Mixing in Mosaics
March 13, 2014
Inspirational Art
This seems to be the week of mixing it up with polymer as well as intricate pieces. Here we have one of Susan Crocenzi‘s amazing mosaics that includes glass as well as polymer to build up an almost textile feel to this wall piece. The mosaic has a natural rhythm and flow of materials that allows the story to unfold sincerely. As Susan explain it, “Mosaic art offers us the sweet possibility that our own crazy, disjointed life-bits can yield peace, beauty, and meaning.”
This California artist teaches classes at her Grass Valley studio. To view more of her mosaics and learn more about her work, visit her Flickr site. There are more beautiful examples of her mosaics on her Facebook page. “Susan makes mosaics on steroids.” –Carol Herschieb, director of Nevada County Open Studios Tour.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
The Complexity of Animals
March 12, 2014
Inspirational Art
This fantastical creature is part of the series “Creatures from El” by Canadian artist Ellen Jewett. All of the swirls and scales movement are portrayed using textures and the wave of the dragon’s body. The dragon appears like stop animation … he is caught for a moment in time … so that we might enjoy his magnificence. This piece is a moving biological narrative, expressing emotions, movement, balance, and observations about life’s overtures and subtleties. This artist works with the principle that materials should conform to her vision, rather than confine her vision to the limits of materials.
As might be evident in her work, Ellen has extensive education in post-secondary Biological Anthropology and has been pursuing graduate work in anthrozoology. To enjoy the magnitude of her vision, take a look at her Etsy site, and read her journal entries on deviantart.com. When she is not too busy creating new work or filling custom orders, she hopes to resume private lessons in sculpture and stop motion animation, as well as her online tutorials.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Intricately Layered
March 11, 2014
Inspirational Art
Israel’s Lesya Binkin produces intricately layered pendants and other polymer based jewelry. She is no polymer purist, tossing in a bit of this and that to create pieces that are not at all defined by the materials.
Lesya’s posts on her website, “My 7-years professional experience as a graphic designer at fashion field determines the main line at my polymer clay jewelry-making. It is multi-layer and graphic, made with the same principle as ones used at computer graphic programs. I mix layers and objects using various materials such as colorful metal leaf, metal powders and spangles in different color combination and shapes.” I don’t know about you, but I highly approve of the end result!
Her shapes and layers vary widely so don’t miss out on the very many incarnations of this heavily layered approach by heading over to her Flickr photostream or her website.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Lost in the Intricacy
March 10, 2014
Inspirational Art
I have, piling up in my Pinterst boards, pocket pages and research folders, all this really intricate, time consuming work that I’ve been wanting to share. I guess this will be the week to do that!
This first piece just fascinates me. I used to do quite a bit of carving, in all kinds of mediums. It’s extremely zen and therapeutic but I’ve done very little in polymer. That is probably a big reason why I like this piece so much. I could see its creator, Belarus’ Anna Anpilogova, spending hours carving out all this texture, lost in the emergence of the layers as she carved into the polymer over and over again. It’s got my fingers itching to try some myself!
Anna’s polymer work is quite tactile and intricate, usually with an organic or nature inspired theme. Her collection of work on her Flickr photostream and LiveJournal pages can get you as lost in a trance as I imagine doing all the carving would.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Sneak Peek at the Spring 2014 issue
March 9, 2014
The Polymer Arts magazine news
Today, we’re covering some public service announcements about the new issue just released. We’ll get back to regularly scheduled art work tomorrow getting into ‘intricate’ design for this coming week. So, here are share-able items, and the timeline for delivery, if you don’t have yours yet, below.
The latest issue of The Polymer Arts is out! Spring 2014–Wrap it Up was challenging to put together but it sure was worth it! Here is a small sampling flipbook of the issue if yours hasn’t arrived yet or you haven’t decided to buy it yet.
If you want to share this fun little flipbook or news about the magazine’s release, you can post this link: http://goo.gl/OkVlyX which goes to the flipbook or copy any of these images and link to www.thepolymerarts.com so people know where to get their own copy.
Your Copy of Spring 2014:
- Digital issues were released on Friday the 7th so if you expected a digital access email but haven’t seen one yet, check your spam/junk mail folder for it and if it’s not there, write us at connect@thepolymerarts.com. Don’t forget to add connect@thepolymerarts.com to your safe sender list and/or address book to help keep emails from being filtered to junk mail.
- Print issues started mailing out on Wednesday from Idaho. They can take up to 3 weeks to get some areas in the East, South and overseas but they are all on their way.
- If you don’t buy a copy of this issue yet, you can get your copy at our website or through one of our online retailers listed on that page as well.
Thank you all for your many kind and enthusiastic words about this issue you’ve sent my way the last couple days! And thank you ever so much for sharing the issue on your Facebook page, Pinterest and other online sites. It is very heart-warming to see how thrilled you all are about this issue. It is pretty amazing just how many people got involved in the content, contributing their thoughts, art work and talent into making this one very packed issue! Thanks to you all!
Spinning Off
March 8, 2014
Inspirational Art
For this Saturday, here is a bit of fun asymmetry composed from elements not aligning. In this case, these earrings by Elvira Krick consist of incomplete circles whose breaks sit at different positions make the line kind of rock back and forth. But then, free them from hanging in the same flat plane as shown in the right side image, and you have a number of new asymmetrical compositions and, still with a kinetic feel to them.
Elvira hails from Amsterdam where she creates jewelry from a variety of materials including glass beads, metals, and fiber as well as polymer clay. Check out more of her work on her Flickr page and in her Etsy shop.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Outside Inspiration: Hanging Felt
March 7, 2014
Inspirational Art
Asymmetrical composition is common in every artistic area so choosing just one for today’s outside inspiration was tough. This necklace has been on one of my Pinterest boards for a while though so this seemed like a great chance to share it.
Felted jewelry is becoming more common and the felters are getting quite creative. I like this example by Nadine of Dans Mon Corbillon, not because it’s the most creative but because of it’s intricacy and use of other materials including beads and what I think are feathers. It’s just so full of varied textures. The variation and asymmetrical arrangement could have looked a bit too chaotic but I think it comes across as rather celebratory instead, the way nature can get at the peak of the season when all the foilage and flowers are taking over. (and those of us in the Northern hemisphere are sure looking forward to that!)
You can look at more of Nadine’s gorgeous work on her Flickr site and her blog.
By the way, the Spring issue of The Polymer Arts came out today. If you are due a digital issue but it’s not in your inbox, look in your spam/junkmail folder as they can be sometimes be routed there. If you are waiting on a print issue, they were sent to the post office in Idaho on Wednesday to be processed so most people will be getting those next week or the week after if you are in the east or far south of the States or overseas. Due to cuts in postal services a few issues took over three weeks in the US and some places in Europe last time but be patient. They are on their way!
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Bringing it Back to Center
March 6, 2014
Inspirational Art
Although this pin by Kay Bonitz is asymmetrical, the pin uses the rule of thirds that we innately identify as balanced. The rule of thirds is a theory that says we recognize beauty and balance in images and objects whose proportions can be split into thirds. Our bodies are composed of elements that are built primarily on mirrored parts but all our limb to torso proportions and many facial proportions can be broken down into thirds which is why we likely identify with other items with proportions in thirds. In this case, Kay also has added further balance by using the feathers to create a center focal point.
Kay, who is a retired accountant, has moved from counting numbers to counting beads. She is actually a beading artist who embellishes her polymer clay creations with beads and feathers. You can see more of her work and learn more about this artist on her website.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Disconnected Balance
March 5, 2014
Inspirational Art
This stunning necklace, titled “Eleganz”, by Ingrid Ulrich is another example of asymmetry in design. This German artist uses a wire form to create a unique one-of-a-kind wrap necklace that has to balance both visually and physically!
With a limited color palette, Ingrid uses textures and finishes to add depth and volume to the individual elements to form a cohesive whole. She uses a synthetic clay (Künstlerton) and fires it at a constant temperature for 60 minutes to give this necklace its strength and rigidity. She mixes her finishing techniques so that some of the surfaces are polished to a high shine and others are a matte finish.
For a more in-depth look at Ingrid’s work, take a look at her website and her Flickr pages. She is fascinated by polymer clay and says, “It livens up the fantasy and gives therapy to the soul, but it also makes addictive to more and more perfection.”
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
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Folded polymer seems to be a bit of trend lately. From the popularity of Helen Breil’s folded beads and tutorial to Sonya Girodon’s faux folded paper to the folded look pin sent out as a tease for Dan Cormier’s upcoming book, we’re seeing a lot of polymer getting folded these days so this week, we’ll look at what some other artists are doing with the folded approach.
These earrings are by Hanc of the Fler.cz marketplace. First of all, this is some fantastically done gradient color–the smooth and consistent transitions through so many hues take some patience to create. And that white line down the center is a rather genius addition, giving the ruffled folds added complexity and dimension. Overall, it’s a fairly simple centered design but it’s wonderful how the folded polymer gives the piece tactile texture and movement as well as adding to the vibrant feel of the color by the repetition of the folds.
This Czech artist, who goes by the name Hanc, loves gardening and flowers, creating magical worlds full of colorful folder polymer clay. There is a lot more like this to be found in this artist’s fler.cz shop so do pop over and take in more variations on this folded approach as well as other inspired and skillfully completed designs.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
For those of you who may not have heard through our newsletter and postings on Facebook by others involved, next month in Malta, myself, Marjon Donker and Saskia Veltenaar (From Polymer To Art) and Béa Picq (Polymère & Co) will be conducting a presentation and discussion on polymer art in print–what is available right now and what we as a community might want to see in the future. We would like to make this a chance for you to have your say about what you like, don’t like and want to see more of in books and magazines so we created a survey for that purpose. Not only is it short and fun and will get your voice heard, you can also win one of three magazine packages that will include a $10 gift certificate to anything from The Polymer Arts and a digital magazine issue of your choice from both From Polymer to Art and Polymère & Co.
And yes, if you took the survey through the newsletter, before I heard from the other ladies about wanting to add their magazines to the prize offerings, you will get the whole package if picked.
To help us with this presentation, get yourself heard, and to enter for a chance to win one of 3 magazine packages, click on this link!
If you are unfamiliar with either of the other magazines, they are both complimentary to what we do in The Polymer Arts, focusing more on project tutorials and some basic techniques and information, great for beginning to intermediate artists. From Polymer to Art is in English and Polymere & Co. is in French, but is available in a digital format so you can copy text from it into Google translate to read it.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
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Color, texture, and shape are hallmarks of Libby Mill‘s work, as so beautifully illustrated in this curious beaded pin. Polymer clay allows her to explore the textured and smooth, patterned and plain surfaces. This pin has a very organic feel to it and the elongated shape and beaded texture brings it to life in a fluid, animated way.
Libby likes to work in polymer clay and sterling silver. See more of her work on her Flickr pages, including lots of bangles, beads, necklaces, earrings, and mixed media pieces, and visit her blog to share in discussions about balancing your creative life with a busy family life.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Of course the 1000 Beads books has many beads that are not polymer but I would say all the beads, no matter what the material, are inspirational for the polymer artist.
I know I completely fell in love with the beads by glass artist Lisa Atchison whose lampwork reminded me of intricate polymer cane layering, only there are a few additions to the traditional all cane layered bead. Can you see the additional micro beads and crystals she’s added not to mention the filigree like lines laid atop the basic layers? This kind of accenting would be easy enough to add to any polymer bead. Its a great example of how the approach in another medium can be transferred to a polymer approach.
Do take a look at the many other beautiful pieces by Lisa on her blog. Just the ones in the header are amazing!
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Here is another beautiful bead from one of Lark’s 1000 Beads book artists in polymer. Leigh Ross does a wonderful job layering canes and translucents. Notice the depth her approach gives this pendant. It looks like the space goes back farther than the bead is thick! It’s like there is a little miniature world inside this single bead.
Leigh Ross is probably familiar to many of you. Not only is she the owner of the popular website Polymer Clay Central, she is also a writer, teacher, and silver worker. You can find more of her work and enjoy her projects, lessons, and tutorials on Polymer Clay Central.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Sometimes I feel like I post a bit much on the polymer embroidery technique but it’s hard not to fall in love with the intricate beauty of the work. Peeli Rohini has a lovely set of polymer embroidered beads right at the start of the gallery of beads in the Lark’s 1000 Beads book. There is such a precise and well thought out patterning in Peeli’s application of this technique. It really looks like intricate needlework.
Peeli’s work is inspired by the rich and ethnic cultures all over the world and their rich luxurious fabrics. She has a passion and love for polymer clay and a longing to create miniature wearable pieces of art! Check out some of her photos of her work on her Facebook page also.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Wiwat Kamolpornwijit’s work has fascinated me since I first laid eyes on one of his trapped rose necklaces, as I like to call them. A couple new variations on these are in the new 1000 Beads book. I, too, have a fascination with things that are wholly exposed, with caves and crevice, and what is hiding behind the screen, in the box and under the veil. Wiwat’s work presents a lot of these intriguing, partially exposed and trapped elements.
This piece is actually older. I am thinking from around 2007 but you can see that this partly hidden and trapped theme has been an ongoing vein of interest to him.
As he describes his work, “I hand-form every piece of polymer clay jewelry with no use of commercial molds. I use several techniques including caning, engraving, weaving, layering, and many others for which I don’t have names.”
Wiwat, who originally is from Thailand and currently lives in Virginia, is a Niche Awards winner for 2011 and 2013, and Saul Bell Design Award Finalist for 2011. You can be inspired by more of his work on his website.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Just got my copy of Lark Craft’s latest in their fantastic photo book series, 1000 Beads. I am always curious, and a bit apprehensive about books that should include plenty of polymer clay because too often there has not been a great representation of our medium among the older and more readily accepted fine craft mediums. But this book is a huge exception. Polymer is found throughout this collection with a rather wide range of talent as well as technique. I would have lost myself for most of the day Saturday when I got it, if I hadn’t been in the midst of office remodeling and in a rush to get things back in workable order. But this morning … wow! A few hours of doing nothing but pouring over this book and looking up the many talented artists was such a fantastic way to start a Monday!
So I thought this week, I’d focus on and congratulate some of the polymer artists that landed their work in this latest Lark book. We only have a week so it will be but a fraction of the artists represented. But let’s look at great beads, and ones not in the book so you have more to look forward to when you get your own copy! (The official publication date is April 1st but it looks like Amazon already has them in stock.)
I was particularly thrilled to see the work of some of my favorite polymer friends including the enthusiastic and dedicated Cara Jane Hayman. She is one of those artists still exploring a wide range of techniques but her focus on refined skill and creating work not directly derivative of the artists she is learning from is inspiring. These beads were created in a Sarah Shriver workshop but they aren’t readily recognized as Shriver-esque. And they are nicely finished with a wide range of visual textures to draw you in.
Cara Jane hails from Bristol in the UK. Her background as a research scientist led her to explore and test polymer and share her findings on her blog. Cara Jane has written for us at The Polymer Arts as well as From Polymer to Art. This year is looking to be a big year for her as well, starting with demonstrating polymer alongside Donna Kato at the Paperworld show in Germany, her appearance in 1000 Beads and her upcoming role as one of our curators for the first Polymer Arts book publication. (What book, you ask? Just stay tuned and we’ll start posting information about this soon!)
You can also see more of Cara Jane’s art on her website and her Flickr pages.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
I found this video on the TedEd website (TedTalks educational series of lessons rather than talks) fascinating. Because being able to deem certain work as art versus craft gives the creator a frame work through which to price and market their work as well as offering a certain status for those deemed artist, there have been many a long debate on this subject. What most people probably don’t realize is that the idea of being an artist rather than just a skilled craftsperson is a relatively new concept for mankind, and in some parts of the world is still not a widely used concept.
This short 5 minute video goes over the history of the concept of art and how we might define craft versus art. I was not surprised at the conclusion but it does very succinctly illustrate the problem with trying to create a black and white definition. (Click on the image to get to the video.)
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
