Spacers or …..

I've been spacing out lately so I thought the polymer clay spacer beads would be apropos.  I spent a day making spacers and loaded some on a couple of cable necklaces.  Again, they look like oversized Heishi beads to me; which I love.   I'm sure you are all heading out shopping, looking for lots of good deals on this Black Friday.  So be off, have fun, be safe and sing "Dashing Through the Dough" while you shop.

Jellyroll Beads

Jellyroll beads with two Curly Beads on the ends.  Normally it is the design in the middle of a jellyroll that is the main attraction.  This time it is the technique of rolling the sheet and allowing it to spiral on the ends to create the shape of the bead.  I cut clean edges on a sheet of white clay, rolled it, smoothed it a little and then applied the scrap clay slices about halfway up the roll.  Gently rolled it again to blend in the slices, cut the one end and then tapered it a little.  Because the cording end is tapered, I suggest drilling the holes after baking.

Spikes & More Big Beads

 Sculptured, textured big beads.  These are the beads I will be teaching at the POLYMER CLAY ADVENTURE year long virtual (online) retreat which starts January 1.  If you are interested in signing up to take 24 classes from 22 teachers for $99 and want to read more about it, click HERE.

Inner Strength

October was breast cancer awareness month; this painting evolved from that.  I used the netting to depict the feeling of being trapped.  Physically, her right breast removed, loss of weight, color has changed and she has lost her hair.  Emotionally, scared beyond words, she feels emasculated, her femininity gone, and yet, she turns her nose up at it all.  She puts one foot in front of the other and fights.  She is proud of the strength that comes from being who she is; a woman.

Organic Abstract

 I loom knitted the organic shapes and attached them to this large painting.  I used spackling paste and acrylic paints to create texture on the canvas.   The shapes are all open, except one.  It is closed up.  It is one of my favorites.

However, at our local art fair, people just could not deal with the open spaces.  Almost every comment was, "Well, what do you put in these holes?"  I had 4 separate suggestions to put some nests and birds in them.  One person thought it was one of those games where you throw a ball in the circles and asked me if there was a ball that went with it.  It was the first time I had to explain many times that an abstract has no specific meaning.  It is more about concept, movement, lines, patterns, shapes, color or textures; the simplicity or exaggeration of one or all.  That an abstract allows the viewer to experience it and interpret it his own way--different from anyone else's version.  What I found most interesting was how uncomfortable people were with the empty spaces.  There was a compulsion to "fill an empty space with something".  Interesting, right?

Violet Eyes

No papers, but a lot of gel mediums and the use of a comb to create textures.

Abstract Portrait

As I used some crazy textured papers, gels and heavy acrylics and soon this painting took on a life of its own.

Displaying Bead Crochet

 I like creatively displaying my jewelry, even at home.  Above, I mixed up some Apoxie Sculpt and attached it to one of my paintings.  I particularly like this one.

In the green one, I used Command Picture Hanging Strips.  After taking this photo, I can see that the painting needs lighter color, muted tones and a strong transition from dark to light.  But, I'm happy with the Command Strips.  Tomorrow is our local art fair.  I painted some abstracts portraits and a couple of paintings that took on a life of their own.  I will be posting soon.

Black & White

 Make a statement in black and white, no room for grey!  I think these are about as large as these sculptured beads are going to get.  I'm still having fun creating them!

Sculptured Texture Beads

Distinctive, big, bold beads with remarkable textures and the unexpected subtle layering of colors which create a rugged beauty to the polymer clay.  It is like discovering something new each day I create these beads.  I am really having fun.  But, as you will see in a few days, I'm struggling to find the boundary line of what is too big.  Oh, how I love big jewelry, so it is hard to pull the reigns in.