Joe’s Little World

August 1, 2018

Here is another unusual and fantastic use of polymer that Susan Lomuto, the blogger behind the Daily Art Muse blog, dug up back in 2014.

Talk about mixing media … Joe Fig’s very detailed miniature studios are created from polymer clay and myriad other materials and portray the work of a variety of artists. Not only do these works show the versatility of polymer but they show off the artwork of painters, printers and other artists using this medium that we love so much.

There is not much more to say, since his work says so much already, so I’m going to leave you to jump over to the blog post for this or to go see what Joe is up to these days by going to his website. You might also be interested in his books, where he interviews artists about their studio and how they work as artists. The 2009 book,  Inside the Painters Studio, includes all these dioramas he made. Enjoy!

 

 

New Homes

June 4, 2018

At the end of this week, Creative Journey Studios, the ultimate polymer-related destination and a must-have on every polymer enthusiast’s bucket list, is having a grand reopening celebration at their new digs in Milton, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. The move from Buford was a monumental project for our dear Ellen Prophater and Sue Sutherland who are at the core of this fabulous concept and place. I’m sure they are thrilled as well as relieved to finally have a home set up again for the workshops and collection of polymer arts. Creative Journey Studios houses one of the largest collections of historically relevant polymer art in the world. The collection has recently expanded as well, taking up 18 cases just stuffed with amazing artwork.

One of the newest pieces in the collection is this mosaic by Ponsawan Sila, who recently relocated herself and her daughter to Thailand from Indiana, and had to shed many of their belongings in the process. But lucky us, this beautiful piece is permanently housed with our ladies in Milton.

For this coming weekend’s grand opening, held June 5th to the 8th, there will be demos all weekend along with a trunk show for Lindly Haunani on Friday night. The gallery will be showing off new work by quite a number of artists working in both polymer and mixed media. I’ll spend this week and maybe some of next week highlighting recent work by a number of these great artists that the studio supports.

If you’re interested in attending the grand reopening, go to the Creative Journey Studios’ website for further details. If you will have to visit on another day, you may want to look at the workshop schedule and plan to attend one of the amazing workshops they have coming up, conducted by the likes of Donna Greenberg, Jana Roberts Benzon, Julie Picarello and more. Go to this page for the workshop schedule.

Fun with Nature and Molds

I’m a very busy beaver today, wrapping up some final items for the upcoming release of the Fall issue of The Polymer Arts. I really wish I was goofing off in the studio though. But since I can’t quite do that yet, maybe you can do so for me?

One of my favorite articles in the next issue includes making molds and texture sheets from natural finds. (The article, Plein Air, is all about taking your art outdoors and bringing the outdoors into your studio … such fun!) Lynn Lunger‘s “ugly molds,” as she deprecatingly calls them, are a slightly different approach to some of what Kate Clawson will show you in the upcoming issue. So while you anxiously await the Fall issue to arrive, you can play with bringing a little nature into your studio right now.

moldtute3

 

Lynn’s tutorial blog post has tips on pulling texture from natural elements as well as down and dirty mold making for a fun day in the studio. So go enjoy a (hopefully) sunny day out in the yard or on a hike gathering from nature itself; then get back and play in the studio for me!

 

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Organizing: Turn ‘Em Upside Down

July 11, 2012

How many tiny bottles of paint, alcohol ink, glue, etc. you have taking up drawer or shelf space in the studio? If they are taking up valuable space, here is a fantastic idea from paper crafter Brianna Walling–it takes just a few magnets, some glue and an old baking sheet.

Attach a baking sheet or other flat sheet of metal (not aluminum … it won’t take magnets) to the underside of a shelf. If you have wire shelves, drill a couple holes and use ties to attach it, otherwise some well place screws should hold it to wooden shelving. Glue magnets onto the bottom of your bottles and pop them upside down onto the sheet. It’s a bit of space in your studio not often used and it keeps your paint and ink in the top of the bottle. Nice.

Brianna wrote a blog piece about it for paper crafters: http://wecanbeaoriginal.com/blog/2011/07/beaorganized-glitter-glue/

 

Joe’s Little World

August 1, 2018
Posted in

Here is another unusual and fantastic use of polymer that Susan Lomuto, the blogger behind the Daily Art Muse blog, dug up back in 2014.

Talk about mixing media … Joe Fig’s very detailed miniature studios are created from polymer clay and myriad other materials and portray the work of a variety of artists. Not only do these works show the versatility of polymer but they show off the artwork of painters, printers and other artists using this medium that we love so much.

There is not much more to say, since his work says so much already, so I’m going to leave you to jump over to the blog post for this or to go see what Joe is up to these days by going to his website. You might also be interested in his books, where he interviews artists about their studio and how they work as artists. The 2009 book,  Inside the Painters Studio, includes all these dioramas he made. Enjoy!

 

 

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New Homes

June 4, 2018
Posted in

At the end of this week, Creative Journey Studios, the ultimate polymer-related destination and a must-have on every polymer enthusiast’s bucket list, is having a grand reopening celebration at their new digs in Milton, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. The move from Buford was a monumental project for our dear Ellen Prophater and Sue Sutherland who are at the core of this fabulous concept and place. I’m sure they are thrilled as well as relieved to finally have a home set up again for the workshops and collection of polymer arts. Creative Journey Studios houses one of the largest collections of historically relevant polymer art in the world. The collection has recently expanded as well, taking up 18 cases just stuffed with amazing artwork.

One of the newest pieces in the collection is this mosaic by Ponsawan Sila, who recently relocated herself and her daughter to Thailand from Indiana, and had to shed many of their belongings in the process. But lucky us, this beautiful piece is permanently housed with our ladies in Milton.

For this coming weekend’s grand opening, held June 5th to the 8th, there will be demos all weekend along with a trunk show for Lindly Haunani on Friday night. The gallery will be showing off new work by quite a number of artists working in both polymer and mixed media. I’ll spend this week and maybe some of next week highlighting recent work by a number of these great artists that the studio supports.

If you’re interested in attending the grand reopening, go to the Creative Journey Studios’ website for further details. If you will have to visit on another day, you may want to look at the workshop schedule and plan to attend one of the amazing workshops they have coming up, conducted by the likes of Donna Greenberg, Jana Roberts Benzon, Julie Picarello and more. Go to this page for the workshop schedule.

Read More

Fun with Nature and Molds

August 10, 2013
Posted in ,

I’m a very busy beaver today, wrapping up some final items for the upcoming release of the Fall issue of The Polymer Arts. I really wish I was goofing off in the studio though. But since I can’t quite do that yet, maybe you can do so for me?

One of my favorite articles in the next issue includes making molds and texture sheets from natural finds. (The article, Plein Air, is all about taking your art outdoors and bringing the outdoors into your studio … such fun!) Lynn Lunger‘s “ugly molds,” as she deprecatingly calls them, are a slightly different approach to some of what Kate Clawson will show you in the upcoming issue. So while you anxiously await the Fall issue to arrive, you can play with bringing a little nature into your studio right now.

moldtute3

 

Lynn’s tutorial blog post has tips on pulling texture from natural elements as well as down and dirty mold making for a fun day in the studio. So go enjoy a (hopefully) sunny day out in the yard or on a hike gathering from nature itself; then get back and play in the studio for me!

 

blog Banner Ad 230x125

Read More

Organizing: Turn ‘Em Upside Down

July 11, 2012
Posted in

How many tiny bottles of paint, alcohol ink, glue, etc. you have taking up drawer or shelf space in the studio? If they are taking up valuable space, here is a fantastic idea from paper crafter Brianna Walling–it takes just a few magnets, some glue and an old baking sheet.

Attach a baking sheet or other flat sheet of metal (not aluminum … it won’t take magnets) to the underside of a shelf. If you have wire shelves, drill a couple holes and use ties to attach it, otherwise some well place screws should hold it to wooden shelving. Glue magnets onto the bottom of your bottles and pop them upside down onto the sheet. It’s a bit of space in your studio not often used and it keeps your paint and ink in the top of the bottle. Nice.

Brianna wrote a blog piece about it for paper crafters: http://wecanbeaoriginal.com/blog/2011/07/beaorganized-glitter-glue/

 

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