The Concept of Flying & the Newly Released Spring 2016 Issue – Convergence
The Spring 2016 issue of The Polymer Arts was released yesterday! Thank you so much for the many kind comments and compliments you’ve been posting all over Facebook and in our inboxes. It’s always great to know we’ve done well for you.
Digital access was sent to everyone who subscribed or pre-ordered prior to yesterday, and all the print issues are in the mail or will be as of this afternoon. If you don’t see the digital issue you expected in your inbox, check your spam folder. If it’s not there, write us at connect@thepolymerarts.com and we will look into it. If you don’t have your copy ordered or an active subscription, you can change that on our website here.
One of my wish-list articles, that Christine K. Harris and I have talked about doing on and off for a couple of years, is in this issue. It’s about how to use epoxy clay with polymer. She did an incredible job and so generously shared her techniques. The article is a series of short tutorials for using epoxy where polymer can’t be used, such as for strength as well as situations where some material added to the piece can’t be cured. The techniques can be used in jewelry as well as sculpture.
Of course, Christine is well-known for her award-winning concept sculpture, like this beautiful wall art, Fly (Wall sculpture of red haired woman). Christine’s work is very much about internal thoughts and conflicts and is often created around ideas or circumstances that are hard to deal with, so there is a lot of dark ideas and imagery in her work. However, her pieces are always graceful and are imbued with a beauty that comes from a sense of hope and promise that she instills in her imagery. This one is no exception, plus there is this potential joy the woman is contemplating, testing the idea of being free to fly in the bird formation she makes with her hands. Symbolic concept art is such a joy because you can add your own story and there is usually so much to look over and think about.
I have always been an advocate of looking at the darker side of our reality. The harder and less pleasant things in our lives are often the only or best path to finding the beauty and kindness in what we see around us. I think you can see what I mean when looking at Christine’s work. You can see more of it on her website and her Pinterest board.
Inspirational Challenge of the Day: What is something you are hopeful for? Distill it into one word and design or create a piece around that concept. Be as literal, symbolic, or abstract as feels right to you.
___________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:
___________________________________________
