Between Scrap and Variations

October 5, 2015

hidden scrapgritI am between short, but intense, trips and have my brain quite fully embedded in the goal of teaching as I work on articles for the Winter issue and prepare for my class and first visit to Sandy Camp in San Diego at the end of this week. So, while I keep working on those items, how about a few ideas for things you might wish to explore?

All my tests and samples that I’ve been creating have produced a fair amount of scrap clay, so, of course, seeing a few cool options for using that clay catches my eye. And this process here, as outlined by Anne Idril Rohee Briere, actually overlaps into what I had planned to teach this weekend, as well as hitting on an interesting phenomenon. This technique isn’t really new but is rather a variation on, not one other technique, but varied other techniques. The cut and reveal approach to finding a pattern in clay is often referred to as mokume, but more often when it is done, it is done in layers of solid clay. Hidden magic is more traditionally done with rolled and pressed jelly roll canes while others have referred to covered layered or mixed clay that has been stamped and the top cut away as a reverse Sutton slice. I’m actually teaching a version of this as a variation for my mokume class this weekend, but I call it scrap mokume where primary layers in the mokume block are scrap separated by a solid color. They are all related in that they have a major common approach … depths of color change and slicing.

In other words, people have been, and hopefully will continue to, push the basic steps in these techniques to produce new and interesting patterns, and you can be one of those! The primary goal is to create a pattern that isn’t just a mush of color. That is what the solid layer or layers helps accomplish. Once you have that, you can stamp with a texture sheet, punch and cut your own pattern or fold and twist the clay. Then slice!

I always suggest trying a new technique as it’s been taught, then once you see how it works, that’s when your play and exploration can result in really wonderful variations. Let’s see what you can come up with this one. (You are more than welcome to send me your results, by the way. I love to see what others have made because of the posts and conversations on the blog. It helps keep me jazzed!)

See the full online tutorial here on Idril’s blog. Go ahead. It’s just playing with scrap and could be loads of fun.

 

Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:

     

     Print

 

Clean Mokume

November 29, 2014

SONY DSCOn Polyform’s website, there are numerous free lessons. If you have admired Melanie Muir’s clean mokume technique, you can get the basics and create your own from this great little tutorial on Polyform’s website. It’s nice to see the tutorial emphasize the importance of color contrast–light and dark, but there is also bright and dull, warm and cool and picking from opposite ends of the color spectrum.  All of these will give your color palette some level of drama. However, there is nothing at all wrong with choosing analogous colors, colors with similar saturation or value or anything else. It will create a different feel, and the less contrast, the less visual pop and drama you will see. But, we’re not always after that, are we?

So, why not choose a color palette that fits your mood, an outfit or reminds you of a great time or place and try Melanie’s approach? There are some great little tips in this lesson, which makes it worth at least a quick read for anyone into polymer surface treatments. And the resulting sheets or pendants could really get you ahead on creating for your gift giving list!

 

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.

businesscard-3.5inx2in-h-front      TPA Blog Newsletter Ad  ShadesofClay 1014 v2  lpedit  

Between Scrap and Variations

October 5, 2015
Posted in

hidden scrapgritI am between short, but intense, trips and have my brain quite fully embedded in the goal of teaching as I work on articles for the Winter issue and prepare for my class and first visit to Sandy Camp in San Diego at the end of this week. So, while I keep working on those items, how about a few ideas for things you might wish to explore?

All my tests and samples that I’ve been creating have produced a fair amount of scrap clay, so, of course, seeing a few cool options for using that clay catches my eye. And this process here, as outlined by Anne Idril Rohee Briere, actually overlaps into what I had planned to teach this weekend, as well as hitting on an interesting phenomenon. This technique isn’t really new but is rather a variation on, not one other technique, but varied other techniques. The cut and reveal approach to finding a pattern in clay is often referred to as mokume, but more often when it is done, it is done in layers of solid clay. Hidden magic is more traditionally done with rolled and pressed jelly roll canes while others have referred to covered layered or mixed clay that has been stamped and the top cut away as a reverse Sutton slice. I’m actually teaching a version of this as a variation for my mokume class this weekend, but I call it scrap mokume where primary layers in the mokume block are scrap separated by a solid color. They are all related in that they have a major common approach … depths of color change and slicing.

In other words, people have been, and hopefully will continue to, push the basic steps in these techniques to produce new and interesting patterns, and you can be one of those! The primary goal is to create a pattern that isn’t just a mush of color. That is what the solid layer or layers helps accomplish. Once you have that, you can stamp with a texture sheet, punch and cut your own pattern or fold and twist the clay. Then slice!

I always suggest trying a new technique as it’s been taught, then once you see how it works, that’s when your play and exploration can result in really wonderful variations. Let’s see what you can come up with this one. (You are more than welcome to send me your results, by the way. I love to see what others have made because of the posts and conversations on the blog. It helps keep me jazzed!)

See the full online tutorial here on Idril’s blog. Go ahead. It’s just playing with scrap and could be loads of fun.

 

Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:

     

     Print

 

Read More

Clean Mokume

November 29, 2014
Posted in

SONY DSCOn Polyform’s website, there are numerous free lessons. If you have admired Melanie Muir’s clean mokume technique, you can get the basics and create your own from this great little tutorial on Polyform’s website. It’s nice to see the tutorial emphasize the importance of color contrast–light and dark, but there is also bright and dull, warm and cool and picking from opposite ends of the color spectrum.  All of these will give your color palette some level of drama. However, there is nothing at all wrong with choosing analogous colors, colors with similar saturation or value or anything else. It will create a different feel, and the less contrast, the less visual pop and drama you will see. But, we’re not always after that, are we?

So, why not choose a color palette that fits your mood, an outfit or reminds you of a great time or place and try Melanie’s approach? There are some great little tips in this lesson, which makes it worth at least a quick read for anyone into polymer surface treatments. And the resulting sheets or pendants could really get you ahead on creating for your gift giving list!

 

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.

businesscard-3.5inx2in-h-front      TPA Blog Newsletter Ad  ShadesofClay 1014 v2  lpedit  

Read More
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