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:
The Sealant Debate
June 21, 2012
Supplies & other fun stuff, Tips and Tricks
To seal or not to seal? Isn’t that too often the question? We want our work to be durable and keep our surface treatment protected but the addition of a clear glaze or finish can alter the look.
Well, there is no easy answer to this but if you want to read up on what options you have, what works best for what kind of work and recommended techniques, take a look at this detailed post over at 2 Good Claymates’ blog.
Do you have any good tips regarding sealants and how and when to apply them?
Grant’s Curiosity
June 20, 2012
Inspirational Art, Supplies & other fun stuff
A heavily influential artist in my studio, Grant Diffendaffer’s book Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects Inspiration is full of beautiful visual texture and large bold pieces. He approaches the creations of his pieces from a curiosity about the effects of mica shift and the possibilities that different forms offer to show it off.
On his Flickr page Grant says this necklace is one of his favorite pieces featuring his early work with his ghost image technique. The colors are just delicious (how else can this be described?) It’s also a great example of imagery repetition (the bubbles) without symmetry or consistency. The visual design is held together by the color and texture alone.
His book was re-released last year so you can find more of Grant’s work not only on his Flickr page and in his book but in Lark’s 400 Polymer Clay Designs, where his beautiful containers and more jewelry are featured.
Getting your Fill of Filigree
June 19, 2012
Supplies & other fun stuff, Technique tutorials
As some of you know, I’m quite the fan of filigree. Creating filigree work with polymer can take some patience but it’s so rewarding and even a little Zen when you get going on it.
Here is a wonderful tutorial using flat ropes of polymer to create traditional metal look bands of simple and braided filigree. http://polymerclayfimo.livejournal.com/1068524.html#cutid1
For many of us, translation to English will be needed.
But if you don’t want to get into all that but do love the filigree look, I found this wonderful site with just tons of beautiful filigree pieces you can use to incorporate into your pieces: http://www.ornamentea.com/filigree.htm
Carol Simmons on the Beauty of Bargello
June 18, 2012
Inspirational Art
In the last issue of The Polymer Arts, I used Bargello as a method to show how you can turn any scrap clay into a successful project with just about any technique.
Carol Simmons also fell back to the Bargello technique when looking for something to do with extra Skinner Blends.
In her blog post from 5/4/12 she writes:
“I returned to working with Bargello designs when I started casting about for things I could do with Skinner Blends I already had on hand. This time, after I stacked my blends I sliced the stack into very thin sheets and then into narrow strips. (Yes, I used my slicer.) I arranged these strips like fabric to create flat Bargello patterned veneers to put on pre-formed pendant blanks.”
Her inspiration actually came from Laura Liska, whose wonderfully executed beads are actually spaced Bargello.
Check out Carol’s blog post for the full story. http://carolsimmonsdesigns.com/blog/
The Creative Process Dissected & Meet TPA’s Newest Talent
June 17, 2012
The Polymer Arts magazine news
I think I might make Sunday’s the funnies day. Laughter is so sorely needed every day of our lives, especially when you work so hard all week and along with being an artist you have family, friend’s, that ‘other’ job, and the other dreams you are working towards in your life. And Sundays should be down time, right?
This came from the newest addition to the TPA staff, Deanna Duncan Allen. She will be helping me with blog posting, editing, subscription records, newsletters as well as being a contributor to the magazine. She did some editing and wrote the artist gallery bios in our Summer 2012 issue and has happily agreed to take on more. She is an accomplished metal clay and glass bead artist as well as a photographer. Look for her additions to the magazine in our upcoming Fall 2012 issue.
In the meantime … just how true is this!
Moving On: Polka Dot Creations’ Closing
June 16, 2012
Polymer community news
For those of you who haven’t heard the sad news, our polymer friend and TPA retailer Lisa Clarke over at Polka Dot Creations is shifting gears and closing shop. She has been supporting and providing our community with great products, materials, books, and other media for eleven years. It is never a bad thing to recognize when it is time to move on but it’s hard to lose such a considerate and involved retailer.
You can support Lisa and help her on her way, along with getting some great deals by heading over to her shop where she is having her “Going out of Business” sale.
Here is Lisa’s note to the community from her website:
Polka Dot Creations will be closing up shop at the end of June!
Serving the polymer clay community for the last eleven years has been my pleasure, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support during that time. For more of my thoughts on this decision please see my blog post.
I hope you’ll keep in touch! I will be hanging out in my Polka Dot Cottage this summer☺
Thank you! –Lisa Clarke
Thank you for everything, Lisa! We wish you all the best as you journey on!
Other Sources of Inspiration: Paper Sculpture
June 15, 2012
Inspirational Art
Paper sculpturist Jen Stark‘s plays with colored paper in a way that I’ve never seen. When I found her site, I just got lost there for a while.
I think the shapes and colors will speak to a lot of polymer artists. She builds or uncovers colors and layers, rearranging and shaping forms in a way that brings to mind work by polymer artists like Jana Roberts Benzon and Ford & Forlano.
This piece called “Divinity” really drew me in. The way Jen uncovers the layers as if the edge of the shape was being eaten is fascinating. Although the gnawed away look should feel subtractive, this actually feels like the essence of the piece is being unveiled, maybe even blossoming as the color becomes stronger and more vibrant towards the middle.
Makes you want to “dig into” your next layered block doesn’t it?
Where All Can Your Polymer Go?
June 14, 2012
Inspirational Art
Is there anything you can’t embellish with polymer? The possibilities do seem limitless. I have seen every thing from cars to laptops to sunglasses and stairs accented (or covered) with polymer art. Some of these are quite elaborate mixed media affairs but it needn’t be very involved. If you haven’t tried covering something unconventional with polymer, perhaps this chair will give you some motivation to try it out.
This chair by Christy Dickerson is covered with tiles that were formed and baked and then glued to the cross rails and seat supports. This chair went from ordinary to simply eye-catching using a straight-forward process that anyone with the patience to make all the tiles could have tremendous success with.
The Magical Mosaic Chair was found on Helen’s Clay Art blog where you can see it from several different angles .
So, where can your polymer go to add a little beauty and interest in to world?
Nature Inspiring the Contemporary
June 13, 2012
Inspirational Art
I’m a bit focused on nature and the organic right now. ‘Tis the season here in Colorado where we all end up heading to the mountains to commune with nature and get out of the heat that is starting to come on.
I think that is why I am being drawn to pieces like this pod necklace by Ma-Belette (works under Mabcrea Art) If you look at the individual elements here, there is little in the way of straight organic translations rather it is all suggested through form, texture, and line. The pod shapes, of course, hark back to tree seed pods. The stippled black clay reminds one of lava rock. The wavy edges of the skinner blends replicates the natural formation of foliage around other elements of the plant it grows from. All this in a simple contemporary composition of repeating and mirrored shapes, colors and lines.
I will be on the hunt for interesting forms, textures, colors and combinations while out this weekend. (Don’t worry … I have someone keeping up the blog posts for me.) I’ll post any really wonderful finds on here next week.
Artistic Collaborations
June 12, 2012
Inspirational Art, Polymer issues
This year I’ve been doing a lot of chatting with other polymer artists, collaborating–or hoping to–on a variety of projects primarily related to promoting polymer and the image of polymer art. What I would really like to do is artistic collaborations. It is amazing what the creativity and input from another artist can do to push your work and get you think in different directions. You often end up with something that you would have never imagined. That synergistic effect of two or more minds trying to resolve individual visions into one can be so exciting and energizing.
You may have seen the beautiful work of J.M. Syron and Bonnie Bischoff combining woodworking and polymer. Their large piece of furniture are well-known but I adore their lamps.
Cynithia Toops regularly collaborates with jewelry smith Chuck Domitrovich. Chuck set up a wonderful Flickr page with their in-progress and finished work.
One of favorite collaborations is this very interesting wood and polymer piece by Porro Sahlberg and Peter Sahlberg Leppikallio. The “Trilobite Cabin” was included in “500 Cabinets” by Lark Books. Click on the photo to go to the page with the detail of the side which is just wonderful.
So … have you considered collaborating?
