Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

Is making jewelry from polymer clay the best way for me to be creative?  If we don't experiment with alternatives, how will we know? How can I use polymer clay to create paintings?  This blog explores my attempts and growth in a technique of applying clay to canvas.  There was no class or written information that I found so I just started.  I'm showing my newest 'paintings' first so that you can see the changes in style and technique. Monarchs The beginning of the Monarch Painting Painting the background of the canvas helped me define the movement of the grasses and the lighting.  I wanted to feel the low sun coming through the grasses while the butterflies took flight.  I also wanted to show a cocoon and give the impression of beginning pods of grass (at the lower edge of the canvas).   This piece is to be a part of the fall 'Changing of the Colors' at The Prescott Art Market in September.   The color scheme and size...

 Sometimes working with another artist produces a unique piece of art.  In this case my older brother, Dave, turns wood and makes beautiful vases, bowls, platters and any other item that comes to his mind and hands. Another polymer artist Cynthia Tinapple and her husband's work combining combining polymer inlay in wood intrigued me.  I've wanted to try it for quite a while.  I researched the technique and invested in a digital thermometer and a heat gun.  I knew some day I would use them. When Dave said he was turning a walnut vase I asked him to make two recessed bands about 1/8th inch deep and 1/2 to 1" wide.  We collaborated to determine the placement and size.  He lives in Kansas and I live in Arizona so there were lots of emails and phone calls. My job was deciding on the pattern and design to use in the grooves.  With a lot of experimentation  I decided to make a  Stroppel cane.    Using old polymer canes la...

Sea Snail 'Trap Doors' from Bahia Kino  My last two posts share my trip to Bahia Kino Sonora Mexico, my collection of sea shells, and how I'll use them in my jewelry.  The polymer clay molds from the shells (see the previous post) Silver Metal Clay Shells just out of the molds.  You can see the 'imbeddable silver connectors in two on the left. After experimenting with polymer, it is time for silver metal clay.  For those of you not familiar with this material, silver metal is cut into micro filaments and a binder is added making a pliable clay.  It is then fired at 1650 degrees in a kiln.  The binder burns out and the micro filaments of silver fuse together to make 99% fine silver.  When I saw these shells, I knew silver beads would be my goal!   'Imbeddables' are fine silver jewelry components that can be fired at the same time as the silver clay to become part of the piece of jewelry.  I sandwiched them between the...