Material Gains

I was a student in a workshop this weekend in a whole new subject matter: Polymer Clay. It was exciting, informative and absolutely addictive. This new artistic material satisfies my creative desire to mix materials, achieve bright color results and explore new (to me) techniques. 

The workshop was held at a fantastic 3-Dimensional cooperative art gallery in Fredericksburg, Va. called Artful Dimensions, a manageable drive from where I live. I lucked into the class through one of those ‘rabbit hole’ internet searches early this spring. Unbeknownst to me when I signed up, the teacher -- Laurie Mika -- has pioneered some of this medium's techniques, written a popular book on the subject, and has a strong following of polymer clay enthusiasts. She is a seasoned, remarkable teacher. 

Although some of the tools used with this type of material are similar to ones used in my ceramic studio, there are lots of new gadgets to explore for creating in this medium. Yay! Various sharp cutting implements, different types of rubber stamps, permanent ink blotters, weldbond glue and colorful laser printed images were used to create the final piece. 

In this particular workshop, we learned how to decorate the clay using acrylic paints and laser printed images. The ‘clay’ material itself has different properties and a different feel than ceramic. It feels more plastic and requires kneading and softening by squishing it in your fingers before it is used. I described it to my husband that it reminded me of silly putty from my youth.

Similar to how I manipulate ceramic clay, the polymer can be rolled in a small slab, stamped with a decorative design, and cut out to a shape. Here’s where it’s a bit different. A mixed media embellishment can be glued and pressed into place. Then the piece is baked in a small toaster oven for 20 minutes. Once it is cooled and continues to harden, it is ready for more decoration with layers of paint. Now, I’m on the hunt for a used toaster oven. If you have one you’d like to part with, let me know!

Of course, you can’t learn everything in one single day-long workshop. I did learn enough to know I’d like to pursue this new (to me) material and see how to incorporate it into what I create with my ceramic pieces. My stash of mixed media jewelry bits and doodads are just waiting to be folded in to future projects. 

Workshops are a great way to learn new skills, meet great people and explore creativity. I’ve gained all of this and more through the class I took this past weekend.

Take A Break

When I’m away from my studio I still like to create. I have a couple of projects I’ve been working on recently that use a variety of materials other than clay. These are more portable and utilize other creative skills. 

These special 'LUVBOTS' were developed for a Real Estate Agent to distribute to her own special client list on Valentines Day. Exploring other types of creative media helps me play with different elements that might one day end up in one of my finished clay creations. 

These felt ornaments will be embroidered and assembled for a special group of runners to commemorate the 2018 Raccoon Mountain Half Marathon in Chattanooga, TN. Each hang tag will be customized with the runner's name. When I can't work in clay, it's fun to figure out what else I can make and what materials I'll use.

Of course, knitting remains a daily creative habit. When I'm away from the studio, I make sure to have lots of stitching projects with me. I've finished this capelet project pictured above. Next, I and will start on a shawl by the designer Casapinka appropriately called "All Points South".

Mixing It Up

Clay is one of the primary materials I use to make art. But, it’s not the only one. I often embellish the pieces I create with unrelated components to complete the idea that started in my mind. Using a mixed media approach often helps flesh out the functionality of a piece. Plus it’s fun!

The aisles of any hardware store are one resource for materials I use in a project. Copper pipe supports outdoor totem stacks or becomes the perfect perch for a bird feeder; some binding wire is bent into kickstands for recipe holders or flower stems for colorful flora; springs become hair on several angel projects.

Notions like buttons and beads found at the fabric store or an antique shop, accent a design and provide the perfect finishing touch. Fishing line from a sporting goods store supports a hanging creation.

I might combine some of my passions like clay and fiber arts. Leather cord crocheted along the edge of a basket shape converges two of the creative skills I like to practice. I’m even working on an idea with a well-known fiber pattern designer to create a bowl and pattern combination kit so other yarn enthusiasts could create their own unique project. 

Mixing materials to achieve a finished piece helps stretch the artistic element of every object I create. It opens the door even wider to possibility and challenges me with ever changing and new ideas. Lately, I've been playing with making jewelry. It's one more way I've been able to mix it up, make something I love, use up collected materials, learn new skills and combine it into a final product. 

A Happy Medium

I’ve been knitting about as long as I’ve had my hands in clay (over 40 years) and I’m passionate about both art crafts. I recently participated in a yarn tips and tricks class taught by Veronika Jobe of Yoth Yarns at The Knot House in Frederick, Md. In addition to learning some new techniques I started thinking about how the business of knitting has evolved over the years, especially with the internet, and specialized websites like Ravelry (a yarn-lovers mecca!).

I've knitted lots of sweaters over the years. My yarn and needles have carried me through sporting events, air travel and long car rides. Now, I usually end each day with some stitching. 

The world wide web has created opportunities for all kinds of yarn craft enthusiasts to learn, practice, exchange ideas and sell in an industry that used to be mostly brick and mortar-based. Along the way, I’ve sold some knitted garments I’ve made here and there, but never really pursued it as a occupation. Maybe if I were starting on that path today, I would think about it differently and develop a fiber business dying wool, selling yarn and knitting patterns.

Sweater patterns are one way fiber enthusiasts profit from their craft these days. I created this pattern based on a sweater vest I saw and liked long before that trend. 

Marshall McLuhan’s theory ‘The medium is the message’ has stuck with me since I first learned it in college.  Wikipedia sums it up this way. “…the form of a medium embeds itself in the message, creating a symbiotic relationship by which the medium influences how the message is perceived.” McLuhan was talking about ‘media’ and that the delivery system of a message was critical as well as the content of the message. Think newspaper vs. television vs. radio vs. internet as the different forms of media and how that shapes the delivery of a message.

I've combined my passion for fibre and clay by edging this rectangular vessel with stitched leather cord. 

Should have, could have, would have. Instead of looking back at art and media choices I've made in the past, I continue to be happy, challenged and satisfied with the ceramic art world. The business side of ceramics has also evolved since I began. Similar opportunities for widening the scope of interaction and sales around the world have opened up through the internet. It's just a matter of keeping up with it all! 

Clay is the medium I have chosen to express and sell my inner art. Daily knitting continues to be my personal downtime. 

Something New

End results of the mixed-media workshop.

The studio space I now occupy is really special. I have plenty of workspace and room to conduct workshops in clay and other art forms. This past weekend I held my first ‘official’ workshop. My long time friend and fellow artist Cathy Grubman lead several of us in an abstract painting and mixed media project.  Cathy guided us step-by-step through the process and allayed all of our fears about perfecting our technique. Each of us was pleased with the results and the fully completed art we created to hang on our walls!  I’m already planning the next workshop I can teach which will feature a clay project. 

Cathy showed us work by Mark Rothko as inspiration for our first layer of color on the watercolor paper.

We started to layer textures of color on top of our background color fields. Sometimes we would repeat a pattern in two different colors.

We used acrylic paints in varying degrees of transparency.

I seem to make a mess when I work no matter what the medium!

We layered bits of paper on top of our painted surface. The 'tao' symbol was a guide for our layout.

Here's my completed project hanging in the clay-making space of my studio!