Tiny, Tiny Patterns

April 18, 2018

The most common polymer veneer in the community has got to be canes. Although caning seems to exist in a category of its own, it is surface design and cane slices are veneers, albeit tiny, often of a singular image and usually repeated over and over on a piece.

Cécile Bos probably doesn’t identify as a polymer clay artist in a strict sense but she does some of the most amazing detailed canes for her small, delicate jewelry. Originally a biology researcher, she left the field to be a jewelry designer. Her focus is pattern and her primary inspiration is plants. As stated in her online biography, she creates intricate canes which are “then worked in the manner of a textile or thin layers of paper to shape [beads] or other original elements. After curing, these elements are mounted on silver 925 or bronze to form the final piece.” She also adds glass beads, ceramics, wood, metal, and cotton.

You will have to go to her website to see these small jewelry elements she creates from these tiny patterned canes. You can also follow her on Instagram.

 

Circling Back Around

March 2, 2018

With its prevalence in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism and decorative elements, the circle and symmetrical designs like mandalas are probably a natural thing to gravitate to when you live in India.  of JudaMani, is a Delhi-based artist creating contemporary east Indian jewelry with metal, stones, and polymer clay.

I’ve been watching her Instagram posts with interest as the designs feel both familiar and refreshing. There is an abundance of pattern and lively color in her work, as demonstrated by the earrings here. The busy surface design and contrast in color and shapes makes the symmetry of its circular design dynamic.

For more on Jaishree’s work, check out her website, Instagram or Facebook pages.

 

 

The Convergence of Like Materials

March 7, 2016

DStubitschPinkAs I mentioned last week, I was very excited to have a metal clay article for this issue. I have been wanting to do one for a while, especially since Metal Clay Artist magazine was forced to close their doors. I spent a lot of time conversing with the editor of MCAM, Jeannette Froese LeBlanc, trying to find a way to integrate our periodicals so they could continue to provide articles to metal clayers, but this market is a big challenge. Jeanette eventually went onto create Creative Fire, an online periodical, presented blog style, with in-depth and magazine-quality posts. If you are interested in metal clay, you need to subscribe to the free posts there.

It was through those conversations that I was steered to Dawn Stubitsch who so kindly agreed to write The Polymer Arts magazine’s first metal clay article. Dawn has been working in polymer for quite a while and only found metal clay as a way to create more durable bails for her pendants. The combination resulted in some truly unique pendants, like the one you see here. The bail is not just something added as a functional necessity, but it is the real focal point of the pendant. You don’t even think about it being a bail; it’s that strong center that holds all the riotous colors and patterns together.

I’m hoping Dawn’s article, with its clear direction and many tips, will get polymer clayers to consider giving metal clay a try. We use a lot of the same tools and many polymer skills translate quite directly to metal clay. As with many of the articles in the Spring issue, which focuses on the convergence of polymer and similar or complementary materials, we hope you see how expanding materials to use with polymer so greatly expands your creative potential with clay.

For more pieces from Dawn, go to her Flickr page, or check out her Facebook artist’s page where you can find shots from her work table that will complement what you see in the article, as well as more of her work.

Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Create or design a functional part of a piece as the focal point. It could be bail, an ear wire, or a necklace or bracelet clasp. If you are creating decor, it could be the handle, knob, latch, feet, or lid of the piece. Or if you’re creating a sculpture, make the base or wall hanging a well considered and important piece of the composition. Make it so the part in your craft art that is necessary for function comes across just as, or more than, necessary for the design.

_________________________________________

Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:

PCTV March 2016 Blog

___________________________________________

Tiny, Tiny Patterns

April 18, 2018
Posted in

The most common polymer veneer in the community has got to be canes. Although caning seems to exist in a category of its own, it is surface design and cane slices are veneers, albeit tiny, often of a singular image and usually repeated over and over on a piece.

Cécile Bos probably doesn’t identify as a polymer clay artist in a strict sense but she does some of the most amazing detailed canes for her small, delicate jewelry. Originally a biology researcher, she left the field to be a jewelry designer. Her focus is pattern and her primary inspiration is plants. As stated in her online biography, she creates intricate canes which are “then worked in the manner of a textile or thin layers of paper to shape [beads] or other original elements. After curing, these elements are mounted on silver 925 or bronze to form the final piece.” She also adds glass beads, ceramics, wood, metal, and cotton.

You will have to go to her website to see these small jewelry elements she creates from these tiny patterned canes. You can also follow her on Instagram.

 

Read More

Circling Back Around

March 2, 2018
Posted in

With its prevalence in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism and decorative elements, the circle and symmetrical designs like mandalas are probably a natural thing to gravitate to when you live in India.  of JudaMani, is a Delhi-based artist creating contemporary east Indian jewelry with metal, stones, and polymer clay.

I’ve been watching her Instagram posts with interest as the designs feel both familiar and refreshing. There is an abundance of pattern and lively color in her work, as demonstrated by the earrings here. The busy surface design and contrast in color and shapes makes the symmetry of its circular design dynamic.

For more on Jaishree’s work, check out her website, Instagram or Facebook pages.

 

 

Read More

The Convergence of Like Materials

March 7, 2016
Posted in

DStubitschPinkAs I mentioned last week, I was very excited to have a metal clay article for this issue. I have been wanting to do one for a while, especially since Metal Clay Artist magazine was forced to close their doors. I spent a lot of time conversing with the editor of MCAM, Jeannette Froese LeBlanc, trying to find a way to integrate our periodicals so they could continue to provide articles to metal clayers, but this market is a big challenge. Jeanette eventually went onto create Creative Fire, an online periodical, presented blog style, with in-depth and magazine-quality posts. If you are interested in metal clay, you need to subscribe to the free posts there.

It was through those conversations that I was steered to Dawn Stubitsch who so kindly agreed to write The Polymer Arts magazine’s first metal clay article. Dawn has been working in polymer for quite a while and only found metal clay as a way to create more durable bails for her pendants. The combination resulted in some truly unique pendants, like the one you see here. The bail is not just something added as a functional necessity, but it is the real focal point of the pendant. You don’t even think about it being a bail; it’s that strong center that holds all the riotous colors and patterns together.

I’m hoping Dawn’s article, with its clear direction and many tips, will get polymer clayers to consider giving metal clay a try. We use a lot of the same tools and many polymer skills translate quite directly to metal clay. As with many of the articles in the Spring issue, which focuses on the convergence of polymer and similar or complementary materials, we hope you see how expanding materials to use with polymer so greatly expands your creative potential with clay.

For more pieces from Dawn, go to her Flickr page, or check out her Facebook artist’s page where you can find shots from her work table that will complement what you see in the article, as well as more of her work.

Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Create or design a functional part of a piece as the focal point. It could be bail, an ear wire, or a necklace or bracelet clasp. If you are creating decor, it could be the handle, knob, latch, feet, or lid of the piece. Or if you’re creating a sculpture, make the base or wall hanging a well considered and important piece of the composition. Make it so the part in your craft art that is necessary for function comes across just as, or more than, necessary for the design.

_________________________________________

Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:

PCTV March 2016 Blog

___________________________________________

Read More
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