Obsession with Curls and Swirls
April 8, 2013
Inspirational Art
One of the ways I manage to keep up with blogging daily is to keep a list of links to interesting art I find in my many forays down the internet highway as well as those sent by staff and readers. I noticed today as I looked over some options that my list consisted heavily of pieces with curls and swirls and spiraling things. We even had a couple curly things last week. It got me to thinking … what is it about the curly swirlies that we like so much? Okay, yes, I may have a penchant for them but the links that I have include work sent from others and come from what I run across just randomly. So what is it?
Well, from a design standpoint, curls, swirls and things that spiral to a center make for very strong focal points. These elements are made up of directional lines that take you from an outside point into a center or a more tightly wound end point of the line. Your eye can’t help but follow these lines from outside to inside or to the end point. Even when grouped in multiples where they may make up a pattern rather than draw your eye to a primary focal position, the feeling that each curl is trying to draw your attention makes for a very dynamic visual.
I’m thinking I’ll take the next few days to ponder several variations of this element from what I have on my list. Today let’s take a look at the spiral lentil … haven’t we all made one or a hundred (or at least contemplated making them?) And have you ever meet a skillfully made swirl lentil you didn’t like? It would be hard to speak of swirl lentils and not bring up our community’s master swirler, Laura Timmins. I’ll let her provide the example of a wonderfully dynamic grouping of swirls in this very organic necklace.
That brings to mind another reason we may be so drawn to the encircling elements … they are so very common in nature. From curling vines to swirling tornadoes to winding tentacles to nautilus shells to the whorls of our fingerprints … these lines are familiar and present all around us. And we will always be drawn to the comfort of the things we recognize as familiar.
But back to polymer … if you’ve not attempted a swirl lentil before or have had limited success, you may want to check out this very clear tutorial by Desiree McCrorey. Her instruction and tips could have you making any number of these beauties below in no time.
Lentils, Snakes and Extrusions
March 28, 2013
Inspirational Art, Tips and Tricks
Lentils, snakes of clay and extrusions are more than a little common in polymer but how often are they brought together?
I do enjoy discovering new ways to use scrap clay. Below is another option for making something beautiful from leftovers. These wonderful colors–and a new take on the possible definition of a ‘swirl’ lentil–are from Russia’s Tatiana Begacheva. I can’t say for certain that she used scrap (the Google translation makes her sound like an ethereal poet–which she very well may be–but it didn’t help explain her process.) Nonetheless, it is a fantastic idea for scrap and a jumping-off point for using scrap-extruded snakes.
I do wonder what would happen if you actually applied the swirled lentil process to these wrapped beads. As soon as I have time to spend in the studio, I think I’ll try it. If anyone tries it out before me, do send photos or share with us on our Facebook page.
Ode to the Swirl Lentil
December 19, 2012
Inspirational Art
Who doesn’t like a nice swirl lentil? They make beautiful, intriguing beads that can really draw attention. You can make them from any type of clay, old canes, or scrap pieces. And anyone can make them. Well, anyone can make them but doing them well and with originality is the tricky part.
Greece’s Klio Tsaliki has way too much fun with her lentils. She does a lovely job of combining colors together in such a way that the one word that cannot fail to come to mind is ‘delicious’. These swirls lentils below remind me of fruity and juicy candies. The colors and the wave of lines spreading our from the center just draw you in.
One other thing I really, really like about making swirl lentils is the zen like state they put you in when you get to making a large batch. If you need a break from the stress and rush of the holidays, I can’t imagine a more relaxing yet productive time than sitting down at the studio table and swirling away.
If you’re looking for more swirl lentil inspiration, check out more of Klio’s work on her Flickr site or Etsy page.
Timmins Technique in Full Color
June 11, 2012
Technique tutorials
No one makes swirls lentils like Laura Timmins. And I have never seen anyone put together a more concise, accessible and interesting way of explaining such a complex process.
This is really a pretty cool visual of how Laura builds the components that make her gorgeous lentils. She created this quite a few years ago to help explain to her customers how she uses polymer clay to make her work. She has found that the popularity of polymer has made explaining the material and process less necessary than in the past but it’s still a fun and colorful visual to have.
What do you use, if anything, to educate people about your process when at public events?
One of the ways I manage to keep up with blogging daily is to keep a list of links to interesting art I find in my many forays down the internet highway as well as those sent by staff and readers. I noticed today as I looked over some options that my list consisted heavily of pieces with curls and swirls and spiraling things. We even had a couple curly things last week. It got me to thinking … what is it about the curly swirlies that we like so much? Okay, yes, I may have a penchant for them but the links that I have include work sent from others and come from what I run across just randomly. So what is it?
Well, from a design standpoint, curls, swirls and things that spiral to a center make for very strong focal points. These elements are made up of directional lines that take you from an outside point into a center or a more tightly wound end point of the line. Your eye can’t help but follow these lines from outside to inside or to the end point. Even when grouped in multiples where they may make up a pattern rather than draw your eye to a primary focal position, the feeling that each curl is trying to draw your attention makes for a very dynamic visual.
I’m thinking I’ll take the next few days to ponder several variations of this element from what I have on my list. Today let’s take a look at the spiral lentil … haven’t we all made one or a hundred (or at least contemplated making them?) And have you ever meet a skillfully made swirl lentil you didn’t like? It would be hard to speak of swirl lentils and not bring up our community’s master swirler, Laura Timmins. I’ll let her provide the example of a wonderfully dynamic grouping of swirls in this very organic necklace.
That brings to mind another reason we may be so drawn to the encircling elements … they are so very common in nature. From curling vines to swirling tornadoes to winding tentacles to nautilus shells to the whorls of our fingerprints … these lines are familiar and present all around us. And we will always be drawn to the comfort of the things we recognize as familiar.
But back to polymer … if you’ve not attempted a swirl lentil before or have had limited success, you may want to check out this very clear tutorial by Desiree McCrorey. Her instruction and tips could have you making any number of these beauties below in no time.
Lentils, snakes of clay and extrusions are more than a little common in polymer but how often are they brought together?
I do enjoy discovering new ways to use scrap clay. Below is another option for making something beautiful from leftovers. These wonderful colors–and a new take on the possible definition of a ‘swirl’ lentil–are from Russia’s Tatiana Begacheva. I can’t say for certain that she used scrap (the Google translation makes her sound like an ethereal poet–which she very well may be–but it didn’t help explain her process.) Nonetheless, it is a fantastic idea for scrap and a jumping-off point for using scrap-extruded snakes.
I do wonder what would happen if you actually applied the swirled lentil process to these wrapped beads. As soon as I have time to spend in the studio, I think I’ll try it. If anyone tries it out before me, do send photos or share with us on our Facebook page.
Read MoreWho doesn’t like a nice swirl lentil? They make beautiful, intriguing beads that can really draw attention. You can make them from any type of clay, old canes, or scrap pieces. And anyone can make them. Well, anyone can make them but doing them well and with originality is the tricky part.
Greece’s Klio Tsaliki has way too much fun with her lentils. She does a lovely job of combining colors together in such a way that the one word that cannot fail to come to mind is ‘delicious’. These swirls lentils below remind me of fruity and juicy candies. The colors and the wave of lines spreading our from the center just draw you in.
One other thing I really, really like about making swirl lentils is the zen like state they put you in when you get to making a large batch. If you need a break from the stress and rush of the holidays, I can’t imagine a more relaxing yet productive time than sitting down at the studio table and swirling away.
If you’re looking for more swirl lentil inspiration, check out more of Klio’s work on her Flickr site or Etsy page.
Read MoreNo one makes swirls lentils like Laura Timmins. And I have never seen anyone put together a more concise, accessible and interesting way of explaining such a complex process.
This is really a pretty cool visual of how Laura builds the components that make her gorgeous lentils. She created this quite a few years ago to help explain to her customers how she uses polymer clay to make her work. She has found that the popularity of polymer has made explaining the material and process less necessary than in the past but it’s still a fun and colorful visual to have.
What do you use, if anything, to educate people about your process when at public events?
Read More