Creating Uncommon Mokume
Question for you … how much do you know about the origination of mokume gane? I’m guessing you have heard it has something to do with swords but did you know that the original metal technique was a lost art until quite recently? And did you know that what we do with polymer today has virtually nothing in common with the original technique? Mokume’s history and our adaptation of it has quite a few surprises in it, many of which could really open your eyes to its possibilities.
To understand how to create great mokume in polymer, it really does help to know a bit about where it came from, not to mention that its history is a great story of fortune, loss and redemption! Or something akin to that. Here are a few statements about its history. See if you can identify which statements are a true part of its tumultuous history and which are just fantastic claims:
- Mokume was a sword making technique that required folding metal over and over to give the blade’s edge a rippled appearance, like wood grain.
- The technique was developed for purely decorative purposes.
- It was originally used almost exclusively to create samurai swords to be carried around as status symbols.
- The technique became nearly extinct due to samurai swords becoming illegal to carry in Japan in the 19th century.
- The technique was resurrected by a female Japanese metalsmith when she started teaching it in the US in the 1970s.
Ok, so as you might have guessed, all these statements are true! But how does knowing this help? Well, the history may be more about appreciating it’s path to polymer but how it is created in metal can help you understand how our version of it works and what you can do with it.
Here … just take a look at one of the ways it is used in metalsmithing today. You can see in the phases of making a mokume ring, just how a mokume billet (that’s what metalsmith’s call a block of metal) is layered, twisted, pounded and bent into a ring. I never would have guessed that my mokume wedding band was created in this way considering how we approach it with polymer.
Now, what if you did the exact same thing with polymer? You could build a block, cut it, twist it, open it up and form it into a dimensional ring. Or bead. Or flattened donut. Or just a long bar bead, already patterned on all sides. Do you see how knowing the origin and how else it has been used can help you see the possibilities in polymer?
Neither the decorative sword nor the above metalsmithing approach sounds or looks anything like what we do in polymer though, does it? We don’t twist or even fold polymer mokume, it rarely looks like wood grain, and it certainly isn’t going to behave (or be as hard to work with) as steel and yet, we call it mokume. Now, how did that happen?
Like most borrowed techniques, what most of us have come to think of as polymer mokume evolved from an attempt to emulate it so it is not just some kind of translation of the technique. Slicing polymer “billets” (it’s too cool a word not to borrow too!) emulated grinding down the metal edge of a sword to reveal the visual drama of its layers. But because polymer can be manipulated in so many other ways, and because artists are a curious and exploratory lot, the technique, along with the clay, was also manipulated. This happened over and over until we ended up with the many variations we have today and even those often have little in common but the layering and the slicing.
Creating Uncommon Mokume in Your Studio
Has this started to get you thinking a bit differently about mokume? If it hasn’t let me just nudge you a bit more.
Consider this. With polymer, versus metal, we can:
- Work in a vast and myriad array of colors.
- Add translucent layers.
- Include inclusions in those layers.
- Cover the surface of layers with metal leaf, gilder’s paste, image transfers, or paint.
- Cut down through the billet to create lines and shapes.
- Use mica clays to create mica shift, an effect that adds color gradations and dimension around cuts and impressions.
- Create any kind of patterning we like, from loose and organic to very regular and controlled.
How many of these methods have you tried?
Uncommon Mokume Examples
Opening this post is a necklace by Carole Aubourg’s (aka Cacofim’) that can teach us a bit about mixing and matching patterns and letting background and foreground play together. She uses mokume in balance with the other, similarly slice-dependent techniques that appear, putting the focus on the design rather than on any one pattern or technique. Then the slices don’t always cover their beads, letting the background come through. There is a lot going on here but the variety of patterns are all brought together by a cohesive color palette that all parts partake of.
Here are some splendid green and cream dimensional beads by Eugena Topina that speak to how you can control of the slices. The mokume is created with high contrast colors and a prominent pattern that is sliced to a very even depth to keep the pattern whole. She then echos the pattern on the reverse side with carving. (And lucky us … she sells a project tutorial for this necklace here for a mere $13! Go get one if you are at all intrigued.)
I don’t want to discount what metalsmiths are doing with mokume these days either. So, no, this stylized heart pendant is not polymer but don’t you love how fine and close the mokume marks/impressions are? And why not go dense with the patterning? I have not the faintest idea how Juha Koskela created this in silver but if metalsmiths are getting wild with color in metals, I have to at least wonder a little bit if metal techniques, which have long influenced our work, might now be getting inspiration from polymer. I do like that idea, don’t you?
So, here’s another question … are you a mokume making fan and have you pushed what you know about the technique? If you have, why not share? Send links of your work in the comments below (click here if you are reading this in an email) so we can all see your work. I know I’d love to see it!
THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
Here are a few bits of general polymer news you might find of interest!
- This Tuesday is the near legendary half off sale at Munro Crafts. Check it out and stock up!
- Maggie Maggio and Lindly Haunani are teaching together for a 6 day spree of creativity and color, July 8th-13th. This is also partly a celebration of their highly influential book, Color Inspirations. If you like color (and who doesn’t?) and you can squeeze this into your schedule and budget, it’s a must.
- Deadline for submitting to the IPCA Awards is in just a few days. Apply here!
Do you have feedback for me?
Tell me what you think of this new format and blog. I wanted to put some more meat into it but you tell me … is it too long or did you enjoy getting lost in the history and ideas? If you liked it, just drop a quick “Works for me!” or “Keep it up” in the comments below (click here if you are reading this in an email then scroll down on the page that pops up.)
If you have ways I could change or otherwise improve the new blog format, just send a short “Shorter!” or “More pics, less text.” or “More instruction than history” or whatever in the comments below (click here if you are reading this in an email). I can’t please everyone but I really want this to be as useful and inspiring as it can be so help me make this what you want and hope for!
– Sage
Definitely works for me!
Great! Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
Love the new format, just right amount of info and pics!
Oh good. Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
The content was so fantastic I didn’t notice the length. Don’t cut down on the text or photos. I loved reading about Mokume. Great post. I love the new format.
Ah … the kind of comment every writer likes to hear – that you didn’t even notice how long it was. Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
Works definitely for me. Thank you and please keep it up.
Great! I shall! Thanks for letting me know.
This is great. I particularly like you explanations and discussions of why something is worth loosing at.
Keep it up!
Great! That is very helpful to hear. So glad you like it!
I like it! Perfect balance.
Great! Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
Love this article! History is great!
Isn’t it? History gives us perspective that we will get in no other way! Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
like it. More pictures and instructions would be appreciated.
Thank you
Suzanne
Ok, yes. I will be playing with types of content a bit and will look at options for more instruction. The images are only limited by how much time I have to find and edit them but I am all for the visuals too! Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
Dear Ms. Bray,
When I read your blog and weekly inspirations, I feel as though you are prodding me to wake up my “art brain”. I’ve loved playing with the clay for only four years, taken miriad online classes and attended retreats. Your approach to this art form feels unique to me. I look forward to your essays. The mix of pictures and text seems just right to me. I’ve been similarly happy with your other pubs. You get my juices moving! Thank you!
00na
Length and depth of articles works for me.
Just an FYI – In my email version the pictures were fuzzy.
glad you like the new version. I will look into the email issue … can you tell me how you read it? Was it on a phone or tablet or computer and in what email program did you open it. I’ll let you know what I find out.
Thank you, Sage, your new weekly blog is great!! Please make a link to your older daily blogs on the email version of your new blog somewhere as the dailies were so inspiring…
Thank you for your dedication and great writing. Hope Polymer Studio comes soon! My stack of Polymer Arts is a treasure!
My best! Barbara
Let me look at what we can add to the email in terms of past blogs. I didn’t change it up to the extent that you can’t access them – this is just a change up to the blog name and format but it is the same blog with the same history accessible on the website. But I do like the idea of linking back if we can do it without being overly cluttered. Thanks for the idea and your kind words!
What an interesting article. Thank you for the in depth look at mokume and all the illustrations. Got me to thinking again!
Wonderful. Getting people’s brains buzzing is what I am after! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
Works for me!
Great! Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
I like it! Please continue.
I shall! Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
Yes. I like the new format and content. History and pictures are very welcome. Thanks.
oh, wonderful. Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
I like your new emails just asthey are.
Fabulous! Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
I like the new format!
Great! Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
Please don’t change a thing Sage! I love the new format and the way you explore topics in greater depth. One of the things I miss most about the Polymer Arts magazine is your writing. You have a wonderful gift and I so appreciate that you are willing to share it with us in the polymer community! Thank you for all that you do to contribute to the evolution of our art!
Aw, Nan, thanks! Such kind words. And so glad you like it!
I like the new format, and would rather have an in-depth article, such as this one, than 3 or 4 skim-the-surface write-ups. I vote for keeping this format.
I like the in-depth stuff better too – to read and to write! But sometimes I think I’m a bit odd and with the purported reduced attention span we supposedly all have these days, I needed to ask. Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
Works for me! Some great info here that I didn’t know.
Great! Thanks for letting me know. So glad you like it!
i like your meatier, once-weekly format Sage. As i well know from our marathon coffee&ganache sessions, you have so much interesting info in your brain and i have loved your sharing it with us – in mags, books and blogs.
Keep up the awesomeness! and yeah! loving this new blog format
I gotta offload all these tidbits I soak up somewhere … besides on you. lol.
Just right. Love the format and the length. Something to think about with the right amount of illustration.
Great! I appreciate the detailed feedback. Thanks for letting me know and very glad you like it.
Works for me!
Great! Thanks for letting me know.
Loving the new format keep up the good work ?
Oh, great. So glad you like it and thank you for the kinds words.
Nice article, keep them coming!
So glad you like it. I will keep them coming!
Works for me!
Great!!
I read every word and really like the format. Keep it up!
Oh, wonderful. I shall! Thanks for letting me know.
Works for me! More content, weekly with more pics?
Yes! More and weekly. So glad you like it!
Great stuff
So glad you like it!
awesome stuff as always Sage baby!
Aw thanks lady!
Works for me! Loved the expansion of ideas in pictures.
Great. Thanks for the comment and so glad you like it!
Love it! Keep it up.
Great and thanks!!
This is awesome. Of course, I’m biased because it mentioned metal-working 🙂 but still the information and transitions to what can be done in polymer were wonderful!
I’ll get you and Kate hooked on this stuff someday. lol.
Fine! I like the history and overall view and history of Polymer. I am NOT into” how to do” stuff. That is already for free on You Tube.
Fantastic. So glad you like it!
It’s not possible to write too much as far as I’m concerned, Sage; I’m a reader and find most things interesting. This certainly was interesting!
The images of the Japanese pieces (starting it’s what imagine e was the “billet,” wasn’t readable on my iPad in my newsreader (Newsify). I tried opening it by itself and saving it onto my system, but it was just fuzzy no matter how I looked at it. That was the imagine I was most interested in seeing, too, dangit.
I hope you’ll do plenty more like this and that you have the time to do them. ☺️ Thanks for making this stuff for us.
Thank you for the information about the image. I am still new to understanding how things work going from desktop to tablet to phone platforms but I do have a tech guy and I’ll get his advice. I’ve added the link to the chart to the post but here it is as well: http://www.shop-012.de/shop2/index.php?user=amila&weiteres=6 It is in German so I’m going to do a little more research and find something in English and I’ll share that tomorrow in a mid-week update! Thanks for your detailed feedback! And yes, I’ll be doing more similar stuff for the blog. I do love writing this kind of thing!
I love it! It was neither too short, nor too long, and everything in it was applicable to me and my polymer clay journey. Thanks!
Wonderful! Thank you so much for letting me know and so glad you enjoyed it!
Inspirational, informative and perfect in length and detail. I enjoy the historical context and love the idea of cross pollination between art forms. As a relative newbie to this medium it’s all news to me, but I can appreciate good research and good editing. Please don’t stop. And I can’t wait to get my first copy of the magazine.
Wonderful! Thank you so much for letting me know and so glad you enjoyed it! The magazines seem to be taking their time – maybe its the winter storms – but they are on the way. Enjoy!
Format, length, info., and links – great! Thanks, Sage.
Wonderful! Thank you so much for letting me know and so glad you enjoyed it!
I really appreciate the added information in your new format. This post has inspired me to try some Mokume gane. Thank you for your great posts.
Love it – whatever you do is good for me. Im just glad you share it!
Aw, thanks Charlotte. I do like sharing this kind of thing. 🙂
Great new format! Interesting! Would love to see tutorials or videos. More illustrations please!
So glad you like it Lee. Yes, I will look at tutorials I can direct you to (not enough time or room to actually create any for this). Thank you!