Love of Coffee
February 7, 2015
Inspirational Art
On this last day of representational imagery, I thought I’d leave it on the light side, as well as take the chance to celebrate my favorite beverage!
Isn’t this pen just too cute? Tama of DetallitoOz does cute so very well. All of her work has such character and style. And cute imagery works best when it has a really great personal style coming through. From the little coffee pot on top to the swollen cups full of rich java, this pen is playful and energetic, so much so it’s making me feel a real need for a cup of joe myself!
See more of Tama’s wonderfully styled pieces on her site here. This little lamb would like you to come visit him.
And do continue to send me your love stories! A free digital copy or equivalent credit for The Polymer Arts print editions for each story I share, not to mention how happy and excited that special someone in your life will be when they see their story with you out there for all the world to sigh over. If you missed it, there are more details on Wednesday’s post about our Valentine’s Day contest.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Outside Inspiration: Visions in Metal
February 6, 2015
Inspirational Art
Looking at all the other craft mediums out there, there is so much in the way of representational imagery. It was hard to decide what to share today. But since we are so many of us jewelry artists, I decided to return to the classic precious metal jewelry craft. This particular piece titled Na Pali Moon by Joan Tenenbaum uses several different classic techniques including reticulation (heating precious metal to cause ripples on the surface), cutting, patina surface treatments and even mokume gane (quick … can you find it?). For an all metal piece, the colors are particularly amazing and well controlled.
Joan described what she was trying to recreate here: “I have long been fascinated by the view of distant hills as they disappear into the mist. I love how they become less and less distinct and fade in color the farther away they are. As one looks along the coast, the rippling texture of the ridges of headlands has always inspired visions of jewelry capturing that movement and that landscape. In Na Pali Moon I have combined this theme with another favorite — that of moonlight on water. There are many beautiful coastlines, but the distinctive northwest coast of the Island of Kauai is one of the most exciting to me.”
I can see this kind of thing being made in polymer too. Polymer would lend itself well to the layers and textures. The hardest part might be mixing the muted colors to keep the serene feeling of such a scene. For more on Joan’s work and process, take a look at her gallery here.
Speaking of precious metal jewelry, our friends over at Metal Clay Artist magazine have had a terrible financial blow fall on them due to another business’s faulty practices. The problem is so bad that they’ve suspended publication on this magazine indefinitely — and it’s the only metal clay focused magazine in print! I am particularly saddened by and empathetic to their situation because MCAM is so much like The Polymer Arts — created by and for artists in a new medium and out of a passion to share with and grow their community. They even publish polymer clay articles, so you know they’re good people! We have been in touch to see how TPA might help, but first the editor, Jeanette LeBlanc, needs to get out from under the overwhelming financial burden caused by unforeseeable circumstances. You can read more on this story and how you can help and even get yourself some goodies or issues of this beautiful magazines at this MCAM FundMe page. Or go to the Metal Clay Artists’ website to buy a back issue or two. Get new inspiration, and help out a fellow artist dedicated to helping fellow crafters.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Re-Imagining An Owl
February 2, 2015
Inspirational Art
While cruising the farthest corners of the internet last week looking for conceptual pieces, I came across a lot of beautiful representational imagery in polymer. Concepts are created in art using imagery; concepts can also be created abstractly, or concepts can be embodied in the function, location or timing of the piece. And, I think, all representational imagery is obviously not conceptual but sometimes simply the artist’s view or translation of something out there in the world or within our imaginations. Sometimes, you just want to sit back and enjoy something well- or cleverly rendered. So that’s what we’re going to do this week.
This first piece feels so much more than visually representational. I imagine that, while wearing this necklace with the segmented feather beads, the wearer’s movement would make the the feathers shift, in a smooth subtle way. I think it could bring to mind flight or the owl gently ruffling its wings. The idea of something that flies combined with a design that moves and floats is just lovely. It represents the bird and an action of the bird. Rather clever.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
On this last day of representational imagery, I thought I’d leave it on the light side, as well as take the chance to celebrate my favorite beverage!
Isn’t this pen just too cute? Tama of DetallitoOz does cute so very well. All of her work has such character and style. And cute imagery works best when it has a really great personal style coming through. From the little coffee pot on top to the swollen cups full of rich java, this pen is playful and energetic, so much so it’s making me feel a real need for a cup of joe myself!
See more of Tama’s wonderfully styled pieces on her site here. This little lamb would like you to come visit him.
And do continue to send me your love stories! A free digital copy or equivalent credit for The Polymer Arts print editions for each story I share, not to mention how happy and excited that special someone in your life will be when they see their story with you out there for all the world to sigh over. If you missed it, there are more details on Wednesday’s post about our Valentine’s Day contest.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Read More
Looking at all the other craft mediums out there, there is so much in the way of representational imagery. It was hard to decide what to share today. But since we are so many of us jewelry artists, I decided to return to the classic precious metal jewelry craft. This particular piece titled Na Pali Moon by Joan Tenenbaum uses several different classic techniques including reticulation (heating precious metal to cause ripples on the surface), cutting, patina surface treatments and even mokume gane (quick … can you find it?). For an all metal piece, the colors are particularly amazing and well controlled.
Joan described what she was trying to recreate here: “I have long been fascinated by the view of distant hills as they disappear into the mist. I love how they become less and less distinct and fade in color the farther away they are. As one looks along the coast, the rippling texture of the ridges of headlands has always inspired visions of jewelry capturing that movement and that landscape. In Na Pali Moon I have combined this theme with another favorite — that of moonlight on water. There are many beautiful coastlines, but the distinctive northwest coast of the Island of Kauai is one of the most exciting to me.”
I can see this kind of thing being made in polymer too. Polymer would lend itself well to the layers and textures. The hardest part might be mixing the muted colors to keep the serene feeling of such a scene. For more on Joan’s work and process, take a look at her gallery here.
Speaking of precious metal jewelry, our friends over at Metal Clay Artist magazine have had a terrible financial blow fall on them due to another business’s faulty practices. The problem is so bad that they’ve suspended publication on this magazine indefinitely — and it’s the only metal clay focused magazine in print! I am particularly saddened by and empathetic to their situation because MCAM is so much like The Polymer Arts — created by and for artists in a new medium and out of a passion to share with and grow their community. They even publish polymer clay articles, so you know they’re good people! We have been in touch to see how TPA might help, but first the editor, Jeanette LeBlanc, needs to get out from under the overwhelming financial burden caused by unforeseeable circumstances. You can read more on this story and how you can help and even get yourself some goodies or issues of this beautiful magazines at this MCAM FundMe page. Or go to the Metal Clay Artists’ website to buy a back issue or two. Get new inspiration, and help out a fellow artist dedicated to helping fellow crafters.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Read More
While cruising the farthest corners of the internet last week looking for conceptual pieces, I came across a lot of beautiful representational imagery in polymer. Concepts are created in art using imagery; concepts can also be created abstractly, or concepts can be embodied in the function, location or timing of the piece. And, I think, all representational imagery is obviously not conceptual but sometimes simply the artist’s view or translation of something out there in the world or within our imaginations. Sometimes, you just want to sit back and enjoy something well- or cleverly rendered. So that’s what we’re going to do this week.
This first piece feels so much more than visually representational. I imagine that, while wearing this necklace with the segmented feather beads, the wearer’s movement would make the the feathers shift, in a smooth subtle way. I think it could bring to mind flight or the owl gently ruffling its wings. The idea of something that flies combined with a design that moves and floats is just lovely. It represents the bird and an action of the bird. Rather clever.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Read More
