Blog

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Colorful Kato Clay…

Kato Polymer Clay (Van Aiken) has a new Facebook page where Tony Aquino is posting a series of metallic color recipes using their  concentrates = more to come. Also they are asking for your opinion on possible new colors. The three colors I would like to see…

  • a magenta concentrate (the current red is way too orange to make great purples)
  • fluorescent yellow and magenta to “pump” up mixes
  • a warm Cadmium yellow

What new colors would you like to see?

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Masters Polymer Clay Book…

I am thrilled- I have just received my advance copy of the Masters of Polymer Clay– Major Works by Leading Artists by Rachel Carren. I am delighted that  one of the images on the cover is my Rainbow Shrine.

“This beautiful and inspiring survey presents innovative polymer clay works from forty of the leading artists working today, with each artist introduced curator Rachel Carren.”

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Colorful Van Gogh…

Living int the Washington, DC area has many advantages…including several Vincent Van Gogh paintings on exhibit for up close enjoyment. One of my most memorable “I can’t believe I just did that!” moments was when I was viewing one of his paintings at the Phillip’s Collection. I became so entranced by how little flicks of paint so perfectly came to resemble bunches of olive leaves that I reached out and touched the painting. Fully expecting to be escorted  out of the museum by several guards, I was surprised that no one seemed to notice. (I’m sure they have updated their security in regards to touching priceless paintings in the ensuing years).

It is always interesting to see an artist’s colors schemes interpreted in new ways and Arthur Buxton’s Van Gogh pic charts do so while being aesthetically pleasing. You can read more about the charts here  on Flavorwire. Buxton will be posting a key = which painting corresponds to which pie chart in the future. In the meantime, which pie chart represents the color scheme in your favorite Van Gogh painting?

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Exploring the Enlightened Rainbow…

I am delighted to be returning to Maureen Carlson’s  Center for the Arts in Jordan Minnesota for a five day intensive workshop June 15th- 19th, 2011.

Exploring the Enlightened Rainbow: Embracing meditation, intuition and intention to design your color stories

Walking our artistic paths with wisdom and awareness is a sacred gift. While making a personal mediation walking stick you will explore the expressive and transformative gifts of color.

The seven colors of the chakra based energy system each reflect a different aspect of your being and life. For example, the root chakra is associated with the color red, and processes energies associated with grounding, your tribe and familial relationships.

Using guided meditations, intuitive collage exercises and intentional word association statements you will be exploring each of the seven major chakras, along with their specific gifts, as you build your power stick from the ground up. Continue reading “Exploring the Enlightened Rainbow…”

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Cabin Fever 2011 – Supply List Update…

Polyform Products will be supplying all of the colored clay for my Damascus Ladder Magic Friday pre-conference workshop at the Cabin Fever Clay Fest this February. So, please disregard the instructions for picking your colors, bring four ounces of scrap clay and your two magical hands. There are still a few spaces left in this workshop- for registration information visit the event’s blog here.

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Wishing You a Colorful and Happy New Years…

“We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential.  “~Ellen Goodman

Have a happy New Year’s Eve..and take a moment to look around your studio looking for the potential joy in the colors that surround you.

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Colorful Scrap…

As polymer clay artists any of us generate “scrap” – some  more than others. After teaching kid’s summer art camp for eight years, teaching dozens of workshops, doing demos and trimming canes, I generate lots of scrap.

There are several interesting posts on the web on how to use your scrap clay, including this one on polymer clay web and this pictures from Creative Spirit Originals Flickr site...

Today I received a lovely present in the mail from Ron Lehocky from Kentucky made in part from some of my recycled and reinvigorated “scrap”. Ron has made and sold over 14,000 heart pins to benefit  The Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies. You may read more about Ron’s Heart  Project on Polymer Clay Daily here = an ongoing need for scrap  clay for laminates, guts and backs of the hearts.

If you have scrap clay that is looking for a new home, I encourage you to send yours to Ron. email  me using the contact form on this site and I will send you his mailing address.

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Cabin Fever 2011…

Damascus Ladder Magic

One Day Workshop Friday February 18th, 2011 at Cabin Fever 2011

I  will walk you through making three different skinner blend canes – with color coordinated lights and darks – that will be combined to make a dynamic version of a Damascus Ladder. Strategies for constructing drum beads (which you could choose to make into a sampler bracelet) and flat laminated pieces will be demonstrated along with some valuable finishing techniques…..and of course, I will be talking about color and will have hundreds of samples on display  for you to see.

What is Cabin Fever Clay Fest 2011?

Cabin Fever Clay Fest 2011 is the 4th year of a hands-on polymer clay/mixed media event which consists of 3 days of pre-conference workshops (18 Feb. – 20 Feb. 2011) combined with a 3 1/2 day polymer clay hands-on event (20 Feb.– 23 Feb. 2011) to be held in Laurel, Maryland. Keep up with the latest updates here. Continue reading “Cabin Fever 2011…”