Oven craft....

Welcome back!

I have a very well meaning craft benefactor !
I got into Polymer clay only because I got the final push by bartering an oven for work during the Seattle project. ( link: http://richarps.blogspot.in/2014/05/paper-seattle-and-working-with-best.html)
I jumped headlong into using it for something. Although the oven hung around my workroom for almost 3 months before I finally procured some Polymer Clay (referred to PC hence forth).
Having had no previous knowledge of the PC, its chemistry or how to utilize it except the pictures available on the internet, I got down to reading about it. I choose it because it was used in Jewellery and would add a new skill to my own profile. I knew I would explore it, even if it meant to start off on my own. So believe you in me, all the lessons were learnt the hard way.

first trial with air dry clay

I started first and foremost with reading various blogs about PC. After working alongside Pritesh as an 'artist' for almost 2.5 years, I had learnt to research any art form before starting any work on it.  Just like we read warning labels on packaging, it is important to accumulate all the information about the contents to take preventive steps while working. Knowledge is the key! What is PC? It is a variation of PVC- Polyvinyl Chloride, with clay-like properties. It's encompasses the use of an oven ( not microwave) baking for hardening. You can find out more from google, but here is a PC supplies website, with more information to get you started.  http://www.sculpey.com/

my first trial at polymer clay figurine.

There are lots of PC brands and sub-brands to choose from- FIMO, Sculpey, Kato, Pardo to name a few. I started with Sculpey as it is much more easily available in India. It is important to choose a brand of clay where repeat buying is possible once you decide to go into it professionally ( and that holds true for any art form you want to do). Then came the humongous task of a work-surface. While working with paper, I just needed a little spot to start working, where as here, I needed a more dedicated space to work on. So came the staggering task of clearing out part of my work table for it. I had bought an A4 sized acrylic sheet to use as the surface on my table. ( If you read about PC, you will know that a wooden surface is not recommended to work on), since then I have now moved to a Ceramic surface.
I had done a small terracotta making course and a mud work workshop a year or so ago, and it helped me tremendously to make my first polymer clay figurine. I actually first tried making things with air dry clay, since it is a cheaper option to practice. Your hand will set in, once you get used to clay molding, in this case practice does make perfect.

Once you are serious about using PC you will want to invest in tools as well. I have found the initial investment for Polymer clay is higher than other forms, including clay, oven & tools.

first jewellery trial - PC

I started with making small pieces of jewellery and by the time I had worked with PC for 6 months, I had only managed to touch the numerous number of techniques.My first piece of jewellery, 11 DEC 2014. This was when I was trying to get a hang of Applique technique! What a walk down memory lane. Since then I have tried out other techniques, but for me nothing holds a candle to this simplicity! There is absolutely no need of any PC specific tools, just a craft knife and a ruler and a toothpick!
The rest is all about hand work and letting your creativity roam freehand.

WHAT I LEARNT 

It all boils down to finesse not the number of techniques! Practice one technique if you must, but do it like no other! Every little millimeter counts! Every little smudge looks like a failed attempt, every little wasted piece is a drain on your resources!

DONOT invest in anything but the basic- clay, acrylic roller, craft knife, blade, toothpick / needle, oven, baking and bond glue and a work-surface. Atleast not until you are sure about your PC making future. In India it is a very expensive hobby.Most of the secondary and tertiary tools are not available easily in India, or if available are expensive. Buying clay itself if quite a drain on your resources and requires repeated investment once the orders start pouring in.

Follow instructions on the packaging of the clay, tools etc. It takes only something small as a nick with a knife to ruin something. Follow strict cleaning procedures both for your hands and your tools. A stray piece of clay can ruin a perfectly good design.
Make sure you protect your hands, they are you most expensive tool. There are toxins in Polymer clay and if you do not clean your hands well, it will have an adverse effect on your health, when ingested. Wear gloves if you have cuts and bruises.  Same warning goes for fumes, they are toxic, hence make sure your work room/ baking room is well ventilated.

NO CHILDREN. 
NOT FOR PREGNANT WOMEN and NEW MOTHERS. 

Pricing PC products takes a extra thinking and calculating. I needed to find the golden balance for pricing because I have to include clay price, tools, time, electricity. No clay is ever wasted, you can use and reuse scraps of unbaked clay. Workshops also cost a lot. Work smart, it will save you a lot of money and time!

Lastly and most importantly, I cannot stress on this point enough, there are millions of images out there, lots of video tutorials to explore from. Please make sure you give proper credit where it is due. Try not to make replica's for sale purposes. It is unethical and takes away from your creativity.

So to sum it up research, practice and create!

In the end I will leave you with some of the pieces I made as a freelance designer at Art'zire! 

You can also follow the link below to one of the pieces I as involved with. 

http://artzire.blogspot.in/2015/09/thumbelina-evolves.html

Off to have my coffee,

~Richa

A little ethnic turn for the modern!

I have always found it challenging  to hand draw or paint, and when the surface is reduced it get's that much more harder. I gave it a try while conducting a paper jewellery workshop. I was explaining how Tanjore looks ( until i realised I didn't have any embellishments, which are an integral part of Tanjore type of painting) as well as, how to encase Paper work in resin. ( You can click on the earlier resin post for more information)

 The Tanjore-like design I have tried here, is based on a bird as the central design, with contrasting flowers and leaves thrown in to complete the picture. Although this effort was nothing like traditional looking Tanjore design,it became my own twist.

  The earrings had a matching floral design, in mirror effect. This is extremely important when it comes to making earrings. It's also one of the toughest things to do. When I draw my designs, I am quite satisfied with one, the mirror image I leave to forces beyond my kin. As you can see the design only focuses on the designs of the pendant and earrings.

I tried it on for good measure. 

 

I always find it a bit much, to wear both the neck piece and earring together. Interestingly, I choose to wear one of my own creations only for special occasions. Which led to me to think, there will be other youngsters out there with the same problem. 

With one difference already in place, I took it a step ahead and used very minimal accessories to go with the actual pendant and earrings. This not only reduced the jazz of the over all set, but also gave it a modern look by using the metal choker. The economical aspect was a value addition!

Officially back from a stupor!!!

~Rich

It's a big bad and artistic world out there :)

Hello worlddd.....

One has to try their hand at everything, before you decide, something is good or bad, easy or difficult and pretty much nothing is impossible!


So far I have tried my hands at Quilling, Resin, Doodle or Zentangle for the use for a fancier term, Polymer clay, Bead-weaving, Acrylic painting mainly to introduce all these mediums into Jewellery. It really a versatile world out there. After having touched into all these, I still haven't found my speciality. There isn't that one thing that only I can do with maybe only 1 other person.





 Now I am working towards perfecting them, but also trying to fuse them together, they are slow but happy little steps. With loads of help, inspiration and opportunities to work outside of my comfort zone! Doing a lot of customised work, sometimes freelancing with other designers has definitely helped me to look at my own work with different eyes. Expanding my own horizons based on the wants and needs of others, is not only every changing but also challenging.

Don't forget to visit me at
https://www.facebook.com/rockpaperandscissor

 ~Richa