Layering Fabrics and Florals
November 9, 2015
Inspirational Art
I’m riding the coattails of last week’s theme, layers on simple forms, and segueing into a week with a focus on combining with other materials. I thought this particular idea shown here, using organza as an overlay onto polymer, was a fantastic idea, both for visual and tactile texture. It also could be a great alternative to silk screening or stencils when you are looking for graphical or well-defined additional imagery for your piece.
The generous artist sharing this little tidbit is Marcia Tzigelnik, a masterful caner that hails from Israel. She wrote up a tutorial for Polymer Clay Central some time back, but I think it’s time to pull it back out and see what more we can do with it these days. It seems to me, from this tutorial, that you could use any kind of sheer fabric, thin lace, tulle, and other fabrics that will allow the layer below to show through. Additionally, using the liquid polymer on top gives you an instant finish to work with.
I might add to her notes that you will want to work with a clean bit of cloth, free of any kind of dirt or debris including lint (try running a piece of masking take over both sides to help). Every little possible floater you have can mar the finish on the liquid polymer. Alternately, if you have a fair amount of experience laying out thin layers of translucent clay, you could use that too. Just be sure to burnish the cloth into the translucent clay and then burnish it onto the raw clay form to eliminate any air pockets.
Take a look at the full tutorial here. You can find more tutorials, and Maria’s beautiful canes, in her Etsy shop.
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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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Looking Back At Folded Beads
April 5, 2014
Inspirational Art
As we finish up our week on folded polymer, we’re taking a look at these folded beads by Jamey Allen, one of the early pioneers in the development of polymer clay bead making. He is best known for his millefiori work and reinventing the folded bead. The folded clay adds a richness of detail and the color choices give a comfortable warmth to these beads.
If you would like to learn more about Jamey, there is a great interview with him online and take a look at his book,”5 Artists – 5 Directions in Polymer 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.
Leigh’s Depth
March 27, 2014
Inspirational Art
Here is another beautiful bead from one of Lark’s 1000 Beads book artists in polymer. Leigh Ross does a wonderful job layering canes and translucents. Notice the depth her approach gives this pendant. It looks like the space goes back farther than the bead is thick! It’s like there is a little miniature world inside this single bead.
Leigh Ross is probably familiar to many of you. Not only is she the owner of the popular website Polymer Clay Central, she is also a writer, teacher, and silver worker. You can find more of her work and enjoy her projects, lessons, and tutorials on Polymer Clay Central.
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.
Faux Agate
October 4, 2012
Technique tutorials, Tips and Tricks
I was a bit of a gem hound in the years before I found polymer clay. That was probably one of the prime reasons I was drawn to polymer. I love the tranluscency of semi-precious stones combined with the variety of textures, inclusions and colors. And to then discover a material that can reproduce this in new and infinite ways! Dreams do come true.
This tutorial for agate from Jenny Cox, posted over on Polymer Clay Central is just fantastic – highlighting all those intriguing characteristics of semi-precious stones that draws us to them.
This a very simple and effective technique. My only thing is, why make it look like existing agate? I say take it a step further. Skinner blend the outside rings, add brillant foil inclusions or a few dabs of alcohol ink on the core before wrapping. Nature has done such a wonderful job but with the material we have on hand, why not see where we can take it?
Where might you take it?
I’m riding the coattails of last week’s theme, layers on simple forms, and segueing into a week with a focus on combining with other materials. I thought this particular idea shown here, using organza as an overlay onto polymer, was a fantastic idea, both for visual and tactile texture. It also could be a great alternative to silk screening or stencils when you are looking for graphical or well-defined additional imagery for your piece.
The generous artist sharing this little tidbit is Marcia Tzigelnik, a masterful caner that hails from Israel. She wrote up a tutorial for Polymer Clay Central some time back, but I think it’s time to pull it back out and see what more we can do with it these days. It seems to me, from this tutorial, that you could use any kind of sheer fabric, thin lace, tulle, and other fabrics that will allow the layer below to show through. Additionally, using the liquid polymer on top gives you an instant finish to work with.
I might add to her notes that you will want to work with a clean bit of cloth, free of any kind of dirt or debris including lint (try running a piece of masking take over both sides to help). Every little possible floater you have can mar the finish on the liquid polymer. Alternately, if you have a fair amount of experience laying out thin layers of translucent clay, you could use that too. Just be sure to burnish the cloth into the translucent clay and then burnish it onto the raw clay form to eliminate any air pockets.
Take a look at the full tutorial here. You can find more tutorials, and Maria’s beautiful canes, in her Etsy shop.
___________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:
___________________________________________
Read MoreAs we finish up our week on folded polymer, we’re taking a look at these folded beads by Jamey Allen, one of the early pioneers in the development of polymer clay bead making. He is best known for his millefiori work and reinventing the folded bead. The folded clay adds a richness of detail and the color choices give a comfortable warmth to these beads.
If you would like to learn more about Jamey, there is a great interview with him online and take a look at his book,”5 Artists – 5 Directions in Polymer 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.
Here is another beautiful bead from one of Lark’s 1000 Beads book artists in polymer. Leigh Ross does a wonderful job layering canes and translucents. Notice the depth her approach gives this pendant. It looks like the space goes back farther than the bead is thick! It’s like there is a little miniature world inside this single bead.
Leigh Ross is probably familiar to many of you. Not only is she the owner of the popular website Polymer Clay Central, she is also a writer, teacher, and silver worker. You can find more of her work and enjoy her projects, lessons, and tutorials on Polymer Clay Central.
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 was a bit of a gem hound in the years before I found polymer clay. That was probably one of the prime reasons I was drawn to polymer. I love the tranluscency of semi-precious stones combined with the variety of textures, inclusions and colors. And to then discover a material that can reproduce this in new and infinite ways! Dreams do come true.
This tutorial for agate from Jenny Cox, posted over on Polymer Clay Central is just fantastic – highlighting all those intriguing characteristics of semi-precious stones that draws us to them.
This a very simple and effective technique. My only thing is, why make it look like existing agate? I say take it a step further. Skinner blend the outside rings, add brillant foil inclusions or a few dabs of alcohol ink on the core before wrapping. Nature has done such a wonderful job but with the material we have on hand, why not see where we can take it?
Where might you take it?
Read More