Peek inside Winter 2013
November 16, 2013 The Polymer Arts magazine news
We are taking a brief break in the week to give you all a head’s up that the mailing list is off to the printer on Monday, so if you plan to pre-order the Winter 2013 issue or subscribe or renew your print order, you will want to do so by Sunday night to get on that list. It will take another week before the issue gets mailed off but but if you want it first, this is the list to be on. You can subscribe or renew here: www.thepolymerarts.com/Subscribe.html.
Here is a little montage to give you a peek as to what will be inside:
For the last issue of the year, we’re going out with a big bang, focusing on IMPACT:
- Visual Impact: Mastering Contrast
- Ancient Impact: Influenced by the Past
- Handmade Impact: Pointed Handtool Impressions
- Brilliant Impact: This Magic Electroforming
- Singular Impact: Creating Commissioned Art
- Legal Impact: A Trouble Free Business
- Instructive Impact: Maximizing Your Workshop Experience
- Understanding Your Camera Settings
- Create Polymer Toggle Clasps
- Understanding Why You Play with Clay
- …and much more!
Publication date: Nov. 26th (This is the date the digital issue will come out and the day by which we expect all print issues to be on their way. )
Okay, enough of that for now. I’ll dig up something fun for your Sunday and start working on finding goodies for next week!
Outside Inspiration: Color Contrast
November 8, 2013 Inspirational Art
Yesterday we talked about the one aspect of color that actually removes the importance of what many consider the defining characteristic of color–hue. So, knowing how important color is to most of us in this community, I thought today we’d treat you to a little color overload.
With color, i’ts not too hard to go overboard and go from harmonious contrast to chaos. The point between those two is a very fine line. So how can you tell if you are heading for the precipice of chaos? Well, for our outside inspiration Friday, let’s examine some extremely colorful glass beads that amble up to that point, but delightfully avoid heading over that cliff.
These juicy beads are the creation of Israel’s Michal Silberberg. She uses almost every color of the rainbow in these, setting up a whole array of contrast between all the various colors. There are quite a few other contrasting elements here as well–round on square forms, thick lines running side-by-side with dotted lines, small and large circles, and statically centered nested circles on top of energetic moving lines. For all that, it doesn’t feel like she’s gone overboard. Do you know why? Hint … it has to do with a lack of contrast.
The trick to using contrast well is balance. If everything contrasts, there is no order to anchor the viewer. These beads work because of an element with no contrast, a bit of restraint and some adherence to order. Okay … can you identify the element that is not contrasted? It’s a characteristic of color. What’s that? Saturation you say? Well, yes! That’s it.
All these colors are heavily saturated and bright. Even the black is just black and the whites are just white, with no grays. This consistency in saturation makes using every hue in the rainbow workable. There is also some restraint in the use of other elements, like only using circles and squares rather than a myriad of shapes. And then there are the two different types of lines–dots vs. solid lines–which follow the same paths, making them feel related. If she had increased the contrast in either of these areas, she would have tipped over into visual chaos.
Alright, back to working on the final details to get the next issue off. Go enjoy your weekend. Keep an eye out for contrast and note how it works in the the designs you enjoy. Becoming more aware of the elements as you observe them will translate to being more aware and more in control of such things when creating your own work. You can start by checking out more of Michal’s wonderful bead designs in her Etsy shop. A big dose of color on a Friday is always a good thing!
Impact for this Winter!
November 1, 2013 The Polymer Arts magazine news
We interrupt this Friday’s usual fare to present the cover of the next issue of The Polymer Arts magazine and share our excitement about what we have coming in it.
This cover piece is by Donna Greenberg. It’s actually a bridal necklace that she was commissioned to make earlier this year. Donna has written a wonderfully in-depth and insightful article about taking on commissioned art, including how wonderful it is to be able to impact someone’s life or life event with your art but she also talks about how to handle the difficulties that come with working on a commissioned piece. She generously shares her own experiences, tricks, and even an agreement template you can use to establish the commission contract.
In addition to Donna’s article we have a ton of interesting pieces that will get you creating and have you thinking as well as providing a lot of great eye candy:
- Visual Impact: Mastering Contrast
- Ancient Impact: Influenced by the Past
- Handmade Impact: Pointed Tool Impressions
- Brilliant Impact: Electroforming Polymer
- Legal Impact: A Well Set-up Shop
- Instructive Impact: Maximizing Your Workshop Experience
- Taking Control of Your Camera Settings
- Create Polymer Toggle Clasps
- Understanding Why You Play with Clay
- …and much more!
Now, inserting the inevitable sales pitch here (because you do need to get this issue, right?!):
Don’t Miss an Issue … Subscribe or Renew!
If you haven’t already, snap up your subscription! Or for you dedicated go-getters, renew subscriptions at www.thepolymerarts.com/Subscription_ordering.html
Pre-orders of the Winter issue are also available online here: http://www.thepolymerarts.com/Single_issues.html
Then come check in here tomorrow because I think I found it! Creepy and cute … wait until you see these!
We are taking a brief break in the week to give you all a head’s up that the mailing list is off to the printer on Monday, so if you plan to pre-order the Winter 2013 issue or subscribe or renew your print order, you will want to do so by Sunday night to get on that list. It will take another week before the issue gets mailed off but but if you want it first, this is the list to be on. You can subscribe or renew here: www.thepolymerarts.com/Subscribe.html.
Here is a little montage to give you a peek as to what will be inside:
For the last issue of the year, we’re going out with a big bang, focusing on IMPACT:
- Visual Impact: Mastering Contrast
- Ancient Impact: Influenced by the Past
- Handmade Impact: Pointed Handtool Impressions
- Brilliant Impact: This Magic Electroforming
- Singular Impact: Creating Commissioned Art
- Legal Impact: A Trouble Free Business
- Instructive Impact: Maximizing Your Workshop Experience
- Understanding Your Camera Settings
- Create Polymer Toggle Clasps
- Understanding Why You Play with Clay
- …and much more!
Publication date: Nov. 26th (This is the date the digital issue will come out and the day by which we expect all print issues to be on their way. )
Okay, enough of that for now. I’ll dig up something fun for your Sunday and start working on finding goodies for next week!
Read More
Yesterday we talked about the one aspect of color that actually removes the importance of what many consider the defining characteristic of color–hue. So, knowing how important color is to most of us in this community, I thought today we’d treat you to a little color overload.
With color, i’ts not too hard to go overboard and go from harmonious contrast to chaos. The point between those two is a very fine line. So how can you tell if you are heading for the precipice of chaos? Well, for our outside inspiration Friday, let’s examine some extremely colorful glass beads that amble up to that point, but delightfully avoid heading over that cliff.
These juicy beads are the creation of Israel’s Michal Silberberg. She uses almost every color of the rainbow in these, setting up a whole array of contrast between all the various colors. There are quite a few other contrasting elements here as well–round on square forms, thick lines running side-by-side with dotted lines, small and large circles, and statically centered nested circles on top of energetic moving lines. For all that, it doesn’t feel like she’s gone overboard. Do you know why? Hint … it has to do with a lack of contrast.
The trick to using contrast well is balance. If everything contrasts, there is no order to anchor the viewer. These beads work because of an element with no contrast, a bit of restraint and some adherence to order. Okay … can you identify the element that is not contrasted? It’s a characteristic of color. What’s that? Saturation you say? Well, yes! That’s it.
All these colors are heavily saturated and bright. Even the black is just black and the whites are just white, with no grays. This consistency in saturation makes using every hue in the rainbow workable. There is also some restraint in the use of other elements, like only using circles and squares rather than a myriad of shapes. And then there are the two different types of lines–dots vs. solid lines–which follow the same paths, making them feel related. If she had increased the contrast in either of these areas, she would have tipped over into visual chaos.
Alright, back to working on the final details to get the next issue off. Go enjoy your weekend. Keep an eye out for contrast and note how it works in the the designs you enjoy. Becoming more aware of the elements as you observe them will translate to being more aware and more in control of such things when creating your own work. You can start by checking out more of Michal’s wonderful bead designs in her Etsy shop. A big dose of color on a Friday is always a good thing!
Read MoreWe interrupt this Friday’s usual fare to present the cover of the next issue of The Polymer Arts magazine and share our excitement about what we have coming in it.
This cover piece is by Donna Greenberg. It’s actually a bridal necklace that she was commissioned to make earlier this year. Donna has written a wonderfully in-depth and insightful article about taking on commissioned art, including how wonderful it is to be able to impact someone’s life or life event with your art but she also talks about how to handle the difficulties that come with working on a commissioned piece. She generously shares her own experiences, tricks, and even an agreement template you can use to establish the commission contract.
In addition to Donna’s article we have a ton of interesting pieces that will get you creating and have you thinking as well as providing a lot of great eye candy:
- Visual Impact: Mastering Contrast
- Ancient Impact: Influenced by the Past
- Handmade Impact: Pointed Tool Impressions
- Brilliant Impact: Electroforming Polymer
- Legal Impact: A Well Set-up Shop
- Instructive Impact: Maximizing Your Workshop Experience
- Taking Control of Your Camera Settings
- Create Polymer Toggle Clasps
- Understanding Why You Play with Clay
- …and much more!
Now, inserting the inevitable sales pitch here (because you do need to get this issue, right?!):
Don’t Miss an Issue … Subscribe or Renew!
If you haven’t already, snap up your subscription! Or for you dedicated go-getters, renew subscriptions at www.thepolymerarts.com/Subscription_ordering.html
Pre-orders of the Winter issue are also available online here: http://www.thepolymerarts.com/Single_issues.html
Then come check in here tomorrow because I think I found it! Creepy and cute … wait until you see these!
Read More