Patterned Perfection
April 27, 2016
Inspirational Art
I saw a piece of Jon Stuart Anderson’s, before I even knew what polymer clay was, in a gift shop in the Denver airport. It was a frog so beautifully patterned in a material I didn’t know and since it was nothing I could afford that was as far as my admiration was able to go. It wasn’t until several years later when I was starting the magazine that I found Jon’s work again. We were compiling our resource list of artists and my assistant found his work and couldn’t stop gushing over it. Then he saw Jon’s work in that same gift shop and called me quite excited about seeing it in person and it clicked into place that I had seen this work in person myself.
I got to interview Jon, the first person he ever agreed to do that for, a year later. In a phone call from Bali, I got to know Jon a bit and was even more impressed by his kindness and joyful nature not to mention his complete immersion and dedication to his craft. He is certainly one of brightest gems and it’s no surprise that the board found him to have some of the best work of the last couple years.
Although Jon creates a lot more than animals, those are his best known pieces. I was going to pull out one of his sculptures or laminated guitars for you but these fish heads were too beautiful and fun and I don’t think they’ve really gotten around the web like his other creatures. The canes on top along with the varied texture of their underbellies show his wide range of fine caning skills and his brilliant use of color.
Images are really not enough to convey the vibrant colors and the flawless finish of Jon’s work. His work is in galleries and gift shops all over the world so keep your eye out for his work or see if you can nab some gorgeous piece from his retailer directly. In the meantime, you can discover more of his pieces on his website and for your tea or coffee break, I suggest sitting down to watch his videos on how he makes his canes. It’s a treat to watch a master at work!
Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Make the theme of your next piece ‘pattern’. Create small patterns, textural or visual, that are repeated over and over lining up to emphasize form or create the feel of movement. You could create with canes but you can also use handmade stamps, hand-tooled marks, or tiny tiles or shapes punched out of textured sheets of clay.
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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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In Awe of New Hope
March 30, 2013
Inspirational Art
Easter, whether one partakes of its religious or more secular traditions, is really about hope. Between the observance of the rising of the Christian savior and the association with ancient agricultural societies’ Spring celebrations, its traditions focus on the promises and optimism of the coming year. The colors are light and bright and the symbolism is, well, young. Baby bunnies, little chicks, and of course, all the sweet young children we tend to focus on … especially us doting aunts, uncles and grandparents.
I am so in awe of sculptors that can capture that very unique look and expression of innocence and hope in children. Cynthia Malbon is one such artist. She can imbue her art dolls with a visage that nearly breaks your heart. Here is one of a child slightly older than the majority of her body of work shows on her sites, but this child’s open expression is just so precious, not to mention amazingly realistic.
If you can handle a serious overload of adorableness, take a look at Cynthia’s SmugMug page. You might also want to check out her blog with process photos on some of her posts show her amazing talent in more detail.
A Nomadic Moment
January 3, 2013
Inspirational Art
We’re taking a moment today to admire the work of Renata Jansen, sculptor of highly detailed dolls and figurines. Her subject matter touches on the fantastic as well as portraiture and interpretations of story and myth.
Damia here is a creature of the city. It took me a few times through the many images Renata posted (as she does for most of her dolls … you really get a detailed view of each one on her website) to realize that she’s winged. A great juxtaposition between fantasy and gritty street life in our own realm.
Renata has a serious dedication to realism (even in her fantastical creatures). She has an interesting set of tutorials on making tiny doll eyes from polymer and resin. They aren’t difficult, but as it is with her sculptures, its all about the details.
I saw a piece of Jon Stuart Anderson’s, before I even knew what polymer clay was, in a gift shop in the Denver airport. It was a frog so beautifully patterned in a material I didn’t know and since it was nothing I could afford that was as far as my admiration was able to go. It wasn’t until several years later when I was starting the magazine that I found Jon’s work again. We were compiling our resource list of artists and my assistant found his work and couldn’t stop gushing over it. Then he saw Jon’s work in that same gift shop and called me quite excited about seeing it in person and it clicked into place that I had seen this work in person myself.
I got to interview Jon, the first person he ever agreed to do that for, a year later. In a phone call from Bali, I got to know Jon a bit and was even more impressed by his kindness and joyful nature not to mention his complete immersion and dedication to his craft. He is certainly one of brightest gems and it’s no surprise that the board found him to have some of the best work of the last couple years.
Although Jon creates a lot more than animals, those are his best known pieces. I was going to pull out one of his sculptures or laminated guitars for you but these fish heads were too beautiful and fun and I don’t think they’ve really gotten around the web like his other creatures. The canes on top along with the varied texture of their underbellies show his wide range of fine caning skills and his brilliant use of color.
Images are really not enough to convey the vibrant colors and the flawless finish of Jon’s work. His work is in galleries and gift shops all over the world so keep your eye out for his work or see if you can nab some gorgeous piece from his retailer directly. In the meantime, you can discover more of his pieces on his website and for your tea or coffee break, I suggest sitting down to watch his videos on how he makes his canes. It’s a treat to watch a master at work!
Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Make the theme of your next piece ‘pattern’. Create small patterns, textural or visual, that are repeated over and over lining up to emphasize form or create the feel of movement. You could create with canes but you can also use handmade stamps, hand-tooled marks, or tiny tiles or shapes punched out of textured sheets of clay.
_________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:
_________________________________________
Read MoreEaster, whether one partakes of its religious or more secular traditions, is really about hope. Between the observance of the rising of the Christian savior and the association with ancient agricultural societies’ Spring celebrations, its traditions focus on the promises and optimism of the coming year. The colors are light and bright and the symbolism is, well, young. Baby bunnies, little chicks, and of course, all the sweet young children we tend to focus on … especially us doting aunts, uncles and grandparents.
I am so in awe of sculptors that can capture that very unique look and expression of innocence and hope in children. Cynthia Malbon is one such artist. She can imbue her art dolls with a visage that nearly breaks your heart. Here is one of a child slightly older than the majority of her body of work shows on her sites, but this child’s open expression is just so precious, not to mention amazingly realistic.
If you can handle a serious overload of adorableness, take a look at Cynthia’s SmugMug page. You might also want to check out her blog with process photos on some of her posts show her amazing talent in more detail.
Read MoreWe’re taking a moment today to admire the work of Renata Jansen, sculptor of highly detailed dolls and figurines. Her subject matter touches on the fantastic as well as portraiture and interpretations of story and myth.
Damia here is a creature of the city. It took me a few times through the many images Renata posted (as she does for most of her dolls … you really get a detailed view of each one on her website) to realize that she’s winged. A great juxtaposition between fantasy and gritty street life in our own realm.
Renata has a serious dedication to realism (even in her fantastical creatures). She has an interesting set of tutorials on making tiny doll eyes from polymer and resin. They aren’t difficult, but as it is with her sculptures, its all about the details.
Read More
