2016 Polymer Clay Challenge - Week 5

This week I was able to get my #2016PCChallenge project done early. I can not believe we are almost into February. This week was my first attempt at an older face. I plan on doing an old man for my doll show submission so you'll be seeing a lot of weathered faces on here in the coming weeks.

Unbaked

You can see the wrinkles I've etched into his skin. They will be less distinctive once he has been cured. I also made a spot for a pipe to be inserted in the corner of his mouth.

Fresh from the Oven

As you can see the baking process tones down the wrinkles quite a bit. They will be visible once again after I paint him.

Painted Features

Here he is! I am really pleased with how this guy turned out. I will be redoing his pupils to make them a bit larger and less creepy. He will be getting salt & pepper hair, along with a beard and mustache. He'll also be getting bushy eyebrows - I can't wait for those!

He already told me that he is a fisherman and he wants to be posed on a dock. I'm going to continue to work on him this afternoon since it is snowing, we already have about 4 inches of snow - not bad but enough to stay in and play with clay!

I'm so glad I decided to not only join the #2016PCChallenge but to actually participate in it LOL. I'm really excited about what is happening in the studio this year.

2016 Polymer Clay Challenge - Week 4

Seriously! Week 4! This year is already going by way too fast. Here is my latest project for the #2016PCChallenge

This week I did another head. I forgot to add color to the lips, She is OK. Once I add her hair and paint her features she won't look so odd - I hope! I think I rushed her a bit. I like her nose, lips and eyes but her ears are off. That is what this challenge is for, to create, practice, see what I need to work on and create some more.

Polymer Clay Magnets

As I stated earlier this week I am taking part in the 2016 Polymer Clay Adventure retreat. I am trying to hone my skills and working with clay as often as possible is really the only way to do that so I joined the first swap of the year which is to create magnets which feature a word or words that are meaningful to me.

I chose to use the word "create" on my magnets. That is what I hope to do this year. To create as often as possible.

I don't know who my 3 swap partners are yet. I hope they like these!

2016 Polymer Clay Adventure Online Retreat

I've really been busy with clay lately and the 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge is one of the reasons, the other is the 2016 Polymer Clay Adventure. This is a year long, online, polymer clay "retreat". There are at least 22 video classes that will be released throughout the year detailing many different types of polymer clay projects.

The first class was making a shrine out of an "Altoid" mint tin. It involved distressing the tin, adding multiple layers of clay, using silver leaf, paint, rubber stamps, beads... it was AWESOME! I love rubber stamps and learning so many different ways to use them with polymer clay was super exciting for me. I knew there was a reason I didn't get rid of them when I cleaned my studio (OK, truth be told, I have a hard time getting rid of anything from the studio. You never know when you'll need it),

Here is my tin. It is a shrine in memory if my sweet kitty Rosie who passed away last January.

Cover

Inside

This project was a lot of fun to create. I tried to use all of the different techniques that Artist Laurie Mika taught in the class. 

The shrine looks much better in person and I am very happy with the way it turned out. 

Next post will be of the magnets I made for the first swap that I joined through the retreat. 

Stay tuned!

2016 Polymer Clay Challenge - Week 3

I can't believe I am on week 3 of the challenge already! Since I did not work today I thought I would work on some hands.

Here is my week 3 project for the #2016PCChallenge. These hands turned out to be the perfect size for my steampunk girl. She has been waiting for hands, feet and some clothes for way too long!

Here she is, still waiting for boots and clothes. Hopefully soon! Her makeup is way more intense than I normally do but what I plan to do with her requires dramatic! Once she is finished I'll share her here.

Doll Show Idea

The theme of the Doll Show that I am going to be submitting a doll for is "Journeys through Light and Dark: Dolls as Tellers of Stories". I've been thinking about this a lot and have been trying to decide what I want to do, right now I am leaning towards a sculpture of my grandfather fishing from a pier.

I grew up on the Rehoboth Bay and have so many wonderful memories of him teaching me how to fish and taking me out onto the bay and into the ocean. The story I want to tell is of him.

We shall see how I translate my idea into reality. I have no idea if I can share the doll here before I submit it or not but I'll keep you posted.

I'm nervous about submitting my work to be juried but I need to do this. Whether or not I get accepted into the show is really irrelevant though it would be awesome to be accepted, I just need to start putting my work out there to be seen.

I'll keep you posted!

Debbie

2016 Polymer Clay Challenge - Week 2

Here she is. My week 2 project for the #2016PCChallenge. I'm happy with her. She is a tiny girl. This weekend she and week 1 will be getting eyes!

For more information on the 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge click the image above.