All Entries in the "High5" Category
high5 polymer clay: news about synergy2 and the polymer clay collection
This post marks the last installment of this month’s High5 Polymer Clay series. I hope you enjoyed it. I am taking the rest of of the week off to regain my strength and stamina now that the virus has finally loosened its grip on me. The archives are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so feel free to browse while I take a break. See you next week?
In this High5 Polymer Clay series we took a look at jewelry, sculpture, dolls, objects artists and books that resonated with me in recent days – new work from established artists and work from emerging artists. This morning I shared a suggestion for how you can continue your exploration of the medium and this afternoon I want to tell you about two more important events coming up.
Synergy2 Conference
Ford and Forlano, flower brooch
In 2008 the National Polymer Clay Guild made history with the first Synergy conference, which brought together leading artists in the field and individuals aspiring to bring the medium to a higher level to talk, share, explore ideas and plan for the future of the medium. A resounding success, the conference sparked lively debate that carried farther than the polymer clay community and continues to help us move the medium forward. In February 2010, the newly renamed guild, now known as the International Polymer Clay Association, will do it again with Synergy2 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Synergy2 will feature presentations that explore the theme ‘Expanding Connections’ and the highlight is expected to be a celebration honoring the 22-year collaboration of renowned studio jewelers Steven Ford and David Forlano along with a special presentation by the artists.
Ford and Forlano, necklace
Ford/Forlano, two of the top studio jewelry artists working today, “have developed a body of work that has changed the way we look at studio art jewelry.” At Synergy2 they will take us into their working process and discuss how collaboration has shaped their work over their career. A question and answer session will give attendees a rare opportunity to get to know the acclaimed artists.
New! Pre and Post Conference Hands-On Workshops
In addition to more than 45 presentations, the Synergy2 team recently added pre and post conference hands-on workshops from some of your favorite artists working with the medium today. The workshops are conveniently located in the same venue as the conference. I am looking forward to the Synergy2 conference in February – will I see you there?
Polymer Clay Collection Project
Racine Art Museum, Racine Wisconsin
In other news, Elise Winters and her team at Polymer Art Archive have recently announced that the Racine Art Museum in Racine, Wisconsin will establish a permanent collection of polymer jewelry, beads and sculptural objects. In addition to assembling a world-class collection of polymer art, the museum will establish a library “to protect slide, print and catalogs for academic research”, a hardcover catalog of the collection and an exhibit. Elise Winters, the force behind the Polymer Clay Collection project and Bruce W. Pepich, executive director and curator of collections at the museum, will also speak about the collection at Synergy2.
Dan Cormier’s Fiji Mermaid (2000) is one of three Cormier ‘Tin Toy’ vessels heading to a permanent home at the Racine Art Museum
[click on the image to read more]
Winters is also the driving force behind a fundraising effort to secure money for the project. She will be announcing donor levels, naming opportunities and fundraising goals as soon as the details are complete. You can donate by following the link at the end of this post.
From the PAA website:
“For those of you who have shared my dream over these many years, that polymer art be given an honored space in museum collections throughout the country, I now ask for more than good will. You can help turn our collective dream into reality today, by making a donation to the Racine Art Museum.” Elise Winters
Links:
2010 Synergy2 website and registration
A Collaboration Celebration – Ford and Forlano Synergy 2010
Hands on pre and post conference polymer clay workshops at Synergy2
Read about the 2008 Synergy conference here
Ford and Forlano’s website
Polymer Art Archive post about how you can support the collection
Polymer Art Archive posts about the Polymer Clay Collection here and here
Read the rest of the High5 Polymer Clay Series here
high5 polymer clay: cynthia tinapple
Today’s posts will complete the High5 Polymer Clay series, but that doesn’t have to mean the end of your polymer clay exploration. Cynthia Tinapple has her finger on the pulse of what’s happening with the medium and since 2005 she has been sharing it on her blog, Polymer Clay Daily.
Dedicated to “showcasing the best polymer clay art online”, PCD is the premiere place to go to discover trends in polymer clay, read about new artists, and see what your old favorites are up to now. The popular blog has a loyal following of artists, design enthusiasts, crafters, teachers and collectors who check in each day to see what Tinapple has found.
Beach Stone Necklace, polymer clay
The Ohio artist, who has been working with polymer clay for over twenty years, seems most comfortable showcasing other artists, but occasionally shares pictures of her own work and process. Tinapple’s art shows the same care and meticulous attention to detail as her writing and editing and the results are always stunning. Take a look at some of her recent solo work-in-progress – she is still tweaking the multi strand “beach” necklace pictured above, which was inspired by Laura Timmins and Gera Scott Chandler.
Petroglyph experiments, polymer clay
She is also working on perfecting her petroglyphs and she told me she still hasn’t found “just the right solution” – she’s not quite satisfied yet, though she has tried inks, canes, stamps and stencils. They look ‘perfectly’ spectacular to me – I’m looking forward to the final version.
Tinapple and her husband, woodturner Blair Davis, often collaborate on turned wood bowls inlaid with polymer clay (check the links at the end of this post to see images). In October, their town’s first art center, a $6 million dollar facility, opens with a prestigious inaugural show that will include collaborative pieces by Tinapple and Davis. I have no doubt that their art will be a hit at the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington – if you are in the area do stop by to see the show. The couple is busy creating work for the show and I’m sure she will share photos on PCD, so watch for them.
Come back this afternoon for my final post in this High5 Polymer Clay series.
Cynthia Tinapple’s Polymer Clay Daily
Remember when she decorated her wall with cane slices?
More of Tinapple’s polymer clay stones here and here (love that bowl!)
Don’t miss Blair Davis and Cynthia Tinapple’s bowls
Read the rest of the High5 Polymer Clay series here
high5 polymer clay: book review – polymer clay color inspirations
Whether color fascinates or frustrates you, Polymer Clay Color Inspirations: Techniques and Jewelry Projects for Creating Successful Palettes
Polymer Clay Color Inspirations: Techniques and Jewelry Projects for Creating Successful Palettes
Cynthia Tinapple’s Forward is pure motivation to read the book: “What I’ve found is that excellent color can rescue a mediocre design. And color that’s off the mark or muddied can ruin the finest concept. Your palette becomes your signature. That signature is very personal. It’s tied to culture and geography and weather. It shifts with latitude, with attitude, and with age. Learning about color means learning about yourself.”
The start of a collage…more to come
There is a quiz to determine your confidence level in working with color. Here’s the first line of the description beside my score: “You often feel overwhelmed when making color choices.” Yes, that about sums it up. Until now, I’ve made most of my color choices intuitively and while people usually respond well to the colors in my work I admit that I have never been confident about them – I often feel like they happened by accident.
This book – part textbook, part workbook and part self-help book, will be within arms length while I work in the studio. I’m learning how to understand color, find my personal color palette, choose colors for my next project, mix colors that work, play games with color and then put it all together. At my own pace. In my own time. And you can too.
As an added bonus, Maggio is posting “Weekend Extras” to her blog – more guidance to help you through the exercises. Don’t be shy, this is your chance to ask questions and a wonderful opportunity to connect directly with the author.
Thank you Maggie and Lindly – I am finally beginning to understand the language of color and I know I will come back to the book for years to come as I slowly develop my personal palette and use it in ways that will make my work sing.
From Elise Winters’ review and interview with Lindly on PAA:
“Color Inspirations has been designed to meet the needs of a wide audience. It should be of interest to newcomers who want to try polymer, as well as people who find color challenging. We wrote this book as well for people who might be interested in working with dyes, paints, even colored pencils. If somebody is interested in the dynamics of color, the science of color mixing, the aesthetic awareness of color choice, this book should provide lots of nourishment and inspiration.” Lindly Haunani
Read Elise Winters’ review and interview with Lindly Haunani on Polymer Art Archive
Maggie Maggio’s website and Weekend Extras
Lindly Haunani’s website
Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio will each present at Synergy2
high5 polymer clay: an update and new work from sarah shriver
I’m extending last week’s series, High5 Polymer Clay, through tomorrow so that I can include the posts I had planned to bring you before I became ill late last week. I’m still on the mend, so if the Universe cooperates I will have another post this afternoon and two on Tuesday. Enjoy!
In the first few years that she worked with polymer clay, Sarah Shriver didn’t have a color palette she was comfortable with so she “stuck mostly with the bold graphic images using black, ivory, rust, burgundy and dabbling in blues.” This is hard to believe since today Shriver is known as much for her vivid color combinations as for her kaleidoscopic cane imagery.
Art Nouveaux Bracelet, polymer clay, 2009
Frida Bracelet, polymer clay, 2009
She credits Judith Skinner’s color blending method, now universally known as the Skinner Blend, as the tool that helped her incorporate color into the work. Shriver’s work is beautifully executed and the cane-building technique she uses to make the kaleidoscope images, though labor-intensive and time consuming, rewards her with brilliant color and pattern combinations that dazzle.
Untitled, 2009
Shriver has tweaked her colors and bead shapes just enough to make a difference in this new work, saying “They are simply the result of moving a little slower and taking a slightly harder look at form. I definitely move in a “baby step” progression but I like to think, ever forward.”
Forest Necklace, 2008
The 2008 Forest Collar necklace, pictured above, is on the wish list of the Racine Art Museum. Shriver is working on a new website – hopefully we will see more of her new work soon.
From her artist statement:
“I build my canes fairly large (about 8 lbs and 4-5 inches in diameter) and work from a carefully worked out set of drawings. Often it takes me close to a month to complete a very elaborate cane with much of the time spent mixing and remixing sheets of color blends. I generally cut the original cane apart into several smaller canes and modify each one differently, using a technique of “kaleidoscoping” or mirroring. This results in a series of differently patterned but related canes.” Sarah Shriver
Links:
Sarah Shriver website
Sarah Shriver will present A Passion for Pattern at Synergy2
Read about the Polymer Collection Project and one of Shriver’s necklaces on Polymer Art Archive.
See Shriver’s earlier work here
Read an interview with the artist on Bead Nerd (more images there too)
high5 polymer clay: grant diffendaffer’s polymer clay ray guns
You have to love the guy. If not for his beads (his book is in the sidebar – Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration
They are created from polymer clay, with a minimal wood and steel armature. The barrels are turned on a lathe, much like ceramics are turned on a wheel. The hand sculpted bodies feature lathe turned adornments and labels that are handmade with a photo exposure process. Grant Diffendaffer
Polymer Clay Ray Guns, lathe turned, sculpted, wood, steel armature
Detail, lathe turned polymer clay ray gun handles
Links:
Diffendaffer’s website
The Fuller Craft Museum exhibit Sculpting Color: Works in Polymer Clay runs until November 8th
Diffendaffer unleashed
More about ray guns here
high5 polymer clay: we interrupt our regular programming and anna fidecka
We Interrupt Our Regular Programming…
If you follow me on Facebook you might already know that the reason there haven’t been any new posts on DAM since Wednesday is that I took an unexpected trip to the emergency room early Thursday. (And if you aren’t following me on FB, why not? In addition to all of my regular DAM blog posts, I also post many more interesting links!). Looks like I have a wicked virus that is currently wreaking havoc in this part of the Hudson Valley. The good folks at the hospital stabilized me and I’m home now, feeling a lot better – I will likely be back to my regular antics soon. I will try to post through the weekend and into early next week to complete the series, but I will pace myself.
Hope you are enjoying this installment of the High5 series!
High5 Polymer Clay: Anna Fidecka
Anna Fidecka has a website fully stocked with images of her polymer clay jewelry. Fidecka lives in Warsaw, Poland and she has been working diligently learning both polymer clay and art clay silver.
In much of the portfolio you can see the teachers/artists that might have influenced her. But you can also see something else: As you scroll through the dozens of pictures it is evident that while she is working on mastering specific techniques, her voice is beginning to come through.
I can’t tell you much more about her because my attempts to translate her website were unsuccessful. But you can see for yourself that many of the pieces, like the ones shown here, indicate that Fidecka is reaching beyond what she learned from others and making the work her own. I say keep it up.
Links:
high5 polymer clay: shannon sullivan
Last year I featured Shannon Sullivan’s ceramic, resin and plexiglass wall hangings that were reminiscent of molecule slices on microscope slides (link at the end of the post). Sullivan, who holds an MFA in ceramics, is currently showing a collection of ceramic forms that are embellished with simple polymer clay shapes in repeat patterns across the surface of the ceramic.
Plot With Quilted Field, fired ceramic, polymer clay, mixed media, 12×8x8
Plot With Juicy Cliff, fired ceramic, polymer clay, mixed media, 12×17x7
Plot With Sprouting Rows, fired ceramic, polymer clay, mixed media, 3×7x5
The Assistant Professor of Art at the College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California combines earthen clay with synthetic clay in an unusual pairing of materials that are often considered at odds with one another. Polymer, the new clay, often takes a back seat as a credible art medium to the more established earthen clay. Kudos to Sullivan for showing how well they can play together.
Links:
Shannon Sullivan on DAM
Shannon Sullivan’s website
high5 polymer clay: ancient modern review
We are midway through the week-long series, High5 Polymer Clay. If you are new to polymer clay – if I’ve piqued your interest and you are ready to explore the medium – be sure to look at some of the books, DVDs and resources listed in the sidebar.
Ancient Modern: Polymer Clay + Wire Jewelry
Ancient Modern: Polymer Clay + Wire Jewelry
Of particular interest to anyone interested in making jewelry are her tips about the mechanics of design – how to make a piece wearable and comfortable. In addition to the 15 projects in the book, there is a clear, concise Coiling Wire Chart to help you determine how much wire is needed when making uniform coils.
But wait, there is more…
Nightfall in Mozambique, polymer clay, wire
I’ve had the pleasure of watching Ronna grow as an artist over the last three years and getting to know this lovely, generous, upbeat soul has been a special treat for me. Ronna introduced herself (via email) in the early days of Daily Art Muse, when this blog was known as Polymer Clay Notes. She was often inspired by the art I posted here and we made a precious connection as we forged ahead on our individual paths. Some time later, when she told me she was writing a book that would marry polymer clay and wire with her primitive, organic style I knew it would be a hit, and it is – Ancient Modern, released by Interweave Press in June 2009, is already in its second printing.
Why is it so popular? In Ancient Modern, Ronna makes polymer clay accessible for people who might be intimidated to try it and for those just beginning their exploration of this versatile medium. She has impeccable taste, a strong eye for design and a bold, organic, joyful sensibility to her style.
I would categorize this as a book for beginners, but I will qualify that by saying it is one of the most sophisticated beginner books I’ve seen. The layout is crisp. The instructions clear. The photographs stunning. While the polymer clay techniques are not new to me, Weltman’s application is fresh and beautifully articulated. I have been working with polymer clay for several years and I still found enough in the pages of this book that sparked my imagination to easily recommend it as a valuable resource for intermediate level clayers.
So Much And More, extruded polymer clay, wire
I caught up with Ronna last month and had the opportunity to see many of the pieces from the book. All comfortable, wearable and lightweight. I’m intrigued by the simplicity of the extruded clay bracelet pictured above. The bracelet was surprisingly flexible when I put it on and I immediately began pondering how I could use this technique in other ways. Once I have a place to work again (soon) I will experiment with a few ideas that are taking form based on what I learned from the book (I’ll post them here – promise!).
Three Ring Circus, polymer clay, wire
Ancient Modern: Polymer Clay + Wire Jewelry
Links:
Want one? Click on the link in the sidebar to purchase the book from Amazon.
Ronna Sarvas Weltman’s website
More images of the book on the Interweave Press website
Want to know how to get published? Weltman will present Get Published! at the February 2010 Synergy2 Conference
high5 polymer clay: ernie & cassandra velasco
Ernie and Cassandra Velasco collaborate on a variety of art, including a collection of polymer clay sculptures that are sometimes tiny, often narrative, always curious. The Velasco’s have been selling their work on Etsy since 2007 and they credit John Casey’s 2006 online tutorial as the inspiration that motivated them to explore the medium.
Francine
polymer clay, acrylic paint, wire, plastic miniatures, synthetic grass, 3″ x 7.5″, wall-mounted
The Diver, polymer clay, acrylic paint, varnish, wire, plastic miniatures
Artists are often drawn to polymer clay because the clay colors can be mixed with the same ease and variety that paint can be mixed, but the Velasco’s build and bake their sculptures, then paint the clay with acrylic paints. The results provoke a contemplative state of mind and leave the viewer to decide the story. I’m trying to think of a title for ‘Untitled’. What about ‘Breakthrough’?
Untitled, polymer clay, acrylic paint, satin varnish, 12″x 7.25″x 4″
Kishiko, polymer clay, acrylic paint, wood drawer
Cherieko, polymer clay, acrylic paint, varnish, wire, 2″ x 9″, wall-mounted
Links
Double Parlor, the Velasco’s Etsy shop
Double Parlor on Flickr
Interview on the Red Crow Anthologies
John Casey’s tutorial
Double Parlor in the Teeny Tiny Art Show at Three Graces Gallery
high5 polymer clay: rachel carren
Rachel Carren spent several years refining and exploring the air-filled pillow construction she used on these segmented brooches. The work, with stamped and printed imagery, is quietly elegant, sumptuous and refined. I hope she allows us more than this small glimpse of her work – I would love to see a website to showcase all of her jewelry, wouldn’t you?
William Morris Sebo Brooch Divided, polymer clay, 2009
From the PAA post about Carren’s William Morris Sebo Divided Brooch:
“Two custom patterns were sequentially hand screened onto variegated polymer sheeting. Each segment is comprised of two parts each of which is an air filled pillow like form that I developed. The two part segments are fitted together and then positioned on a base layer of polymer that has been highlighted with mica powder to become the background. A cut out is made and the two ends are pinched together to form the point. Finished with mica highlighted polymer detailing at center and points.” Rachel Carren
William Morris Sebo Brooch, polymer clay, 2009
Find more photos like this on crafthaus
Carren, who has a Ph.D. in Art History, is a frequent contributor to Polymer Art Archive, a comprehensive online documentation of the history of polymer clay as an art medium. The Sebo brooch is part of Elise Winters’ (PAA founder) “Polymer Collection Project” and will likely become part of a museum’s permanent collection. More information about that next month.
Links:
Carren on Crafthaus
Carren on Polymer Art Archive
