Canes Gone Wild
October 10, 2016
Inspirational Art
While researching the translucent canes last week, I came across a lot of amazing cane pieces. Some were delicately beautiful, some extraordinarily skilled and some were just wild. This vase is a case in point.
To be honest, I am not sure what Olga Perova did to this but it completely sucked me in because the details are tremendous. I believe the work is a combination of extruder caning and extruder mokume with micro beads and maybe some post cure carving going on. Not absolutely sure but what a lot of work this must have been. A part of me wants to see the form itself more controlled–straighter upper edges and cleaner openings in the body–but then I am not sure that the feeling of complete abandon would be quite as strong and that could diminish it overall. Maybe my eyes and mind just need a place to rest that is simple and ordinary while looking at this. Of course, bedlam and a riot of color and texture may very well be Olga’s intention. In which case, she certainly did that.
To really appreciate the detail and intensity of this piece, you need to pop over to Olga’s Flickr photostream and see all the shots. Then look through the rest of what she has. You’ll see that most of her work is very well controlled but she doesn’t shy away from being experimental either.
Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Create chaos. Work completely intuitively for at least 15 minutes. Let chaos rules the work that comes from your hands. If you are itching to put order to your chaos after 15 minutes, do so. Otherwise keep at it and see what comes of pure intuition.
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Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners.
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Outside Inspiration: Getting Lost in Glass
March 28, 2014
Inspirational Art
Of course the 1000 Beads books has many beads that are not polymer but I would say all the beads, no matter what the material, are inspirational for the polymer artist.
I know I completely fell in love with the beads by glass artist Lisa Atchison whose lampwork reminded me of intricate polymer cane layering, only there are a few additions to the traditional all cane layered bead. Can you see the additional micro beads and crystals she’s added not to mention the filigree like lines laid atop the basic layers? This kind of accenting would be easy enough to add to any polymer bead. Its a great example of how the approach in another medium can be transferred to a polymer approach.
Do take a look at the many other beautiful pieces by Lisa on her blog. Just the ones in the header are amazing!
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.
Strewn and Balanced
December 3, 2013
Inspirational Art
Here is another example of scatter in a composition. There is no organized pattern. The many elements are different in color and size and although most are round, there is smattering of crackle on the outside edges to counter that. So why does this pendant by Cecilia Button still work?
The approach that holds this together is repetition and relationship. All the elements are arranged in a vertical alignment so although they are not quite lined up, the items scattered across the face of the pendant follow a general up and down path. The gold is also repeated, foil on either side, gold-green clay and those gold micro beads in the center. Then the gold micro beads are primarily on the darker colored clay while blacks beads roughly mirror them, sunk into light colored clay. Both sides have large muted green or gray spots. Repetition, mirroring and carrying characteristics of the elements across draws the relationship between them all and creates a cohesive piece.
Cecilia says the technique on this was adapted from a tutorial from Leggende Segrete although I can’t figure out which one, probably because she so very much made it her own. Cecilia is highly innovative with whatever technique or form she works with. Time on her Flickr pages and her blog site are worth more than just a quick perusal. Get some coffee or tea, take a little break, and spend some time with her work!
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.
Micro beads and Pods
December 1, 2012
Inspirational Art
Shiny things … that’s the focus of the latest issue of The Polymer Arts magazine. Having that theme on my mind, I kept my eye out for all kinds of things we might add to or use to treat polymer clay. Due to having seen Claire Maunsell’s pods, shown below, I actually sought out the micro beads that I talk about in the Winter issue.
The judicious use of just a small gathering of the micro beads looks like strangely developed seeds and draws our eye as the focus of the beads (see the article on Focal Points in the latest issue as well). The carved and colored surface is so involved that one could spend long minutes taking it all in as well as return to them again and again to look and touch the delightful little pod, seeing something new or from a new angle each time.
By the way … if you don’t have the latest issue or don’t have a subscription to The Polymer Arts yet, suggesting it as a gift to your significant other, the kids, or your friends this holiday season would be a very good way to acquire your copy and an easy shopping ‘trip’ for the gift giver ;). We have back issue specials, including all of 2012’s issues or all back issues plus a 1 year subscription, for a significant discount. Just forward this blog link and … hint, hint, hint … you might find lots o’ polymer inspiration under the tree this year!
While researching the translucent canes last week, I came across a lot of amazing cane pieces. Some were delicately beautiful, some extraordinarily skilled and some were just wild. This vase is a case in point.
To be honest, I am not sure what Olga Perova did to this but it completely sucked me in because the details are tremendous. I believe the work is a combination of extruder caning and extruder mokume with micro beads and maybe some post cure carving going on. Not absolutely sure but what a lot of work this must have been. A part of me wants to see the form itself more controlled–straighter upper edges and cleaner openings in the body–but then I am not sure that the feeling of complete abandon would be quite as strong and that could diminish it overall. Maybe my eyes and mind just need a place to rest that is simple and ordinary while looking at this. Of course, bedlam and a riot of color and texture may very well be Olga’s intention. In which case, she certainly did that.
To really appreciate the detail and intensity of this piece, you need to pop over to Olga’s Flickr photostream and see all the shots. Then look through the rest of what she has. You’ll see that most of her work is very well controlled but she doesn’t shy away from being experimental either.
Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Create chaos. Work completely intuitively for at least 15 minutes. Let chaos rules the work that comes from your hands. If you are itching to put order to your chaos after 15 minutes, do so. Otherwise keep at it and see what comes of pure intuition.
_________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners.
_________________________________________
Read MoreOf course the 1000 Beads books has many beads that are not polymer but I would say all the beads, no matter what the material, are inspirational for the polymer artist.
I know I completely fell in love with the beads by glass artist Lisa Atchison whose lampwork reminded me of intricate polymer cane layering, only there are a few additions to the traditional all cane layered bead. Can you see the additional micro beads and crystals she’s added not to mention the filigree like lines laid atop the basic layers? This kind of accenting would be easy enough to add to any polymer bead. Its a great example of how the approach in another medium can be transferred to a polymer approach.
Do take a look at the many other beautiful pieces by Lisa on her blog. Just the ones in the header are amazing!
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.
Here is another example of scatter in a composition. There is no organized pattern. The many elements are different in color and size and although most are round, there is smattering of crackle on the outside edges to counter that. So why does this pendant by Cecilia Button still work?
The approach that holds this together is repetition and relationship. All the elements are arranged in a vertical alignment so although they are not quite lined up, the items scattered across the face of the pendant follow a general up and down path. The gold is also repeated, foil on either side, gold-green clay and those gold micro beads in the center. Then the gold micro beads are primarily on the darker colored clay while blacks beads roughly mirror them, sunk into light colored clay. Both sides have large muted green or gray spots. Repetition, mirroring and carrying characteristics of the elements across draws the relationship between them all and creates a cohesive piece.
Cecilia says the technique on this was adapted from a tutorial from Leggende Segrete although I can’t figure out which one, probably because she so very much made it her own. Cecilia is highly innovative with whatever technique or form she works with. Time on her Flickr pages and her blog site are worth more than just a quick perusal. Get some coffee or tea, take a little break, and spend some time with her work!
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.
Shiny things … that’s the focus of the latest issue of The Polymer Arts magazine. Having that theme on my mind, I kept my eye out for all kinds of things we might add to or use to treat polymer clay. Due to having seen Claire Maunsell’s pods, shown below, I actually sought out the micro beads that I talk about in the Winter issue.
The judicious use of just a small gathering of the micro beads looks like strangely developed seeds and draws our eye as the focus of the beads (see the article on Focal Points in the latest issue as well). The carved and colored surface is so involved that one could spend long minutes taking it all in as well as return to them again and again to look and touch the delightful little pod, seeing something new or from a new angle each time.
By the way … if you don’t have the latest issue or don’t have a subscription to The Polymer Arts yet, suggesting it as a gift to your significant other, the kids, or your friends this holiday season would be a very good way to acquire your copy and an easy shopping ‘trip’ for the gift giver ;). We have back issue specials, including all of 2012’s issues or all back issues plus a 1 year subscription, for a significant discount. Just forward this blog link and … hint, hint, hint … you might find lots o’ polymer inspiration under the tree this year!
Read More
