Polymer Photos Part 2

Ok, I just discovered I was spelling Photofunia incorrectly. I was putting "ph" where the "f" in fun is. One pun, and it stuck in my head. I've corrected all the hyperlinks. Now you will have some fun.

I revised yesterday's post and put the specific instructions in it.

More fun with Photofunia (click HERE). My polymer clay sculpture "Warrior" is featured in the top four photos. In the above photo my polymer clay sculptures "Warrior" is on the left, "Autumn Man" in the center, and "And Then There Were Two" is on the right.

Polymer Photos Part 1

Above is the original photo of a polymer clay sculpture I did called, "Warrior". The shading is done with polymer and I made the rabbit skin head piece.

I've been playing with Photofunia, click HERE - adding some photos of my polymer sculptures. I love this book effect.

You just pick an effect, click on it, browse your photos, double click on it, it will come up on the effect, hit OK and it will upload. Then you can right click on it and hit copy, right click again, go to my pictures, and right click, paste. Voila! Magic.

So cool.

Photofunia is really Phun (sorry). A couple of days of this I'm afraid. Polymer, polymer, polymer.

Polymer Cane Mask

I think I've posted this mask before, but thought I would include it with the other mask posts. I created this one a while ago. A good use for all those basic canes; or at least I thought so at the time. I added mirrors behind her eyes so when you really look in her eyes, you see yours.

Paperclay Mask with Beaded Head Piece

I am going to paint patterns over the white base. Again, I thought I would like the basic look of the mask, but the white outweighs everything else.

I sculpted the PaperClay over an aluminum foil armature and when the PaperClay was dry, I removed it.

And, yes, she has a big schnozzolla. She loves her nose-it defines her.

The beads are a combination of vintage beads and buttons, gemstones, freshwater pearls, lampwork, seed beads and Czech glass. The beading stitches are peyote and fringe. It is mounted on a painted plywood oval.

Mask with Beaded Head Piece

This was another effort in working with the DAS clay; the result of which I was not happy with.

I was aiming for a "clay-like" structure; a basic "pottery" look. I thought the turquoise would compliment it nicely. But the volume of clay color overpowers the turquoise.

I'm going to paint on the clay to balance it out and hope I am happy with it.

The beads are seed beads, Czech glass beads, gemstones, freshwater pearls, lampwork, vintage beads and buttons. The beading stitches are peyote and fringe. It is mounted on a painted plywood oval.

Skeleton Cane Mask

I finished the mask. I covered a paper mache' skeleton mask I bought at Michaels Craft Store with several sizes of my skeleton cane.

It is very light weight and I'm really happy with it.

I wanted the "third eye" effect in there - seeing things that others don't.

Painted the backside with artist grade black acrylic gesso. I think I am going to take this a couple steps further....when I don't know, but the seed of inspiration is growing.

DAS Clay

This was an experiment with DAS clay over a plastic mask. DAS air dries to a clay like finish.

It didn't turn out.

The plastic mask was not a substantial enough armature to withstand the wire tension and resulted in the clay giving way; flaking and cracking.

I got aggravated and started doodling on it. I did try a couple of other projects using DAS and decided it was not for me.

Scarification

I created this highly textured mask after watching a documentary on Scarification (scarring the skin in such a way as to create raised patterns). Some primitive tribes use scarification for right of passage, modern tribes use it for personal expression.

Another meaning listed in Webster's School & Office Dictionary is "to wound with severe criticism." Ouch.

It is polymer over a ceramic armature. I used needles, Kemper punches and leather tool punches to create the scars. The shading in the cheek and nose area is done with polymer.

And Then There Were Two

It was the beginning of a mask (below). Then, I dropped it and it became two halves.

Kind of cool how we are fractured, but still whole. How we have sides of us that we aren't particularly proud of, but must still embrace. Took your mind off of how the heck did I drop a 6x8" piece? I do these in multiple curings. Add a layer, bake, cool, building up the features as I go. I bake them on cardboard; or I did. Not anymore. Now I use a tray WITH SIDES, lined with parchment.

Skeletons and Mask

I sculpted these using Sculpey Light over an aluminum foil armature. It's like working with a soft marshmallow. I liked it and will try a couple more tomorrow.

Mardi Gras?

The above mask is comprised of all handmade canes and the one below is hand sculpted using a mixture of hand blended polymer clays.

The copper metallic polymer clay was blended with 4 other colors.

Masks and Polymer Beads

Merrily making beads and tile necklaces this morning and turned a corner to sculpting little creature masks.

I like the totem of the bear, pig, wolf, owl and abstract masks, but think I will eventually use them separately in a beaded piece. Don't know, still playing with the sketches.

The tiles turned out....like the colors. Leaving as is, no sanding, buffing or Magic Gloss. The jump rings and spacers will be more than enough to balance it out. Sometimes the heavy gloss finish is just too much shine, looks plastic and detracts from the purity of the polymer clay itself.

Switched over to the extruder and used the brightest colors I had. Also leaving these matte.

It was a good day.

Polymer Pins

This pin is called, "Good Morning World!" She's up bright and early, showers, makes her bed and throws open the curtains, welcoming another day.

Its so early, its still dark outside, but with dots and slivers of light starting to show in the sky. I'm sitting here getting the biggest kick out of myself. I am truly in my own little world.

Above is my Halloween bat wing pin. There's a green Swarovski crystal set in the center just because there has to be some kind of sparkle and the rest of the patterns are from polymer clay canes I made.

Same with the one above. A big center crystal set in the center of a cross design. The rest of the pin is composed of my polymer clay canes.

I really liked this one. A local artist (in her 50's) bought it at our Sun City West art and craft fair. Her husband wrinkled his nose and shook his head "no" when she showed it to him. She looked at him and said, "I'm getting it because I absolutely love it." He wasn't happy, but I was.

Below is "I'm Just Sad". I sculpted the face from PaperClay and the rest is textured and torn polymer clay.

The below started out to be a face for one of my vase sculptures, but ended up too big for the vase, but just right for a pin. Unlike the local artist, a woman in her late seventies bought it to wear on a cruise. She said she had been looking for just the right pin for a neck scarf and this was it. I just never would have put the two of them together. Just so interesting.

This was an attempt at a faux cement planter full of foliage and flowers. The cement planter actually ended up being too heavy and the tiny flowers made from polymer clay transparent canes were too tiny. Also, I didn't know when to quit with the foliage and textures.

The pin below was stamped and color added with colored pencils. I layered the two slices of cane and the bamboo in the corner just because I had to put my "stamp" on it. It was sealed with a light coat of matte sealant.

Writing this blog has made me think about why I jump from crocheting tiny, cute doll clothes to sculpting bizarre masks and sculptures to painting peaceful, serene landscapes and then to sculpting beads into jewelry. But it gave me a headache and I went back to creating.