Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

One lovely morning not long ago, Peter and I went to the Prescott Gem and Mineral Show.  Having lived in Prescott for 8 years and making jewelry, you'd think this would have been one of my first stops.  Like many people I know, exploring our own town gets pushed aside until we have visitors.  The Prescott show (held in Prescott Valley Civic Center) was a pleasure to visit.  It was very interesting and not overwhelming.  We actually had space to look at the items and talk with the vendors.  Lots of variety in both polished and rough stones and in finished jewelry.  This was a welcome experience having attended the gem show in Tucson which covers the city of Tucson and takes days to see. At one of the booths I was introduced to stromatolites.  A small stone that had layers and concentric circles making a very interesting pattern caught my eye and my imagination.  It would make a great mold for metal clay and polymer clay.  Once I zeroed in on the stone and found it was

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 of the canvas (20"

 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 layered between black and another set layered be