Black & White Magic: The Art of Contrast

The topic for the March show at the Artist's Cooperative of Westerly (RI) is "Black (and white) Magic:  The Art of Contrast.  I'm one of the featured artists, and I've been working on pieces for the show.  I've been trying some techniques that are new for me, so I thought I'd share some of the pieces here.  I think that polymer is a perfect medium for this theme.  Not only do we have contrast with black and white, we can easily contrast other colors as well as textures, shapes and sizes.  Love my polymer!

The first couple of items were inspired by tutorials I saw on the CraftEdu site.  This first set is made from a sheet I constructed based on a traditional Japanese pattern I saw in a tutorial from Nikolina Otrzan.   I used textured clay to construct the pattern, and I think it really fits the show theme.
This next pendant is based on directions from one of Donna Kato's tutorials.  I liked the way Donna constructed the basic black and white base, but found my clay was too soft to use her technique for adding bands of color.  So, I used my own cutting ideas to add the lines of red.








The idea of inserting lines appeals to me, so I decided to try some straight lines rather than curves and waves.  The next set is an example of this type of insertion.











I also experimented with inserting lines and circles.  I particularly like this new shape that comes from a template produced by Melanie Muir.








The last photo shows a larger pendant made using a mokume gane technique.  This piece has a high polish and I like the way the beads look flanking each side.

I'll be back soon to show you some black and white earrings and bracelets in the next post.  Then on to some color!

Paper Mache' & Polymer

A few weeks ago, I taught a workshop on covering metal containers with polymer.  We used Altoid tins, even cutting around the hinge areas so the tins opened and closed.  One student brought a small paper mache' box and covered that, too.  I liked the versatility I could envision with the paper mache' box, and decided to try a few of my own.
The first one I made showcases a tessellation in black and white. This particular design is based on a traditional Japanese pattern explained in a tutorial by Nikolina Otrzan on Craft Art Edu.  I am working on creating some pieces in black and white for the March show in Westerly, and this pattern just begged to be made in those high-contrast colors.  I decided to try painting the paper mache' section above the clay on the base and really liked the finished look it gave.

This green box showcases a multi-colored braided cane.  I love the brightness of the colors and the hexagonal shape.


The little round red box seemed the perfect spot for a cane I made based on a tutorial from Marcia Tzigelnik or Mars Design.

This other round box features a cover made from a Stroppel cane.  These canes are such a perfect use for  clay scraps and cane ends, and I love the effect.