Outside Inspiration: White Walls

Of all the elements we work with in polymer, color may seem to be a primary consideration, but in reality, color is one element we can actually do without. Form, balance, rhythm … these elements will always need to be considered no matter what you do. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, eliminating color and working with essential elements is a great exercise in honing your design skills. It also puts  you on a path to creating challenging and often very rewarding work.

Angela Schwer of Dilly Pad doesn’t just practice eliminating color, she primarily works without it. This ceramicist creates wall pieces with form and texture. The collective pieces are not composed for the buyer of her art but are rather sent as a set of individuals pieces that her customers can arrange as they like. Her Etsy page shows several possible arrangements for each set. A random composition on a white wall with these white flower ’tiles’ makes it appear as if the wall is sprouting flora of its own.

If you have an abundance of clay in one particular color and you’re not sure how you’ll use it all up, an exercise in monochrome might be just the thing. You could create a series of objects made from small forms like the petals created here … just form, repeat, and gather them in an organic form for easy yet compelling pieces that themselves can be gathered and arranged on a wall, door, or piece of furniture. Small form arrangements on a vase, book cover, or frame could result in some stunning work, not to mention the possibilities with all forms of jewelry. Released from the color consideration, I bet you’ll find a whole world of possibilities you had not considered before.