, due out this coming week) because of this great quote Irene had pulled from Carolyn’s book, Sources of Inspiration:
“It is easy to get carried away by the feel of the clay, the excitement of mastering new skills…when in fact the most vital consideration is the “idea” and making work that has individuality and a personal voice.”
She may be talking about earthen clay, but quite a few of you know exactly what she’s saying, having experienced the addictive nature of polymer and all its endless possibilities. This quote actually ended up in the article about Dan Cormier’s Broken Telephone Project, as the discussion in the article revolves around the importance of developing and creating with your own personal voice. I thought a bow to the source of the quote and the idea behind it was worth a little Friday afternoon contemplation.
Like most of the artists you’ll find in the next issue, Carolyn’s inspiration comes from nature, but particularly the Sussex landscape where she lives. She sketches her impressions of the landscape, then later takes these visual notes and abstracts them as she integrates them into her vessels and sculptures. Her “Stone Sculptural Form” you see here has some obvious influence from the lines and veins of stone; but then there is the abstraction of color which is highly representative of her personal style and manner of artistic expression. The stone of her home landscape may have been the source for design elements, but the artist has inserted herself with a bold, confident hand.
If you enjoy Carolyn’s colorful, abstracted work, you can enjoy more of it on her website here. Irene highly recommends her book Sources of Inspiration. As for me, I’m waiting for my recently ordered copy to arrive so I can form my own opinion–a “job” I very much look forward to.
Read More