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!

more experiments with Polymer Clay

Wayne bought me sandpaper today - 800 1000 1500 and 2000 grit wet dry. To use - put face side up in a bowl of water - start with lower number and work to largest number grit. Rub the bead gently on the sandpaper in a circular motion. Watch out you don't create flat spots.

I could feel the difference by the time I had finished :

here are the beads I just made yesterday - all sanded and wired with some silver plated beads.

Wayne has a passion for waxing his car - I have a passion for creating things with polymer clay. Great that he understands why dinner is often late!

I also made some molds - both positive and negative images of some cord I tied into knots and pressed into raw clay. Here they are:

Not sure what I'll do with them yet - hey - I'm experimenting!

Not so successful was this pendant I did today - it scorched !
dang!!!

I'll be back at it tomorrow! Hurray for football on thanksgiving! I've got the day to play (no company coming).

Happy Thanksgiving USA!

curing try 2

I made these rings and coils with leftover clay - adding a bit of mica gold for zip! I'm pleased with the results.....

my favorite polymer clay creations (on Pinterest)

I love Pinterest! While browsing the web - you can "Pin" your finds to a bulletin board for easy reference. No limit to the number of boards you can have. Warning: highly addictive!

here's my board for Polymer Clay creations:

http://pinterest.com/jansart/polymer-clay-creations/

first curing samples!

Day one curing:

The little blue / yellow / black dots were my very first beads. I thought they would work clustered and dangling from earwires. They came out okay.

There are an assortment of red / blue / gold ones - some I cured with metal findings - pendant testing. The large pieces in red with gold should fit together on top of a backing bead. Will try this again.

The shimmery green / gold / blue are the ones I did using the layering technique - just testing.

Just found this awesome blog via Pinterest - Jewelry Tutorials - lots of them!

http://www.making-jewelry-now.com/

I'm on a roll - playing with textures and imprints

I'm now the proud owner of a "Collection" of Polymer Clay books! Three!

- Look, Learn & Create - Polymer Clay 101 - by Angela Mabray and Kim Otterbein

- Making Polymer Clay Beads - by Carol Blackburn

- Patterns in Polymer - Imprint & Accent Bead Techniques - by Julie Picarello

I have learned to do the Skinner Blend (I really love playing with colors - continually amazed by the variances).

I am working on layering colors. I stack the layers and then impress with various tools to make Abstract Art (ta da!!!) This is right up my alley....

You then slice the stack into thin layers - to create a series of beads or pendants in a series of colors that changes with every slice!

I recommend Patterns in Polymer - it describes this technique much better than I just did. I am also trying some strong color combos because of this book. So a big thank you to Julie Picarello for the inspiration.

Tomorrow is the day to cure my creations (it's been very hot here the last few days - tomorrow will be cooler and low humidity) - perfect!

wish me luck!

color wheels - done!

I'm really glad I decided to do a color wheel as suggested.

It really will inspire me to try different combinations.

I bought 5 colors from Dick blick

Yellow, red, navy blue, turquoise and purple as well as black and white.

Using 4 parts per sample I combined 1 to 3, 2 to 2, 3 to 1 and 4 to 0 (the package color).

Used my matrix ruler to divide up the clay, I rolled each combination and put them on index cards - labelled with the color combo! (don't drop these!).

Put holes for wire and baked at 275 for 30 mins. (only burnt 1 load....) I learned to preheat oven before putting samples in......

here is the result:

now I'm going to try Skinner blending!!!

Supplies arrived - stay calm, Jan......

My order arrived yesterday from Dick Blick.

Immediately started making notes of the colors I had bought - mostly 2 of each.

For some reason I bought only 1 each of the metallics (?)

Conditioned the primary colors - cad red, yellow and navy blue with the pasta maker and started my color samples. I'll string them on a piece of wire for now. I'm writing the formula for each color disk on the back in pen.

My oven is working well, and the good part is - I can leave the temperature setting where it is and just plug it in and turn it on when I am going to use it.

You have to have a oven thermometer! These ovens are very touchy. I spent most of the evening watching thru the little glass door to make sure the temperature stayed consistent. (Tenting with aluminium foil is recommended in the book - Polymer Clay 101 - to protect against heat variances.)

For my super sharp tissue blade - I made a holder for it with a sponge - that way I don't have to worry about picking it up the wrong way, or dropping it.

My biggest challenge will be cat hair!

Beginning with Polymer Clay

I'm getting set to use polymer clay for my jewelry. I can't wait for my supplies from Dick Blick to arrive!

Writing down ideas as they pop into my head - journal fashion has always been the best way for me to work. (I keep paper and pen beside the bed - you never know when a dream will inspire something wonderful)

Here's what I have so far:

project ideas for jewelry

- flat square links for bracelets
- bead frames for glass beads
- "goddess" pendants
- wire framed polymer clay beads
- make clasps, headpins, bead caps, cones and rings

I also plan on doing a color wheel as I go - (note to self: slow down - enjoy the process!)

I have been searching through my art supplies for embossing tools and cutters that could be used.

I've got the pasta maker all set to go.

Buying a toaster oven at the thrift store.

My first book arrived from Amazon yesterday: Look, Learn & Create - Polymer Clay 101 (with DVD) two more on the way!

Frank, our mailman just smiles......

I'm using Pinterest to post inspirational jewelry items I see on the web:

http://pinterest.com/jansart/polymer-clay-creations/

I will keep you posted on my progress!

You are not Alone Today

A strange day today - it is so beautiful outside and yet one feels guilty for noticing . Something I learned about grief. Feeling a twinge of guilt : The first time you laugh again, really laugh. The first time you really mean it when you say you had a great day. The first time you take a deep breath and don't think. Time does have a way of going ahead - with or without you. Try to live a life that honors your loss. You are not alone.

Gluebook - part two

I always keep some magazine clippings handy , right next to my gluestick and gluebook. You never know when the creative juices will kick into high gear and you want to let 'er rip. Vacuming is one of the senseless and mindless things that allows the mind to do a walkabout (!!) . Here's some others in my book:

Title: Worlds Apart

Title: Anger Management

Title: I'm NOT your PUSSY!!!!!

More of my Gluebook adventures:

I did a "Crime scene" series as part of my Gluebook - lots of material in Vogue magazine!

Vintage Housewares! An amazing collection

I just listed this collection of vintage housewares on Artfire. There are so many vintage treasures to be found at this site! Check it out!
PreviewVintage Houseware...



Curated By: Jansart

ArtFire.com
Unique Gifts

Vintage Houseware...

Curated By: Jansart

ArtFire.com

Unique Gifts

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=19122

I'm a Featured artist!

Check it out! I'm so pleased that Ken took the time to do this feature on my collages.

http://paperstreetsupplies.com/art-and-artists/featured-artist-jansart/comment-page-1/#comment-12408

Prints of my work are available

here:

http://jansart.imagekind.com/store/

I highly recommend this site if you are interested in selling fine art prints of your work. Their attention to detail is exceptional.

You just set up a storefront, download large sized files of each piece that you wish to sell, and write a description, set a price, and watch your reports at all times. Go pro for the best advantage. Good luck, artists!

Earth Day Collage

This is a collage that speaks to me.  I haven't listed it for sale (other than as prints on Imagekind because it is special.  Sometimes I amaze myself.

Some very unusual illustrations on Artfire

I spent the evening browsing in the Fine art section, under "Illustrations" and look at the treasures I found!  Beats watching TV any day!

Preview

Interesting Illus...

  Curated By: Jansart

ArtFire.com

Vintage Pearl Purses CollectionJust put this collection together

Just put this collection together.  Aren't these beautiful?

Preview

Vintage Pearl Pur...

  Curated By: Jansart

ArtFire.com