The Many Possibilities of Faux Ceramics … & a Cool Giveaway!
I’m still debating on what direction to go this week. I have been sent some wonderful new art from Iris Mishly based on a new series of faux ceramic tutorials she developed with Hilla Bushari. I’ve been thinking about having a faux themed week but then I was intrigued by the variation in types of pieces Iris and Hilla created with this technique–everything from flower beads to beads that look like tiny houses to tea caddies to incense burners to cuff bracelets and on and on–and I thought maybe we should talk about variation and pushing what you do with a particular technique. I still haven’t decided so … tomorrow’s post will be a surprise but it will be determined by you! (Read on about how you can help me decide and put yourself in the running for a free Sample Project!)
So, let’s check out what Iris has for us. She just put these tutorials up just last week. They do have an amazingly realistic ceramic look. These ladies got so creative with her beads too. Look at this strangely beautiful “Moon beads”, both otherworldly and organic in style.
And if you like making home decor, they’ve created quite a few unique items like these tea caddies–they’re adorable and so much more appealing than stacking those boxes of tea on the counter.
Here is what Iris says about her new tutorials:
“The tutorials are covering 10 different beads designs and 8 final projects, each is examining the different faces of faux ceramic – textures, surface treatments etc. In general, the projects are demonstrating the various ways we came up with to imitate ceramic glazed products; some are dimensional, some flat, some created with chalks, pastels, gilders paste and some with alcohol inks. Each project is accompanied by a separate video and screen shots in a PDF file. The videos are for the ones who want to see the complete process from start to finish, and the pdf is for those in a hurry and want to go briefly over the photos.”
So if you’ve been looking for something new to explore, these look to be all too much fun. And Iris’ tutorials are beautifully created with lots of tips and carefully thought out steps. You can see the full array of possibilities (not that there is a limit to what you can do here!) on the PolyPedia Online website. Iris and Hilla are also giving away sample beads to the kit purchasers who buy the best set.
WIN A FREE SAMPLE PROJECT!
Iris and Hilla have been kind enough to offer a free *sample* project from the complete “Cosmic Ceramic” tutorials to one lucky reader commenting on this post. Just tell me whether we should cover faux techniques or the subject of technique variation the rest of this week … or post a comment about whatever this post brings to mind! The winner will be announced in Thursday’s post!
Definitely Faux techniques – can’t wait to see what’s out there.
Love Faux techniques. The Faux ceramics interests me. I’ll take a closer look at
PolyPedia Online.
I would love to see faux techniques. Perhaps followed by variations on the following week.
Definitely faux techniques.
definitely faux-so many possibilities
I would love to see technique variation….I am getting back into working with polymer and I was so so excited to see this faux ceramic technique. Am looking forward to getting the entire package when $$ permits hopefully sooner that later. So many possibilities with this technique.
Variation please
I love and use many faux techniques, and am always interested in them! There have been so many advances in them lately. And this series of lessons from Ms. Mishly and Ms. Bushari is exceptional!
I would love to see some more Faux techniques. Can’t get enough of them!
Faux Techniques please! Thanks for the opportunity~
I vote faux!
I would love to learn any of these faux ceramic techniques. I’d like to see the topic of techniques variation this week.
Thanks for the giveaway offer!
Here is a vote for the other side. Variation on a technique would be good. Maybe a compromise – variation on a faux technique?
Faux sounds very interesting. Am checking out the videos now!
I actually love the idea of variations of a particular technique. There is so much to do with polymer that I seem to hop from one thing to another and never quite push the one technique to it’s limits. I love the ceramic look as well and have been playing around with my own version but again, need to stick with it and see where it takes me. Too much other stuff to play with though. I love the work these two ladies have created – it’s brilliant.
oh, please cover the faux techniques, especially fhe faux ceramic look. All we need is a toaster oven, no kiln. wow! Luv polymer clay!
I’m with Debbie. I would love to see something on variations, because when I start using a new technique I seem to plateau after a bit.
As a teacher of faux techniques in polymer I would love to see more! When I can make clay look like metal or an opal or wood you have the perfect medium. I love polymer clay!!
Faux techniques!! I love the versatility of clay!
Variations, definitly. It’s great to see all the deferent ways people can change techniques.
Go Faux!
My guild is about to do a group project where everyone demos a different faux technique, but pushing the envelope with variations also appeals to me. Can I vote for both?
I love the idea of exploring variations. There are so many faux techniques that you could explore them for weeks but variations on a single technique would be great.
I vote for variations: it is so easy to do one thing with a technique and never push to the limits of it.
Though I like different faux techniques it will be very interesting to go deeper and see different variations of a particular technique.
I too love the idea of variations of a technique. It is good to extend yourself with a technique rather than flitting from one technique to another. Fell in love with the tea bag holders – am an avid herb tea drinker. I will have to put these on my list of things to do.
You’re the winner, Karen! Iris will be getting in touch with you shortly using the email you left with your comment registration. Congrats and thanks for participating!
I love the ceramic look that Hilla and Iris have achieved. The morning that Hilla’s email came in offering the tutorial, I bought the set before I even got out of bed! Variations would be good this week as it challenges us to put our own twist on things – including faux finishes.
I really love this technique! I’ve wanted to explore this same question for quite a while. I’m going to have to have a look at these tutorials.
Count me in. That technique seems very interesting and has lots of new possibilities.
Faux techniques please
Variation, please.
And faux things later but soon!
I like the idea of variation and what can be done with a technique. Working with polymer clay involves many faux techniques but we often see them presented in a project. I like idea of learning to think outside the square to find different applications for techniques.
I would like you to cover both, so whichever you do for the rest of this week, please do the other next week.
I’d love ceramic “technique variations”! As Debbie mentioned above, I too have my own versions of Faux Ceramic techniques published in my “Polymer Clay Mixed Media Jewelry” book (2009). The first section/chapter is all about using pastel chalks on the clay, with a coat of epoxy resin finish to replicate glazed ceramics. I’ve been pushing the envelope myself since I experimented and developed my chalk techniques in 2007. I have been working on my second Craft E-book this year, which includes Faux Pique Assiette (pieces of ceramic plates formed into mosaics) and Faux “porcelain” showing a small doll pendant which also uses pastel chalks. I love to see other methods and projects that others create!
I had to give up my traditional pottery due to health problems. I am so excited to try some faux techniques because I really miss it! It’s rare that I would purchase a tutorial set but this is just too good to pass up.
Faux technique! After technique comes variation. Build the base THEN see where you can push, not the other way around.
Definitely faux techniques. I’m fascinated by how a single medium can be transformed into resembling so many different substances.
I vote for faux techniques!
I would love to see a week of posts on faux techniques–perhaps on techniques that have been developed in the past few years rather than those that have been around a while.
In my opinion we should cover faux techniques. I have always loved faux techniques but have never gotten around to really explore them.
I love both so either would be great. I love the look of the Faux Ceramics and hope I win one of the Free Sample Projects!
My vote is for exploring ways of pushing the boundaries for using a technique. I love jewelry as much as the next person, but I am more intrigued and inspired when artists make more unconventional things. Or use a technique in a unique way (even on jewelry).
Oh yes, we should discuss faux techniques. I ordered Iris’ tutorial and have been playing with it. So coooool!
I cast my vote for Variations. I always tell my students “there is more than one way to skin a cat”. Perhaps after this week of variations, they will understand what I mean by that.
I think a look at how one technique can be varied and expanded in different artist’s hands would be really interesting – l certainly need to stop flitting from one technique to another without exploring the possibilities of each!
Love the results of lris and Hilla’s explorations.
Go with faux! I love seeing all the different techniques!
Have a faux techniques on a faux weekend(during week). They look great and can not wait to read about how to make them.
Technique variation! I would think this would inspire us to take ANY new technique we learn as far as we can carry it, before just briefly tasting it, then running off to another.
I love Iris’ work and have many of her tutorials. The faux Ceramic looks, especially the leaves. I would really love to try this new technique.
I am always looking for and trying ways to use polymer clay in almost every object I encounter; a painting on the Doctor’s office wall “can this scene be added to something in clay?’, can I make the colors of this leaf pop in clay?” That is how my brain works all the time. I do not always get the results I want but trying is in the fun of creating.
I love the faux. There are so many possibilities out there and I am a newbee
Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments and for participating in the Giveaway!
I had lot’s of fun reading your thoughts and ideas 🙂
& Thank you so much for the warm feedback!
Have fun everyone!
Iris.