CLASSES
Polymer Clay for Beginners
Have you ever wondered if polymer clay is the medium for you? This class offers an introduction to polymer clay. Students learn basic techniques such as Skinner blend, basic canes, textures, stamping, metallics, etc. Participants assemble a notebook cover with the samples made in class, where they can also take notes of the techniques learned.
Hollow Forms with Polymer Clay Upcoming class at SCC in Pittsburgh, December 6, 2008. Click here for details.
Hollow forms hold mystery. You can make them spiritual, fun, colorful, textured or follow your creative muses somewhere else. Students use polymer clay to create their own molds and then use them to make hollow beads, pendants or vessels. We explore different opening and closing mechanisms. Surface design and finishing techniques are also discussed.
Texture Plates-Making your Mark Upcoming class in Houston October 4-5, 2008. Click here for details.
Texture is an important element of design. It can help emphasize the intended message and reinforce the design. Texture is both a tactile and a visual experience; it can be a vehicle for the concept or a purely decorative element. Physical and visual textures can be used to imitate and suggest recognizable surfaces; they can be evocative of cultures, materials, nature, be primitive or technological.
The emphasis of the class is on making texture plates to be used with polymer clay. Students experiment with textures, metallic foils and powders, inks and paints, metallic and translucent clays, etc. Participants leave with no less than two texture plates. Each student assembles his/her own samples into jewelry to be used as a showcase of the techniques learned.
Surface design on polymer clay
Have you ever wondered how would it feel to be a mad scientist and spend your days doing experiments? This is your chance to try it! Polymer clay is a fascinating, versatile material. So many finishes, so many textures, so many possibilities. The emphasis of this class is on learning an array of surface techniques to be applied to polymer clay.
We spend a couple of days experimenting with polymer clay, liquid clays, powders, foils, pencils, markers, repel gel and more, even the dreaded Sandpaper. We mix, blend, layer, mold, texture, stamp, draw, color, paint, resist, crack, scratch, sand, polish and who knows what, we might even come up with a new technique.
I am sure, after we are done, we are going to advance the science of polymer clay for future generations, and for your own work. And the best part … there is no math involved!
GALLERIES
Society for Contemporary Crafts - Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Store – Pittsburgh, PA
Planet Art Gallery - Pittsburgh, PA
Polymer Clay Creative Traditions: Techniques and projects inspired by the fine and decorative arts/ Judy Belcher - Watson-Guptill publications.
The Crafts Report - July 2008 issue.
Polymer CAFE - October 2008 issue.