The Party is in Full Swing. Come join us!
May 31, 2023
Polymer community news, The Polymer Arts magazine news
What party is this? The latest project from little ol’ me, Sage. The Sage Arts podcast is more than up and running… I have 25 episodes up as of this posting, ready on your favorite podcast player (New to Podcasts? Click here to find out how easy it is to enjoy them!) and a new one coming out every week.
What’s This Podcast All About?
This podcast is all about feeding and exciting your muse. By enlightening or reminding you about important and maybe unconsidered aspects of creating and living as an artist, I hope to help you find more joy and satisfaction in what you do, sharing ways to create with authenticity and fearlessness, while supporting your uniquely defined version of success.
Now what the heck does that all mean? Well, let’s look at what this is and what this is not…
It IS…
… a way to consistently feed your muse
… all about you. Myself, my guests, and my guest co-hosts speak to the issues, curiousity, and hurdles that you as a creative deal with on a regular basis.
… focused on creating a more fulfilling, joyful, and meaningful artistic journey.
… a conversation that goes both ways with lots of opportunities for you to be heard.
It is NOT…
… all about polymer clay or any one medium, as it’s important stuff for all artistic folks.
… focused on “how-to” or the latest tools and materials.
… just interviewing successful artists and talking at you. Rather it is like a coffee house chat or other friendly gather and I include you, the listener, in every way I can.
I created this podcast to supercharge your creativity, motivation, and artistic style through novelty, story, conversation, and community. Everyone has how-tos and ways to increase your sales – valiant and necessary stuff, of course! But what does your muse need? What does your work and your love of your art need to thrive? That’s where I want to help.
I aim to give artists ways to further hone their unique voice, increase their joy and productivity, and create a version of artistic success that is meaningful, satisfying, and anything but ordinary.
Come Join the Conversation
If you have something to share, would like to be a guest (for a chatty interview), or be a guest co-host (you and I banter on a particular subject) drop me an email me via my contact page on the show website: https://thesagearts.com/contact/ or send a voice mail (use the red button on that same site, bottom right corner of any page.)
And join me on social media!
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesageartspodcast/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheSageArtsPodcast
And don’t forget to click “FOLLOW” or that little arrow on your favorite Podcast player so you get notices of new episodes. New Episodes come out weekly on Friday evenings, barring natural disasters or other bits of interference, of course. I hope you’ll join me there, on The Sage Arts podcast!
There are new artists and creatives joining every day with tons of great things to say…
“Just what I needed!”
“I just binged-listened … and I can’t wait for more!”
“There is so much validity in your presentation…”
“Looking forward to all the thinking and creating that they prompt.”
Taste test on my RSS website: https://rss.com/podcasts/thesagearts/
Or on the podcast home website: https://thesagearts.com/
Or start with this episode:
Crackly Goodness
December 29, 2012
Inspirational Art
I couldn’t let the last days of the year go by without stopping to admire a little crackle. These sumptuous discs here are the work of Barbara Fajardo. She developed a technique that layers alcohol inks to get a multi-dimensional texture with, of course, lots of fine crackle.
In this case, the polymer is a carrier rather than visual element, but even without knowing the particulars of Barbara’s technique, it’s unlikely that there is another material that could be paired with the inks and manipulated so as to develop the light crackling effect. These are some of the most magical aspects of our medium–the plasticity and ability of polymer to take on a wide variety of other mediums.
Even though color is what often draws us to polymer, it’s the physical characteristics of the material that make it so versatile. One of these days I’m going to count how many ways we can use it just for crackling.
In the meantime, we hope Barbara has the opportunity to develop a class for CraftArtEdu on this beautiful technique. She has four other classes available there right now. If you want to see more applications of Barbara’s crackly goodness, take some time to look through her Flickr page.
Color Through the Centuries
December 28, 2012
Polymer issues, Ponderings
Have you ever wondered why certain colors become favorites for a period and then are abandoned almost overnight? The predominance of colors is often a result of social or global circumstances. I found this chart below and the accompanying post highlighting the change in fashionable colors over the decades quite interesting.
I don’t know that anyone can actually guess what colors will come from a change in global or local circumstances, but a historical view could give you a direction if you are looking to change up your line this coming year. Even if not, it is rather fun to see where we have been and where we’ve come to over the years in our society’s color preferences.
Stepping out in Vibrating Color
December 27, 2012
Inspirational Art
I know, I know … many of you are resting up after a long, well-fought holiday season. The rest is certainly deserved. But there is no rest for the wicked. Especially if you or your customers have big New Year’s plans!
I actually look forward to dressing up for New Year’s more than for Christmas gatherings. New Year’s is a time for pizzazz, a time for glamor and glitz (without over doing it of course!) and a time to shine.
The first day of the year is a day of hope and high energy, so why not dress to reflect the sentiment of a new start? It doesn’t have to be all jewels and gold, either. Certain color combinations, not to mention visual textures, can really add energy to an outfit. This piece by Two Good Claymates (Carolyn and Dave Good) has a little bit of all of this. Purple and green, a very energetic color combination, set off with the hypnotic look of Damascus canes and faceted beads. That’s dressing it up.
I haven’t decided what to do for this New Year’s eve, so I need to get myself into the studio and whip up something for myself … for a change. Why not put some time aside in the studio to make yourself something wonderful for the new year?
A Filigree Farewell to Christmas
December 26, 2012
Inspirational Art
Perhaps you are all a bit tired of Christmas, but I only just found this beautiful set late last night and thought one more holiday piece could be shared.
Leah Hagen of LeeLee Beads is a polymer filigree fanatic. She seems to have explored every possible approach for winding thin snakes of clay about a bead. These “Vintage Christmas” beads are a charming example of Leah’s varied filigree approach.
If you have an interest in polymer filigree, embroidery, or lace like applications take a look at Leah’s Flickr page.
All I Wanted for Christmas …
December 25, 2012
Inspirational Art, Ponderings
… I already had.
I am blessed with the most wonderful family anyone could ever wish for. We all actually really get along, respect each other, and encourage each other’s dreams. I also have many amazing, dear, and caring friends, some that I’ve known for ages, some quite new, not to mention the wonderful network of acquaintances and colleagues I can always count on to keep me on track and make me feel useful and needed by coming to me for help, as well.
And on top of all that–already more than any one person could possibly hope for–I have the most supportive, generous, and helpful readers, both here on the blog and at The Polymer Arts magazine. What more could a girl ask for?
I do hope all of you, whether you celebrate Christmas today or not, are surrounded by your dearest ones and are able to take time to truly enjoy and appreciate the season with all it’s many blessings.
Our cute little Christmas tree trio was created by Afsaneh Tajvidi of JooJooLand and was her Christmas blog greeting a couple years back. Thanks to her and all of you who share your gifts with all of us.
Outside Inspiration: Time in the Kitchen (and yes, it is Monday)
December 24, 2012
Inspirational Art
I know I usually do outside inspirations on Fridays, but let’s face it … most of us are probably not in the studio today. Many of us are in the kitchen. So here’s a thought. Where I usually stop to point out how something made in another medium can be translated into polymer, how about we take our skills and creativity we hone in our studios to the kitchen with us?
There are many culinary items that can be made more appealing and get you that desired “wow” factor by applying techniques and design ideas you already employ in polymer. Design elements like color, balance, line, texture, etc are all applicable to food. The area with the widest opportunities are in the sweets. Just look at these adorable cookies. Cut and stacked shapes, small dots and lines of detail … you’ve probably done something very similar with polymer. So you can see how simple it would be to do the same with frosting or fondant? These fun cookies are by Naomi of HelloNaomi.com.au of New Castle, Australia. (Could you even eat these?! They’re so cute!)
Cookies and cakes have an easy and direct translation for polymer art, but don’t hold back when it comes to be creative and colorful in the kitchen. Appetizers can be so much fun, too. For instance, arrange that ubiquitous veggie tray into something more enticing by making a Christmas tree shape out of the broccoli with carrot chips and cherry tomato ‘ornaments’ and sliced sweet pepper ‘garlands’. Wrap that soft cheese block with a peeled celery bow (or real ribbon … I’m sure no one will try to eat it … right?) Or instead of a nut and cheese log, how about a nut and cheese wreath?
I just think we, as creative people, should never limit ourselves by putting all of our creative energy into our primary material. There are all kinds of materials and moments your skills can be applied, where you can be creative and delight the people around you, not to mention the fun you can have yourself. There is no better time (or excuse) to do so than during the holiday season.
Now go ahead, go get crazy creative in the kitchen today!
Yes, It’s All Worth the Aggravation
December 23, 2012
Ponderings
I have somehow managed to avoid most of the trials and tribulations that are usually a part of the holiday season. Not that there aren’t other non-holiday tribulations putting up hurdles before me but I am very grateful for being an artist and for being able to make, with tons of love and caring, gifts for the people on my list. I am also so grateful for the internet … for letting me shop from home for all those things on my list that just can’t–for some silly reason–be made from polymer clay!
But I do see the hectic lines in the face of my friends and family. I’m sure many of you have or are having those kind of moments. So here is a holiday thought for you. Just remember why you go through all you go through during the holiday season. And who benefits from all you do.
Happy Incidentals
December 22, 2012
Inspirational Art
So … have you had that moment yet? The moment when we just stop and stare at the bedlam that now exist in our studio space from the last few weeks of madness? With the holiday season winding down, what do we do with all the scrap canes, cut up bits of clay sheets, and half completed pieces?
I would suggest, first of all, to not relegate it all to the scrap box. Just put the bits aside. Your brain is probably overloaded if you have spent a lot of time in the studio finishing last minute orders or putting final touches on holiday gifts for friends and family, and you are probably in no shape to judge what is worth saving or not (And yes… some of us are STILL working on those final touches!). Save these for a week or so down the road when you’ve had a break and given yourself time to breathe.
When you do get back to the studio, realize that the extras and bits you have may still have some surprises left in them. Although your leftovers may no longer be useful because they were holiday specific, or they just didn’t work out for the project you created them for, if you rethink and repurpose them you may come up with some very happy incidental pieces.
Here is a charming little bug created by Kim Deters that came from an unsatisfying pink cane. She didn’t like what she originally had so she added some other canes to it and … surprise! It brought about the creation of this wonderful piece.
If you need some ideas about how to recycle or repurpose your extra bits, see our Summer 2012 issue of The Polymer Arts magazine, which is all about such ideas. (You can even see a sampling of that issue here if you don’t have your own copy yet.)
Have a great holiday weekend!
Outside Inspiration: White Walls
December 21, 2012
Inspirational Art
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.
Harking Back to Ancient Mosaics
December 20, 2012
Inspirational Art
Mosaic art is a rather interesting art form. Although it falls into the realm of craft due to the construction component, it is more like painting in the way form and imagery are created by choosing individual color, shapes and/or texture for each point of the surface it is created on. It takes both 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional design considerations with the results having a very unique texture that spans both. Polymer is not that dissimilar. We work in 3-dimensions but often focus on surface design. So it’s no wonder that some clayers are heavily inspired by mosaics.
The pendant below is a kind of crossover between polymer and mosaics. Barbara Sperling doesn’t actually create a mosaic but the canes and textures give you the sense that it is mosaic art. If you think about it, building imagery for canes works very much the same way as mosaics, choosing colors and shapes for each point of the image.
Barbara also chooses colors and foils that hark back to the ancient mosaics seen on old Roman and Greek floors and columns. It is the combination of elements here that make this appear to be so much like ancient mosaic work, a synergistic gathering of color, texture and imagery.
Barbara has many more examples of this kind of work on her website here.
