Obsessed with Day of the Dead
October 31, 2012
Inspirational Art
Of course, I had to look for something in theme with my favorite holiday today. I find Halloween, the Day of the Dead and similar observances so very intriguing. Our passing is as much a part of life as our living and an acceptance and even celebration of it can so very much help be at peace with it as well as helps us appreciate each day we have to live, love, create and share.
I am not, however, a year round observer but I think Tamra Kohl of Sacramento, California may be. She has the most varied presentations of the Day of the Dead theme I think I’ve ever seen. With a well honed sense of humor about it, she has been making dolls, dioramas and cake toppers with the well known skeletons and flowers motifs of the holiday. Only she doesn’t stick with just the famous Fall holiday. Her skeletons can also be found lounging in a bubbly tub for Valentines and in Santa suits. Others are out getting tattoos, having acupuncture, flirting with a playboy bunny while seated at a slot machine and even skeletons dogs can be found surfing as you can see here.
There seems to be no boundaries for these Day of the Dead spirits. And why should there be?
You can enjoy Tamra’s many renditions of the Day of the Dead motifs on her Flickr page and website.
Delightfully Crowded
October 30, 2012
Inspirational Art
If you have seen crowds photographed from above, you may have noticed there tends to be a pattern in the way people group. Sometimes there is a definite direction as it will be during a concert with everyone facing the stage. Sometimes there is a pronounced flow, a line of people moving back and forth on a path through the throng. Crowded spaces, be they at an event, within an abundantly planted garden or the result of a busy day at your studio table, have some pattern and impression to impart.
This piece by Klavdija Kurent of Slovenia is the kind of crowd I can get into. Like little faces or tiny, blooming flowers, the silver ball accented folds of polymer open up to the space outside their crowded circumstance in an almost expectant and lively manner. The fact that it is black and white rather than multi-colored keeps the crowded space from becoming overwhelming. There is always a danger of over-doing it when you crowd elements in your work but if it’s well balanced with simplicity in other aspects, it can result in a delightfully subdued complexity.
Speaking of crowds … how are our Eastern US friends doing? I’m hoping you and your families are all doing well, are safe and comfortable, and if you are crowded into shelters that your stay is very short and you get to go home soon. Good energy and wishes going out to you all.
Integrating Function
October 29, 2012
Inspirational Art
Etched metal bails, thoughtfully crafted ear wires, and spiraling wire rivets are just a few ways we add the necessary findings and connectors to our art jewelry to make theme functional. But what if you used the items that you need to make your art jewelry functional as an integral and primary part of the design instead of just having it as an accent or as a way to disguise the connection to the art?
In Laura Bocchi’s “Lazy Cloud” necklace, ball chain, which is commonly used for more casual and even industrial designs, is wound through translucent polymer clay to help define and add movement to a simple cloud formation.
Is Beauty a Matter of Good Taste?
October 28, 2012
Ponderings
When I first read this, I laughed of course. Then I thought, well, it really doesn’t matter. Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist — if you find something beautiful, your view is all that matters. But then I thought, if that’s true, why do we even have the concept of “good taste?” If we judge people’s choices are we not discounting their personal view?
A Garden At the Tip of Your Fingers
October 27, 2012
Inspirational Art
In the northern hemisphere, we are all preparing for cooler weather. Many of us are saying good-bye to our gardens as they change colors and die off. Wouldn’t it be nice to keep a little garden or park right at hand … or literally on your hand?
This below is a ring. A little bit of green landscaping that will never die-off and go brown. A little pond-side view to cheer one up on a snowy day.
Kati Gumenius calls these impractical whimsy pieces. I suppose they could get caught on a few things, but I don’t think that would stop me from wearing them. What is art for but to cheer us, make us think, and put us in a place a little beyond where we are at the moment? If a piece does that, I think it’s pretty practical — at least for the purpose of transporting us for a moment.
Many thanks to Porro Salhberg for bringing this fun stuff to my attention.
Outside Inspiration: Trying Not to Be a Polymer Snob
October 26, 2012
Inspirational Art
Below is an intriguing, elegant necklace by Danielle Gori-Montanelli. Fairly simple with a calm yet random pattern and subdued colors. Nice, right? It’s felt.
Have you ever worked with felt? Dense, rich, durable and a really earthy medium. Great fun for the very tactile artist. It’s also pretty forgiving if you mess up and have to take your piece apart, rebuild, extract or expand. And still … my first thought when I saw this piece was “How cool. But it would have been so much easier to make in polymer.”
Now why did I say that to myself? It wouldn’t necessarily be easier or quicker — considering the conditioning and handling of the clay that would be needed before constructing it. But it did make me realize that I’m a tad bit biased. Okay, more than a tad. And that’s with fiber being one of my first loves.
I think it really comes down to an overriding admiration for the versatility of the medium as well as the very sharing and generous nature of the polymer community. It’s really hard to beat. It’s rather insane how many other art materials have been sitting in boxes — untouched — since I became a full-blown polymer addict some 7 years ago. I think I need some intervention.
All materials are valid. There are a very few that cannot work with polymer. So to temper my snobbery, I have been mixing fiber with polymer. It has been seriously all too fun. Has it been helping my prejudice though? Well …
Do you have a medium that you worked in before polymer? Have you tried combining the two? You should really try it if you haven’t. You will probably come up with some incredible works of art!
Of course that would further support a prejudice for polymer … what can’t polymer do? Oh, well. I guess those of us so inclined need more therapy … yep, we will have to spend more time in the studio exploring. Oh, how terrible.
Winter 2012 Cover …
October 25, 2012
Inspirational Art, The Polymer Arts magazine news
Choosing art for the cover for the next issue of The Polymer Arts magazine was a tad bit difficult this time around. I had all this great work by lots of wonderful artists but the gremlins of chaos seemed to be everywhere and with everyone the last few months. I had initially felt obligated to get kind of crazy with the bling since it’s the Shimmer & Shine issue but there were many last minute changes and getting high quality, high resolution images at the 11th hour is tough. So we went with a personal favorite artist of mine Nicole West (and hopefully soon to be one of yours if you haven’t yet seen her work) and her gorgeous Alice in Wonderland inspired sculpture which certainly shines! Nicole is sharing her work in the Mentor Gallery for this issue. It’s not to be missed!
Spiraling Color
October 24, 2012
Inspirational Art
Movement in art is often times instilled with the use of lines just as they are in the earrings below by Carol Blackburn. But along with the lines, there is also a feeling of movement due to color changes.
The movement is not just from a cool blue to a warm brown but there is also a sense that time is working its way up the spirals from the tip, much like the browning edges of leaves to the clinging brights of a deep sky that has not given into to the change. It’s an interesting and intriguing color combination that emphasizes the active lines of the spiral polymer strips.
If you find the form of these pieces intriguing as well, Carol just released her class on these Shell Earrings on CraftArtEdu.com. Perhaps its time to try arranging your own spiraling colors.
Fimo Deco Gel … alive and well
October 23, 2012
Inspirational Art, Polymer community news
There was some chatter a month or two ago about Fimo Deco Gel no longer being manufactured. Well, after a discussion with liquid polymer queens Ann and Karen Mitchell (they literally wrote the book on it) — they went directly to the source and have been told by Staedtler, the Fimo manufacturers, that there are no plans to halt production of the wonderfully clear liquid polymer.
Erin “Eirewolf” Metcalf created this Fimo Deco Gel butterfly for her mother some years ago. The clarity of Fimo’s liquid polymer allows for inclusions to shine through like the mica powders tracked through the wings here. The only difficult thing about Fimo’s Deco Gel is finding it. There are still suppliers on Amazon and in the UK there is supplier on Ebay. (Update–Polymer Clay Express is carrying it too: http://www.polymerclayexpress.com/fimo.html) Otherwise, you can still get it at some of the local and chain craft stores. But it goes fast — so if you see it, grab it!
Spiderwebs are not usually considered sophisticated. They tend to be used for things related to costuming fabrics, accessories and props. Put a spiderweb on something and it’s not likely to be taken seriously. Which is odd since spiderwebs are some of the most amazing and beautiful creations constructed by any non-human creature on earth. But commercialism may have killed our true appreciation for these incredible weavings.
So when I came across this piece below, I was thrilled to see the spiderweb patterning presented in such a light and sophisticated way.
Our artist here, Kathrin Neumaier, calls it etching but since she does state that it is made with silver oil paint, I would guess it’s actually done with stamps and a light touch. In any case, it relays the gossamer feel of real spiderwebs on a contemporary tile collar design that is much appreciated by spiderweb aficionados like myself.
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I know I quoted Picasso last week, but I really wanted to share this one other very succinct and powerful thought.
Inspiration can’t be easily conjured up but the real key to having those truly inspired moments is to be where you can act on them and where it will find you most receptive. That would be working on art. Even when you don’t feel inspired but you wish you were, get to working on something. Even if its just cleaning the studio. I can’t tell you how many projects have come out of just picking up and (trying) to put things away. Yeah … my studio rarely gets completely cleaned.
Read MoreI’ve been keeping an eye on the experiments people have making with the Pardo translucent clay. At this point, I think it’s pretty obvious that it is the clearest translucent on the market. It also seems to be the most elusive which is probably because it’s becoming quite popular. Just look at what can be done with it.
Here we have a Lindly Haunani inspired pinch petal necklace by Nora Pero of San Diego, California. The petals look to be made from sheets that, judging by the other photos she has on her Flickr site, are probably 2 cards thicks and yet the dark background comes through with no visible yellowing. How cool is that?
When I was in Atlanta last month, I got to see and handle some pieces made by Ellen Prophater with this clay. So clear with no yellowing, I was amazed. They sold it there but since I was traveling by car in the south, there was no point in packing some up as it’d likely be baked in my Subaru-style oven. What the heck, I’d seen it at a local hobby store. I’ll get it when I get back home.
But alas, there has been no translucent, and very little Pardo to be found all along the Colorado front range. Some intensive research on the internet brought up only two sources — Amazon, where someone who has realized the value of the rare material was selling it at twice its retail price and our friends at Poly Clay Play.
I have, however, written my contact at Viva Decor to get the scoop on the translucent clay supply. I will update you as I get information!
Read MoreWe interrupt this week’s Outside Influence installment with an important announcement … If you have not already seen the announcement, the IPCA opened registration for entry into the Progress and Possibilities juried online exhibition. It’s one of the biggest events of its kind in our community so well worth looking into. There are categories for every level of polymer artists too.
If you are unfamiliar with this annual event, you can check out last year’s exhibition art here: http://theipca.org/gallery/index.php/Progress-Possibilities-2011 Below is the winning piece for the professional category in sculpting. Fox and Grapes is a piece by Doreen Kassel (an artist who was also featured in The Polymer Art’s Fall 2012 Mentor Artist’s Gallery)
Here is the official announcement information:
“Progress & Possibilities 2012,” an online juried exhibition of polymer clay art is open to IPCA members only. The purpose of Progress & Possibilities is to encourage and acknowledge promise, innovation, and individuality in the work of individual polymer clay artists, at all stages of professional development, and to advance public awareness of and appreciation for the fine craft of polymer clay. This official online exhibition of the International Polymer Clay Association will showcase the finest work completed this year by our members throughout the world.
Go to the IPCA’s website for more info and get your work ready!
Read MoreA few days ago I had an artist featured from a not-so-well-known country, Belsarus. Well, there must be something about polymer and that country right now because I came across Elena Fadeeva also of Minsk, Belarus this week as well and her beautiful erased polymer tubes. What is it about this Eastern European country and polymer?
Well…. while I ponder that, you can take in these lovely beads. The translation would seem to indicate that she used alcohol inks originally across the whole bead but then ‘erased’ the color. I suspect this was done by sanding as I have tried get a drop or two off a sheet of clay that, laid carelessly on the work table nearby got splashed by my enthusiastic dribblings. Here, as part of the design rather than the erasure of a mistake, the thin delicate colors fill in the stampings with an almost antique or worn tribal look. There are more beatutiful examples on her Flickr page.
I have been working to perfect another method of erasing — but with mica powders. I have been able to completely erase mica from the flat or raised surface of raw clay both in order to remove errant powder and to use as a negative stencil or a kind of enameling technique.
I’ll unveil my finds in this mica-erasure approach in the next issue of The Polymer Arts magazine. Be sure you have your subscription up-to-date. You won’t want to miss this next amazing and all–too-fun issue.
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This lovely image showed up in a Facebook group this past weekend and just stuck with me. Ariane Freisleben, Munich-born but a resident of Tuscany, has taken classes from all the greats. Her commitment to the medium — and how much she has learned from spending so much time with quality instructors — is quite evident in this translation of Jeffery Lloyd Dever’s backfill and construction techniques.
The design here is just fantastic. The stylized flowers make not only an interesting floral abstraction but they echo the form and surface treatment of the ‘vase.’ She has dots on the small sphere buds visually relating to the dots within dots backfill technique and the teardrop-shaped blooms are the completed form that the vase starts building toward but halts in order to open and hold the bouquet. I might have hoped for more saturated color in some of the lighter translucent teardrop blooms but it’s a minor consideration as the joyful nature of the piece still comes across so nicely.
So lots of echoing here. A bit of Dever, a bit of dots and bit of drops. And, a great piece from it all.
Read MoreEarrings. You make two identical little pretty pieces, right? Not necessarily. Why do they need to match exactly?
The unmatched but obvious pairing of this earring set made by Serbia’s Biljana Teodorović was just one of the things that caught my eye. The imagery looks very illustrative but it is all done with canes laid out in a floral composition that is then cut up. The earrings then become two parts of the same scene.
When you look at the process here on her blog, it is pretty straight-forward. Yet it is rather fascinating to see how the process starts and what she ends up with. She also smartly makes them reversible. Or, as I like to think of it, she has the ‘backs’ well-considered.
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You might look at the sculptural work below and think “How complex! That must be a lot of work.” It is a beautifully complex piece but it’s not that hard.
If you make a series of forms and repeat them, changing their orientation, size, color, etc., you can create what appears to be very complex pieces from easily formed components. These shapes you see below are what artist Anna Anpilogova of Minsk, Belarus used to create her bracelet. Just some clay balls, clay teardrops and tapered ropes. Quick and easy sculpting with great end results when you put them all together.
I am a big proponent of constructive criticism. Unfortunately, there are many people in this world who don’t understand what that means. There are also many people who, unhappy with their own situations, project how they feel onto others. I am always hoping that everyone can find their happiness — and bliss — in the things they do, but until then, don’t listen to the negativity. Keep on doing what you do and love so much.
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