A Bevy of Books
September 14, 2018 Inspirational Art
First of all, a shout out to our friends and colleagues in the Carolinas facing hurricane Florence. Stay safe and, if you had to evacuate, I hope you get to return to your home and studio very soon. We will be thinking of you.
So, as I wrap up this week, I have one more cool announcement about some things to look forward to and one you can get right now!
First of all, just a general observation… there have not been a lot of books out specifically for the polymer enthusiast in the last couple years but our veritable drought seems to be over. As you may have read on Mondays blog, we started presales for the new Polymer Art Projects – Organics book – and what a response! Thank you. Myself and all the artist involved are very happy to see you like the idea well. By the way, it is at the least expensive pricing it will be all year, possibly ever, so if you haven’t done so yet, be sure to jump over to our website to claim your book now and be one of the first to get it when it is released October 22nd.
But also, last weekend on Cynthia Tinapple’s Studio Mojo – an every Saturday shot of news and links on what is going on in the polymer community and beyond – Cynthia announced that she’s working on a new book and revealed that she’s heard whispers about books from both Loretta Lam and Dayle Doroshow as well. If all goes well with this first Projects – Organics book, we well began working on another Polymer Art Projects book for next year. That’s sounding like at least maybe 4 books to look forward to in 2019. How wonderful all this news is!
But if that makes you excited and yet frustrated because none of these books are available yet , there is a book that came out just this past week that you can get a hold of now. Christi Friesen just released her latest book, Do You See What I See, and, lucky me, I already have it in my hot little hands – that is the advantage of pre-ordering (it also helps to be but one county away from Christi Friesen headquarters). And, oh my … what fun this book is! I tried counting how many mini-tutorials and technique tips there are in this book but then I kept running into other fun stuff and would get distracted.
The piece here is probably my favorite found in the book. This woodland river mirror is one of those pieces that you can look back at again and again and find something new each time. Take a close look at the details. Her joyful nature and whimsy can be found throughout this piece from the curls of the clouds to the nibs in the trees to the little creatures tucked in below. It’s a little peek through the eyes of Christi, a view even more illuminated by the observations in this book.
Go to this page to order either or both the print and e-book versions of Do You See What I See. And, while you’re over there, you can stop in on her shop and see what new and nifty things you need for the studio.
Canes Gone Wild
October 10, 2016 Inspirational Art
While researching the translucent canes last week, I came across a lot of amazing cane pieces. Some were delicately beautiful, some extraordinarily skilled and some were just wild. This vase is a case in point.
To be honest, I am not sure what Olga Perova did to this but it completely sucked me in because the details are tremendous. I believe the work is a combination of extruder caning and extruder mokume with micro beads and maybe some post cure carving going on. Not absolutely sure but what a lot of work this must have been. A part of me wants to see the form itself more controlled–straighter upper edges and cleaner openings in the body–but then I am not sure that the feeling of complete abandon would be quite as strong and that could diminish it overall. Maybe my eyes and mind just need a place to rest that is simple and ordinary while looking at this. Of course, bedlam and a riot of color and texture may very well be Olga’s intention. In which case, she certainly did that.
To really appreciate the detail and intensity of this piece, you need to pop over to Olga’s Flickr photostream and see all the shots. Then look through the rest of what she has. You’ll see that most of her work is very well controlled but she doesn’t shy away from being experimental either.
Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Create chaos. Work completely intuitively for at least 15 minutes. Let chaos rules the work that comes from your hands. If you are itching to put order to your chaos after 15 minutes, do so. Otherwise keep at it and see what comes of pure intuition.
_________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners.
_________________________________________
Mokume Squared
September 21, 2016 Inspirational Art
There seems to be an explosion of innovation in polymer design as of late. Maybe as a whole we fell into a rut of creating within a fairly small circle of ideas but it seems that more and more, clayers are pushing the ideas or just going off into their own little worlds which creates some very unique design.
Melanie Muir sent me images of a new series she’s recently been working on and I have to say, it would never have occurred to me that Melanie might go in a home decor direction, not one with such a graphic look to it but it really does work well. After admiring her beautiful organic shapes and mokume patterns for so long it’s quite a shift to see the same type of mokume squared off like this but the contrast between the organic patterning and the very precise placement of squared off color makes for some lovely vessels.
I had the hardest time deciding which of the new vessels’ images to share here as she has them in different colors and mokume pattern sets as well as a series she calls ‘Coastline’ where the mokume is not framed at all but rather is blended into the background over the joint of two wide bands of color. Go see for yourself on her Facebook page here for the whole recent collection, debuting this week at the London Design Fair which starts tomorrow.
Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Do you work primarily in one style such as organic, graphic, tribal, floral, or something else? Take what you usually lean towards and contrast it with a style completely opposite from it. The key to contrast is making the contrast relate on some level. Melanie made her graphic versus organic relate in terms of color. You can also make the two relate through elements that have the same type of pattern, shape, size, lines or that create similar texture.
_________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners.
_________________________________________
When the Medium Does the Painting
March 18, 2016 Inspirational Art
Letting the material determine the outcome of a piece by allowing it to flow and mix as it wants is an approach that can be used in a variety of mediums including polymer, as we saw on Wednesday.
This beautiful image here, as I am sure you surmised, is not polymer. It’s not alcohol inks or watercolor or any of the traditional mediums. Although it may not be surprising to find out it is encaustic wax, the way the artist gets these ethereal forms and textures just might be surprising. So, instead of listening to me blather about the technique, I will suggest you slake your curiosity by watching this wonderful video the artist, Alicia Tormey, recently produced to show her technique. It’s a beautifully done video, but it is nothing next to the gorgeous texture of the pieces she creates.
Visit this link for the video on her home page, then stay and investigate her website and the wonderful colors and forms she creates for her wall art.
Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Starting with a single white, translucent, or light-colored sheet of clay, work the surface with spontaneous, uncontrolled additions. Crumple paper or foil and press the texture into it. Drop inks onto it, splatter paint or rub gilders paste onto it. Spritz with alcohol and water and let inks and paints run, then dab or rub off spots with a bit of towel. Sprinkle mica powder or oxide powder over it or randomly adhere metal leaf. Do as much or as little of this as you like until you see a surface that pleases you. If you go a little overboard, let any liquids dry then roll the sheet one step down on the pasta machine once or twice. Pick out parts you like to make polymer elements for jewelry or add to the sheet to develop a piece of wall art.
_________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:
___________________________________________
Alluring Luster
May 8, 2015 Inspirational Art
So the question arose as I sat down to blog for you today … do I continue to do Outside Inspirations on Friday? That would limit us to two polymer pieces and one of something else each week. Well, I do know that I don’t want to stop expanding our window onto the world of art, but this is a polymer blog, and I do want to keep that focus, so what to do?
Right now, I think we’ll do an a piece from outside polymer once every other week unless something amazing and pertinent shows up and I just can’t help myself. Sound good?
This beautiful ceramic piece is kind of one of those ‘must post’ items. It was sent to me by Fran Abrams, and since this is part of a show in Washington that some of you might want to see if you’re headed out that way this summer, I thought a bit of lead time might be needed.
The work is by Daisy Makeig-Jones, who worked for the well-known Wedgwood pottery company from 1909 to 1931, but created ceramics of her own that employed a look and approach quite beyond the strict traditions of her employer. Daisy drew from her love of fairy tales to create what’s known as Fairyland Lustreware of which, of course, this is one such piece. Like all her Lusterware, this Imps on a Bridge vase has the most brilliant colors, especially considering it is almost 100 years old. You can see the color and patterning continue into the mouth of the vase, as well. It must be just stunning in person. Also, I thought it might give a few of you home decor creators some inspiration (or a challenge) for covering containers.
As I alluded to, you can actually see this in person if you happen to be near the National Museum of Women in Washington D.C between now and August 16th. Now, I just need an excuse to be out that way myself this summer! You can find more information on the exhibit and museum at www.nmwa.org. You can also find a beautifully detailed write-up on the exhibit and Daisy’s work on the museum’s blog here.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine, as well as by supporting our advertising partners.
Intrigue in Wall Art
May 4, 2015 Inspirational Art
First of all, thank you all for sending such kind notes and such encouragement. I am so touched that so many of you would take time out to let me know your thoughts and to be so supportive. I apologize I couldn’t respond to every one–it was kind of overwhelming–but my very able assistant has tried to help me get to the most specific ones, as well as answer any questions you might have had. I’m so lucky to have such an enthusiastic and appreciative readership. I endeavor to continue to earn this from you as well.
We’ll see if more rarity in the postings will make them all the more valuable and widely read. As a couple of people pointed out, this will lighten their daily reading load, so maybe we can all catch up on a few things. I’m not sure if I can do themes or not, but let’s start with a lovely wall piece that I have been wanting to share for a while.
This intriguing piece was created by Karen Brueggemann. Intriguing is what primarily comes to mind because there is just so much to look at. The textures, graduated colors, and the neatly, yet varying, lines and repetition. It has a very painterly feel with a sculptural application. I thought this was a brooch or pendant when I first saw it, and then read that it was a wall piece. I couldn’t find any size information, but I am thinking it is not very large. And, couldn’t it just be a wonderful pin? The thing is, most of her jewelry doesn’t look like this, but the personal expression and sense of aesthetic and intention is exceedingly strong. My guess is, she found freedom in creating a wall piece that is quite different from creating jewelry. In jewelry we have to consider how it will be worn, hung or attached, as well as consider aspects of durability. With wall art, all it has to do is hang on a wall. That could be quite a freeing experience.
You can see what I mean about her work by heading over to her Pinterest board. All of her work is lovely, but I think her wall pieces just shine with intensity and, yes, a bit of intrigue that keeps you looking, trying to take it all in.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine, as well as by supporting our advertising partners.
First of all, a shout out to our friends and colleagues in the Carolinas facing hurricane Florence. Stay safe and, if you had to evacuate, I hope you get to return to your home and studio very soon. We will be thinking of you.
So, as I wrap up this week, I have one more cool announcement about some things to look forward to and one you can get right now!
First of all, just a general observation… there have not been a lot of books out specifically for the polymer enthusiast in the last couple years but our veritable drought seems to be over. As you may have read on Mondays blog, we started presales for the new Polymer Art Projects – Organics book – and what a response! Thank you. Myself and all the artist involved are very happy to see you like the idea well. By the way, it is at the least expensive pricing it will be all year, possibly ever, so if you haven’t done so yet, be sure to jump over to our website to claim your book now and be one of the first to get it when it is released October 22nd.
But also, last weekend on Cynthia Tinapple’s Studio Mojo – an every Saturday shot of news and links on what is going on in the polymer community and beyond – Cynthia announced that she’s working on a new book and revealed that she’s heard whispers about books from both Loretta Lam and Dayle Doroshow as well. If all goes well with this first Projects – Organics book, we well began working on another Polymer Art Projects book for next year. That’s sounding like at least maybe 4 books to look forward to in 2019. How wonderful all this news is!
But if that makes you excited and yet frustrated because none of these books are available yet , there is a book that came out just this past week that you can get a hold of now. Christi Friesen just released her latest book, Do You See What I See, and, lucky me, I already have it in my hot little hands – that is the advantage of pre-ordering (it also helps to be but one county away from Christi Friesen headquarters). And, oh my … what fun this book is! I tried counting how many mini-tutorials and technique tips there are in this book but then I kept running into other fun stuff and would get distracted.
The piece here is probably my favorite found in the book. This woodland river mirror is one of those pieces that you can look back at again and again and find something new each time. Take a close look at the details. Her joyful nature and whimsy can be found throughout this piece from the curls of the clouds to the nibs in the trees to the little creatures tucked in below. It’s a little peek through the eyes of Christi, a view even more illuminated by the observations in this book.
Go to this page to order either or both the print and e-book versions of Do You See What I See. And, while you’re over there, you can stop in on her shop and see what new and nifty things you need for the studio.
Read MoreWhile researching the translucent canes last week, I came across a lot of amazing cane pieces. Some were delicately beautiful, some extraordinarily skilled and some were just wild. This vase is a case in point.
To be honest, I am not sure what Olga Perova did to this but it completely sucked me in because the details are tremendous. I believe the work is a combination of extruder caning and extruder mokume with micro beads and maybe some post cure carving going on. Not absolutely sure but what a lot of work this must have been. A part of me wants to see the form itself more controlled–straighter upper edges and cleaner openings in the body–but then I am not sure that the feeling of complete abandon would be quite as strong and that could diminish it overall. Maybe my eyes and mind just need a place to rest that is simple and ordinary while looking at this. Of course, bedlam and a riot of color and texture may very well be Olga’s intention. In which case, she certainly did that.
To really appreciate the detail and intensity of this piece, you need to pop over to Olga’s Flickr photostream and see all the shots. Then look through the rest of what she has. You’ll see that most of her work is very well controlled but she doesn’t shy away from being experimental either.
Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Create chaos. Work completely intuitively for at least 15 minutes. Let chaos rules the work that comes from your hands. If you are itching to put order to your chaos after 15 minutes, do so. Otherwise keep at it and see what comes of pure intuition.
_________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners.
_________________________________________
Read MoreThere seems to be an explosion of innovation in polymer design as of late. Maybe as a whole we fell into a rut of creating within a fairly small circle of ideas but it seems that more and more, clayers are pushing the ideas or just going off into their own little worlds which creates some very unique design.
Melanie Muir sent me images of a new series she’s recently been working on and I have to say, it would never have occurred to me that Melanie might go in a home decor direction, not one with such a graphic look to it but it really does work well. After admiring her beautiful organic shapes and mokume patterns for so long it’s quite a shift to see the same type of mokume squared off like this but the contrast between the organic patterning and the very precise placement of squared off color makes for some lovely vessels.
I had the hardest time deciding which of the new vessels’ images to share here as she has them in different colors and mokume pattern sets as well as a series she calls ‘Coastline’ where the mokume is not framed at all but rather is blended into the background over the joint of two wide bands of color. Go see for yourself on her Facebook page here for the whole recent collection, debuting this week at the London Design Fair which starts tomorrow.
Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Do you work primarily in one style such as organic, graphic, tribal, floral, or something else? Take what you usually lean towards and contrast it with a style completely opposite from it. The key to contrast is making the contrast relate on some level. Melanie made her graphic versus organic relate in terms of color. You can also make the two relate through elements that have the same type of pattern, shape, size, lines or that create similar texture.
_________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners.
_________________________________________
Read MoreLetting the material determine the outcome of a piece by allowing it to flow and mix as it wants is an approach that can be used in a variety of mediums including polymer, as we saw on Wednesday.
This beautiful image here, as I am sure you surmised, is not polymer. It’s not alcohol inks or watercolor or any of the traditional mediums. Although it may not be surprising to find out it is encaustic wax, the way the artist gets these ethereal forms and textures just might be surprising. So, instead of listening to me blather about the technique, I will suggest you slake your curiosity by watching this wonderful video the artist, Alicia Tormey, recently produced to show her technique. It’s a beautifully done video, but it is nothing next to the gorgeous texture of the pieces she creates.
Visit this link for the video on her home page, then stay and investigate her website and the wonderful colors and forms she creates for her wall art.
Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Starting with a single white, translucent, or light-colored sheet of clay, work the surface with spontaneous, uncontrolled additions. Crumple paper or foil and press the texture into it. Drop inks onto it, splatter paint or rub gilders paste onto it. Spritz with alcohol and water and let inks and paints run, then dab or rub off spots with a bit of towel. Sprinkle mica powder or oxide powder over it or randomly adhere metal leaf. Do as much or as little of this as you like until you see a surface that pleases you. If you go a little overboard, let any liquids dry then roll the sheet one step down on the pasta machine once or twice. Pick out parts you like to make polymer elements for jewelry or add to the sheet to develop a piece of wall art.
_________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:
___________________________________________
Read MoreSo the question arose as I sat down to blog for you today … do I continue to do Outside Inspirations on Friday? That would limit us to two polymer pieces and one of something else each week. Well, I do know that I don’t want to stop expanding our window onto the world of art, but this is a polymer blog, and I do want to keep that focus, so what to do?
Right now, I think we’ll do an a piece from outside polymer once every other week unless something amazing and pertinent shows up and I just can’t help myself. Sound good?
This beautiful ceramic piece is kind of one of those ‘must post’ items. It was sent to me by Fran Abrams, and since this is part of a show in Washington that some of you might want to see if you’re headed out that way this summer, I thought a bit of lead time might be needed.
The work is by Daisy Makeig-Jones, who worked for the well-known Wedgwood pottery company from 1909 to 1931, but created ceramics of her own that employed a look and approach quite beyond the strict traditions of her employer. Daisy drew from her love of fairy tales to create what’s known as Fairyland Lustreware of which, of course, this is one such piece. Like all her Lusterware, this Imps on a Bridge vase has the most brilliant colors, especially considering it is almost 100 years old. You can see the color and patterning continue into the mouth of the vase, as well. It must be just stunning in person. Also, I thought it might give a few of you home decor creators some inspiration (or a challenge) for covering containers.
As I alluded to, you can actually see this in person if you happen to be near the National Museum of Women in Washington D.C between now and August 16th. Now, I just need an excuse to be out that way myself this summer! You can find more information on the exhibit and museum at www.nmwa.org. You can also find a beautifully detailed write-up on the exhibit and Daisy’s work on the museum’s blog here.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine, as well as by supporting our advertising partners.
Read MoreFirst of all, thank you all for sending such kind notes and such encouragement. I am so touched that so many of you would take time out to let me know your thoughts and to be so supportive. I apologize I couldn’t respond to every one–it was kind of overwhelming–but my very able assistant has tried to help me get to the most specific ones, as well as answer any questions you might have had. I’m so lucky to have such an enthusiastic and appreciative readership. I endeavor to continue to earn this from you as well.
We’ll see if more rarity in the postings will make them all the more valuable and widely read. As a couple of people pointed out, this will lighten their daily reading load, so maybe we can all catch up on a few things. I’m not sure if I can do themes or not, but let’s start with a lovely wall piece that I have been wanting to share for a while.
This intriguing piece was created by Karen Brueggemann. Intriguing is what primarily comes to mind because there is just so much to look at. The textures, graduated colors, and the neatly, yet varying, lines and repetition. It has a very painterly feel with a sculptural application. I thought this was a brooch or pendant when I first saw it, and then read that it was a wall piece. I couldn’t find any size information, but I am thinking it is not very large. And, couldn’t it just be a wonderful pin? The thing is, most of her jewelry doesn’t look like this, but the personal expression and sense of aesthetic and intention is exceedingly strong. My guess is, she found freedom in creating a wall piece that is quite different from creating jewelry. In jewelry we have to consider how it will be worn, hung or attached, as well as consider aspects of durability. With wall art, all it has to do is hang on a wall. That could be quite a freeing experience.
You can see what I mean about her work by heading over to her Pinterest board. All of her work is lovely, but I think her wall pieces just shine with intensity and, yes, a bit of intrigue that keeps you looking, trying to take it all in.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine, as well as by supporting our advertising partners.
Read More