Thursday, March 1, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Making flower knobs for the baby's dresser
I was browsing on Pinterest - looking at knobs (!) and decided to try for myself. I'm learning more and more with every project - always a challenge. After making 7 of these little beauts I have decided it would be better to start with a cheap knob and embellish it with the clay. That way you have the screw part in metal - tougher to withstand the push and pull. I'll still see if I can do something with these.....
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Mokume Gane - the adventure continues!
I just had to update the last post I did on this subject. Since that time, I followed the steps to making Mokume Gane, but I substituted colors (because that's what I do) and made a whole different look.
I then took pieces of these interesting pieces and added them to plain turquoise colored clay - and look what I got:
You can see the appeal here, right? My love of abstract art with all its lines and textures and contrasts? There are no limits!!!
I then took pieces of these interesting pieces and added them to plain turquoise colored clay - and look what I got:
You can see the appeal here, right? My love of abstract art with all its lines and textures and contrasts? There are no limits!!!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Trying Mokume Gane
This is a look I would like to master - but I can see I've got a long way to go.
There are so many levels to this procedure, that you can trip up at any point and ruin the overall effect. Go slowly!
I referred to one of my favorite books for the instructions (Making Polymer Clay Beads by Carol Blackburn - I highly recommend it)
1. Roll out, on a thin setting of the pasta machine, 2 squares of black, 1 each of copper, silver and gold. Lay them separately on a work surface.
2. Recommended stack order: Black / Silver / black / gold / copper
3. Carefully lay silver square on top of black - avoiding air bubbles (!!) (slice air bubbles with your knife). Roll gently with your roller.
4. Next lay other black square on top of silver - so you have black, silver, black and roll again - gently!!!
5. Lay the gold square on top of black and then the copper square - you now have: black, silver, black, gold, copper
6. Roll this stack to reduce it to half the thickness.
7. Use your tissue blade to cut this stack in half. Neaten it up as well.
8. Put one stack on top of the other - in the same order! Roll again to half the thickness.
9. Cut this new stack into two again - and stack them together as before. Reduce the thickness to half as before. Add the two compressed stacks together - all the colors should appear approximately the same thickness.
Do NOT reduce the thickness of the 4 stacks...
You have a total of 4 sets of stacks. Let the stack cool after all the handling.
Next step is where the real fun begins!
Turn the stack on its side - all colors UP....
Use a ripple blade (I have only tried the larger so far) to slice down through the stack - about 1/8 inch thick.
Try to stay focused - you will be overwhelmed at the beauty falling off your ripple blade - but there is even more excitement to come!!! Trust me.
When you have all the slices cut - begin to roll each through your pasta machine at a MEDIUM setting.
If you roll the piece vertically (narrow end down) the piece will come out like this:
If you roll the piece horizontally (wide side down) the piece will come out like this:
Now, as you can see this is a first try at this! You will undoubtedly do better, but I am an abstract artist at heart and I like to just do it. Now I see where I went wrong. I'll improve with practice.
Oh, I can't wait to see what I will do with this Mokume Gane!!!!
There are so many levels to this procedure, that you can trip up at any point and ruin the overall effect. Go slowly!
I referred to one of my favorite books for the instructions (Making Polymer Clay Beads by Carol Blackburn - I highly recommend it)
1. Roll out, on a thin setting of the pasta machine, 2 squares of black, 1 each of copper, silver and gold. Lay them separately on a work surface.
2. Recommended stack order: Black / Silver / black / gold / copper
3. Carefully lay silver square on top of black - avoiding air bubbles (!!) (slice air bubbles with your knife). Roll gently with your roller.
4. Next lay other black square on top of silver - so you have black, silver, black and roll again - gently!!!
5. Lay the gold square on top of black and then the copper square - you now have: black, silver, black, gold, copper
6. Roll this stack to reduce it to half the thickness.
7. Use your tissue blade to cut this stack in half. Neaten it up as well.
8. Put one stack on top of the other - in the same order! Roll again to half the thickness.
9. Cut this new stack into two again - and stack them together as before. Reduce the thickness to half as before. Add the two compressed stacks together - all the colors should appear approximately the same thickness.
Do NOT reduce the thickness of the 4 stacks...
You have a total of 4 sets of stacks. Let the stack cool after all the handling.
Next step is where the real fun begins!
Turn the stack on its side - all colors UP....
Use a ripple blade (I have only tried the larger so far) to slice down through the stack - about 1/8 inch thick.
Try to stay focused - you will be overwhelmed at the beauty falling off your ripple blade - but there is even more excitement to come!!! Trust me.
When you have all the slices cut - begin to roll each through your pasta machine at a MEDIUM setting.
If you roll the piece vertically (narrow end down) the piece will come out like this:
If you roll the piece horizontally (wide side down) the piece will come out like this:
Now, as you can see this is a first try at this! You will undoubtedly do better, but I am an abstract artist at heart and I like to just do it. Now I see where I went wrong. I'll improve with practice.
Oh, I can't wait to see what I will do with this Mokume Gane!!!!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
You've GOTTA have heart!!!!
Especially if you are a Polymer Clay Artist and a member of the Smooshers Guild on Artfire.
Don't believe me? Here are some creative examples:
www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/xpressions_dolls/2717720
Valentine Handmade OOAK African American Character Art Doll
Charming is a one of a kind completely handmade character art doll. No molds or patterns were used to create his 10 inch tall frame. He was especially made as a Valentine's Day gift to be given to that very special someone. Unlike the normal bouquet of flowers, he will last so much longer, if not a lifetime, as a remembrance of how much you care. He has a soft polymer filled body, his extremities are hand sculpted. He is patiently waiting to share some shelf space in your home.
You can see more at:
www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/XPRESSIONS_DOLLS
Here's a heart for you if you are into Steampunk design!!
www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/wyverndesigns/2797048
These steampunk earrings are a combination of polymer clay, copper wire and computer screws. They have been hand craft. Discs of textured polymer clay made to look like sewer covers and gears adorn the polymer clay hearts and copper wire encircle each one.
The hearts are 1" long and the earrings are 1.75" long including the gold tone ear wire.
You can see more at:
www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/Wyverndesigns
Here's a heart necklace for a nature lover!
Kathryn created this dragonfly and heart pendant to have the appearance of an open locket. She used sheets of liquid polymer clay that she cured with paint, ink, and metal leaf to form a dimensional veneer. The veneer was applied to a polymer clay base to create a frame and window for the charm which she also created out of polymer clay. She used gold and bronze pigment powders to create an antique sheen on the dragonfly before placing it in the window of the necklace.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/KathrynDesigns/3797694/
Especially if you are a Polymer Clay Artist and a member of the Smooshers Guild on Artfire.
Don't believe me? Here are some creative examples:
www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/xpressions_dolls/2717720
Valentine Handmade OOAK African American Character Art Doll
Charming is a one of a kind completely handmade character art doll. No molds or patterns were used to create his 10 inch tall frame. He was especially made as a Valentine's Day gift to be given to that very special someone. Unlike the normal bouquet of flowers, he will last so much longer, if not a lifetime, as a remembrance of how much you care. He has a soft polymer filled body, his extremities are hand sculpted. He is patiently waiting to share some shelf space in your home.
You can see more at:
www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/XPRESSIONS_DOLLS
Here's a heart for you if you are into Steampunk design!!
www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/wyverndesigns/2797048
These steampunk earrings are a combination of polymer clay, copper wire and computer screws. They have been hand craft. Discs of textured polymer clay made to look like sewer covers and gears adorn the polymer clay hearts and copper wire encircle each one.
The hearts are 1" long and the earrings are 1.75" long including the gold tone ear wire.
You can see more at:
www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/Wyverndesigns
Here's a heart necklace for a nature lover!
Kathryn created this dragonfly and heart pendant to have the appearance of an open locket. She used sheets of liquid polymer clay that she cured with paint, ink, and metal leaf to form a dimensional veneer. The veneer was applied to a polymer clay base to create a frame and window for the charm which she also created out of polymer clay. She used gold and bronze pigment powders to create an antique sheen on the dragonfly before placing it in the window of the necklace.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/KathrynDesigns/3797694/
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Making art with polymer clay
The last few days I've been playing with polymer clay in an artistic way. I have always loved textures and am inspired by nature. So, I pulled out my beach shells and got some ideas.
Using the stack and shave method (?) I got some interesting wavelets in subtle greys and creams. I used pearl and translucent clay in the mix . WOW!!! very delicate look.
I would then build the shaved bits up to make interesting hills and valleys - complete with little flaws and finds. Sort of the underwater look of sand. I'm learning to be patient with this - sanding does not remove flaws.
I don't think I would use the for pendants - but maybe mini art - aceos? I'll put a background color behind each piece and see how that looks.
Wish me luck!
Using the stack and shave method (?) I got some interesting wavelets in subtle greys and creams. I used pearl and translucent clay in the mix . WOW!!! very delicate look.
I would then build the shaved bits up to make interesting hills and valleys - complete with little flaws and finds. Sort of the underwater look of sand. I'm learning to be patient with this - sanding does not remove flaws.
I don't think I would use the for pendants - but maybe mini art - aceos? I'll put a background color behind each piece and see how that looks.
Wish me luck!
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