Just a preview of the some of the pretties that will be in my shop on Friday!
Polymer Clay: Visiting Artist at Western Carolina University
Welcome to Polymer Clay! I’ve been working with Polymer Clay for over a decade, mostly as a hobby, but have sold many pieces to friends and family. I mainly create wearable art; jewelry pieces. But polymer clay is so flexible it is used to created sculpture, characters, wall art, containers, etc.
In this post, I will link to numerous video demonstrations I have recorded to introduce you to polymer clay. I’ll start with the basics and then demonstrate how to mix colors, and three different techniques: screen printing on polymer, two types of mokume gane, and building a cane.
Let’s get started with what polymer clay is, some of the brands available, and the tools you’ll need to work with polymer clay.
Introduction to Polymer Clay
Tools and Conditioning Polymer Clay
Storing Clay
Mixing Colors
Mixing Colors to Match
Mixing Colors to Match 2
Examples of canes and blends
Making a Skinner blend
Technique #1: Easy Veneer
Leaching Clay
Technique #2: Mokume Gane Two Artists
Techinique #2: Mokume Gane Julie Picarello 1
Technique #2: Mokume Gane Julie Picarello 2
Technique #2: Mokume Gane Melanie Muir 1
Technique #2: Mokume Gane Melanie Muir 2
Technique #2: Mokume Gane Melanie Muir Redux
I decided I really didn’t like the first veneer I made, so here I demostrate the same technique but with a much different end result.
Technique #3: Screen Printing on Polymer Clay and other Techniques
Check back later to see photos of the finished pieces using the techniques I demonstrated.
Links to purchase clay and tools
Clay blades – https://www.sculpey.com/products/sculpey-super-slicer-set-w-comfort-handles
Clay conditioning machine – https://www.sculpey.com/products/sculpey-clay-conditioning-machine
Marcato machine – https://www.amazon.com/Marcato-8320-Machine-Cutter-Instructions/dp/B0009U5OSO
Pasta Machine thickness settings
The machine I used in the demos is the Atlas 150 1 to 9 settings.
Happy New Year!
What’s coming for Spring 2017? More pendants using various shapes and textures, with matching earrings. Also, will be creating some bracelets from different veneers. Will be using many of the Pantone Spring 2017 colors in my work.
Grand Opening!
I kept saying I was going to open my online store for my polymer jewelry, right friends?!
Well, it’s here!
Announcing the grand opening of ECB Designs! www.elicbrowndesign.com
New products will be uploaded everyday for the next couple of weeks and in the spirit of the season and giving back, I’ll be donating 10% of net sales to Heifer International USA. Heifer USA is dedicated to building and reviving local food systems.
I also do custom work, so if you don’t see what you want, let’s talk!
What is Polymer?
Polymer clay is a type of hardenable modeling clay based on the polymerpolyvinyl chloride (PVC). It typically contains no clay minerals, but like mineral clay a liquid is added to dry particles until it achieves gel-like working properties, and similarly, the part is put into an oven to harden, hence its colloquial designation as clay.[1] Polymer clay is generally used for making arts and craft items, and is also used in commercial applications to make decorative parts. Art made from polymer clay can now be found in major museums (Wikipedia).
Polymer clay artists used the medium in many different ways. Some of these techniques are:
Canes:
Meg Newberg
Gorgeous landscape cane by Wendy Jorre de St. Jorre
Mokume Gane:
Carol Simmons‘ gorgeous work
One of my favorite artists – Julie Picarello
Blends:
Beads using blends by Donna Kato
The possibilities are endless! That’s why I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE working in polymer clay!
Until next week…~Eli