Textural Enticements

October 8, 2018

First of all, don’t forget you have a couple more days to get in your pre-order for the new Polymer Art Projects—Organics book due out at the end of the month. Heavily discounted pre-sale pricing ends this Wednesday, October 10th. Go to our website here to reserve your copy with a pre-order.

I know I have done dot-themed weeks a couple of times before but hopefully you are tired of them because we are going to focus on another type of dot this week although this is really more about texture than dots. There has been so much popping up out there in terms of heavily textural dots and this bracelet and earrings set by Sylvie Peraud led the pack this last week.

Why is this so enticing? I mean, this type of texture is reminiscent of reptilian skin and, for those of us with stupidly sensitive skin, certain types of hives and other reactions that result in a bunch of bumpy dots that are none too pretty. And yet this texture is something most of us find almost irresistible to touch. Rubbing our fingers over a surface like this is a feast for our fingertips. There’s also a certain richness to the density of this type of texture. Sylvie has added to this enticement with a gorgeous gradation of fiery warm colors. But the organic-looking texture and varied coloration contrasts starkly with the sharp geometric angles of these forms. This kind of high contrast adds energy and strength to this design.

She’s created bracelets in black-and-white as well as played with other surface applications on this form for at least a couple of weeks now with stunning results. Take a look at her photos on Facebook and hop over to her website for more on Sylvie and her work.

A Feast of Canes

March 7, 2017

ATRees mountain goatThe Spring issue is out and as usual, there is a bit of chatter on it out there in the social network world but there is an unusually high level of enthusiasm out there this issue. Is it that fabulously colorful cover? The wide variety of articles by or about amazing artists like Donna Greenberg, Christi Friesen, Wiwat Kalmpornjiwit, and Sylvie Peraud? So far the most talked about articles are the Lariat making, Donna’s inspiration from the past and Christi’s treatise on armatures which was pretty eye-opening since she picked the brains of some of the most amazing artists for which armatures are essential, namely Ellen Jewett (with that incredible opening piece!) and Adam Thomas Rees who I knew built his own animal shapes but had no idea how he did these huge things. But Christi revealed that for us.

The one thing we couldn’t do in Christi’s article was blow up some of the images so you could really see the detail of the work these artist’s do. Adam layers canes onto animal shapes in a manner reminiscent of Jon Anderson though they were developing their work around the same time so I don’t think Adam came to this idea from seeing Jon’s work although either of them may have influenced the other since. But other than canes on animal shapes, they have different approaches. Adam’s pieces are huge and his canes are large, broad patterns and often very bright. He sometimes mixes up other sculptural textures and additions to his creatures that create a feast of interesting details for the eye to roam over. The hanging matted hair like texture built up on this one creates a swath of white to give the eye a resting place below all that intense color and pattern above.

Just open Adam’s website and try not to be startled by the creature staring out at you. It’s beautiful but intense! Take some time out today and enjoy Adams colorful patterns in his galleries. And grab your copy of the Spring issue of The Polymer Arts on our website here.

 

_________________________________________

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

businesscard-3.5inx2in-h-front   never knead -july-2015c-125    The Great Create Sept 15 blog   Shades of Clay Sept 15 Blog

_________________________________________

Where Spring and Summer Collide

July 22, 2015

Sylvie Peraud summer d earrings

One of the striking things about summer is that point where some of the vegetation on the hills are still green and putting forth great effort to uphold their place in the sun while swathes of other plants have given up and turned brown. Even though I don’t like to see the hills turn brown, that time where the last vestiges of spring and the heat of summer collide is so beautiful in its contrast.

These earrings by Sylvie Peraud is just one such example. Greens turn to yellow as the plant’s energies are sapped, but when seen on a hill with the morning sun hitting it, it’s just radiant. I don’t know if Sylvie was thinking this when creating these, but it reminds me of the places I was running just a couple of weeks ago out here in Southern California.

Writing about these lead me to Sylvie’s blog where she has some really stunning new work you just have to see as well. Jump on over to her blog and check out her wide range of work on her Flickr pages when you take a creative recharge break today or this week. It will be a good mid-year and mid-week place for new inspiration.

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.

  TPA_McGuire_blog ad    

Ink Aiding Texture

November 21, 2013

Inks can produce visual texture like any painting medium can. But ink can also aid in emphasizing tactile textures without changing the form or surface properties in ways acrylics and oils cannot. With ink you can add that visual texture to the tactile elements without altering the physical texture due to the fact that they stain rather than covering the clay. Ink doesn’t build a physical layer of its own or in any way changes the physical texture of what its applied to so it has the advantage of adding complexity in texture as well as color.

Sylvie Peraud‘s series of rings she did this year absolutely fascinate me. Each element looks very organic and natural but collectively these little scenes appear a bit alien. This adds to their intrigue. The coloring of these little pieces that make up the beautifully strange miniature landscapes look to be primarily ink stained as are the bands which gain their primary texture from the application of ink.

dsc03674

dsc03678

 

I can’t tell you how hard it was to choose which ring to share today so do jump over to her blog or Flickr photostream to see more of these unique pieces. Sylvie turns to alcohol inks quite a bit as you’ll see if you look through her webpages there and even has classes on Craft Art Edu to teach you some of her techniques with the inks including a fine crackle technique and stained glass approach.

A Rich and Moving Monday

April 1, 2013

Post-holiday Mondays can feel so drab after a weekend of fun and festivities with family and/or friends. So let’s start this Monday with some rich colors and textures.

This pendant was created by Sylvie Peraud of France. Controlled alcohol inks and careful finishing make this one impressive piece.

8598705356_7373ff77ed

The repetition is simple but effective … the rounded triangular shapes fall from the neck cord in a gentle curve that is mimicked by the loose strands waving at the end of it. The off-balance arrangement and size of the shapes and strands give you the impression that is may be blowing in the wind. I do wish we had a shot of it hanging on a neck to see how it balances when worn. I bet it’s eye-catching in the way it moves on the wearer as well.

You can actually learn this technique, including how to make your own molds for the forms, via a class Sylvie has on CraftArtEdu titled Pearl Crackled Bracelet & Pendant.

Textural Enticements

October 8, 2018
Posted in

First of all, don’t forget you have a couple more days to get in your pre-order for the new Polymer Art Projects—Organics book due out at the end of the month. Heavily discounted pre-sale pricing ends this Wednesday, October 10th. Go to our website here to reserve your copy with a pre-order.

I know I have done dot-themed weeks a couple of times before but hopefully you are tired of them because we are going to focus on another type of dot this week although this is really more about texture than dots. There has been so much popping up out there in terms of heavily textural dots and this bracelet and earrings set by Sylvie Peraud led the pack this last week.

Why is this so enticing? I mean, this type of texture is reminiscent of reptilian skin and, for those of us with stupidly sensitive skin, certain types of hives and other reactions that result in a bunch of bumpy dots that are none too pretty. And yet this texture is something most of us find almost irresistible to touch. Rubbing our fingers over a surface like this is a feast for our fingertips. There’s also a certain richness to the density of this type of texture. Sylvie has added to this enticement with a gorgeous gradation of fiery warm colors. But the organic-looking texture and varied coloration contrasts starkly with the sharp geometric angles of these forms. This kind of high contrast adds energy and strength to this design.

She’s created bracelets in black-and-white as well as played with other surface applications on this form for at least a couple of weeks now with stunning results. Take a look at her photos on Facebook and hop over to her website for more on Sylvie and her work.

Read More

A Feast of Canes

March 7, 2017
Posted in

ATRees mountain goatThe Spring issue is out and as usual, there is a bit of chatter on it out there in the social network world but there is an unusually high level of enthusiasm out there this issue. Is it that fabulously colorful cover? The wide variety of articles by or about amazing artists like Donna Greenberg, Christi Friesen, Wiwat Kalmpornjiwit, and Sylvie Peraud? So far the most talked about articles are the Lariat making, Donna’s inspiration from the past and Christi’s treatise on armatures which was pretty eye-opening since she picked the brains of some of the most amazing artists for which armatures are essential, namely Ellen Jewett (with that incredible opening piece!) and Adam Thomas Rees who I knew built his own animal shapes but had no idea how he did these huge things. But Christi revealed that for us.

The one thing we couldn’t do in Christi’s article was blow up some of the images so you could really see the detail of the work these artist’s do. Adam layers canes onto animal shapes in a manner reminiscent of Jon Anderson though they were developing their work around the same time so I don’t think Adam came to this idea from seeing Jon’s work although either of them may have influenced the other since. But other than canes on animal shapes, they have different approaches. Adam’s pieces are huge and his canes are large, broad patterns and often very bright. He sometimes mixes up other sculptural textures and additions to his creatures that create a feast of interesting details for the eye to roam over. The hanging matted hair like texture built up on this one creates a swath of white to give the eye a resting place below all that intense color and pattern above.

Just open Adam’s website and try not to be startled by the creature staring out at you. It’s beautiful but intense! Take some time out today and enjoy Adams colorful patterns in his galleries. And grab your copy of the Spring issue of The Polymer Arts on our website here.

 

_________________________________________

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

businesscard-3.5inx2in-h-front   never knead -july-2015c-125    The Great Create Sept 15 blog   Shades of Clay Sept 15 Blog

_________________________________________

Read More

Where Spring and Summer Collide

July 22, 2015
Posted in
Sylvie Peraud summer d earrings

One of the striking things about summer is that point where some of the vegetation on the hills are still green and putting forth great effort to uphold their place in the sun while swathes of other plants have given up and turned brown. Even though I don’t like to see the hills turn brown, that time where the last vestiges of spring and the heat of summer collide is so beautiful in its contrast.

These earrings by Sylvie Peraud is just one such example. Greens turn to yellow as the plant’s energies are sapped, but when seen on a hill with the morning sun hitting it, it’s just radiant. I don’t know if Sylvie was thinking this when creating these, but it reminds me of the places I was running just a couple of weeks ago out here in Southern California.

Writing about these lead me to Sylvie’s blog where she has some really stunning new work you just have to see as well. Jump on over to her blog and check out her wide range of work on her Flickr pages when you take a creative recharge break today or this week. It will be a good mid-year and mid-week place for new inspiration.

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.

  TPA_McGuire_blog ad    

Read More

Ink Aiding Texture

November 21, 2013
Posted in

Inks can produce visual texture like any painting medium can. But ink can also aid in emphasizing tactile textures without changing the form or surface properties in ways acrylics and oils cannot. With ink you can add that visual texture to the tactile elements without altering the physical texture due to the fact that they stain rather than covering the clay. Ink doesn’t build a physical layer of its own or in any way changes the physical texture of what its applied to so it has the advantage of adding complexity in texture as well as color.

Sylvie Peraud‘s series of rings she did this year absolutely fascinate me. Each element looks very organic and natural but collectively these little scenes appear a bit alien. This adds to their intrigue. The coloring of these little pieces that make up the beautifully strange miniature landscapes look to be primarily ink stained as are the bands which gain their primary texture from the application of ink.

dsc03674

dsc03678

 

I can’t tell you how hard it was to choose which ring to share today so do jump over to her blog or Flickr photostream to see more of these unique pieces. Sylvie turns to alcohol inks quite a bit as you’ll see if you look through her webpages there and even has classes on Craft Art Edu to teach you some of her techniques with the inks including a fine crackle technique and stained glass approach.

Read More

A Rich and Moving Monday

April 1, 2013
Posted in

Post-holiday Mondays can feel so drab after a weekend of fun and festivities with family and/or friends. So let’s start this Monday with some rich colors and textures.

This pendant was created by Sylvie Peraud of France. Controlled alcohol inks and careful finishing make this one impressive piece.

8598705356_7373ff77ed

The repetition is simple but effective … the rounded triangular shapes fall from the neck cord in a gentle curve that is mimicked by the loose strands waving at the end of it. The off-balance arrangement and size of the shapes and strands give you the impression that is may be blowing in the wind. I do wish we had a shot of it hanging on a neck to see how it balances when worn. I bet it’s eye-catching in the way it moves on the wearer as well.

You can actually learn this technique, including how to make your own molds for the forms, via a class Sylvie has on CraftArtEdu titled Pearl Crackled Bracelet & Pendant.

Read More
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