Archive for the 'Publications' Category

The Origins of Polymer Mokume Gane

Jody Bishel, Mokume Gane Earthstar Vessel, circa 2002
Mokume Gane creates the illusion of irregular knothole-like configurations on the surface.   Today, mokume gane is integral to the established repertoire of polymer techniques.  Many artists use some variation or derivative of the concept.   However, mokume gane is a centuries old Japanese metals technique devised to reproduce the [...]

Book Review: Color Inspirations

Make room in your bookcase for a new essential text. Nan Roche’s historic work, The New Clay, which we’ve long referred to as The Bible of polymer may have to be renamed now as The Old Testament and moved one slot to the left. There’s a New Testament coming to town and it’s titled Polymer [...]

Before NINE

Ford/Forlano, Pebble Galaxy, 2002
wall piece with removable pin, diameter 13″
bronze, sterling, silver, glass, coral, shell, magnets
The cover of Metalsmith’s Winter 2003 Issue shows a detail of Ford/Forlano’s piece, Pebble Gallery.  That work, which was a precursor to the NINE series, had already incorporated the concept of a removable pin hidden within a wall sculpture.  Like [...]

Midnight in the Limelight

Judy Kuskin, “Round Midnight” Necklace, polymer, silver
While I am on a short leave, feast your eyes on more polymer art jewelry featured in Art Jewelry Today 2.
Judy Kuskin’s Necklace is prominently positioned opposite the title page as a full page image.
Judy writes about the inspiration for her work, saying:

Election Day News Break

Sandra McCaw, Persian Cuff, 2007, polymer, gold leaf
Today Sandra McCaw announced that she is also a candidate for the 2009 Niche Award.
Here’s what Sandra just wrote about her work:

One for the Home Team

We interrupt our regular programming for this commercial announcement…
I just received news that my polymer work is featured top and center on the cover of a new book about contemporary art jewelry. Of course I’m pleased for personal reasons, but more importantly, polymer garners added status within the field of contemporary art jewelry. [...]

The Early Development of Polymer Clay Bead-Making: Part Five

In 1987, at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in the Washington, D.C. area, I taught my first workshop on polymer bead-making based on the simple techniques I had developed.  On the advice of an artist colleague, I submitted a short article to Ornament magazine.  Published in 1988, my article was entitled “The Use of Polyform [...]

More Early Images: Tory Hughes and Pier Voulkos

Are you hooked on Kathleen Dustin’s presentation about the work done by the early polymer bead makers? Then, you’ll want to see even more images by those pioneers. After each of Kathleen’s next few installments, I will provide you with an expanded view of those artists’ early work. 
In the gallery that follows you can put [...]

More Nonpareils

Coining new words is not my specialty, but the last three posts on this site seemed to demand a descriptive term for the tiny, hand formed polymer balls used by Lori, Amy, Cynthia, Pier and others. For the purpose of uniform terminology, let’s call them “nonpareils.”                         
When I asked Amy Zinman about the technical inspiration [...]

Polymer blossoms, seeded by Flower Valley Press

Many acknowledge Nan Roche and her book, The New Clay, as the source and the early inspiration for the explosion of information about polymer and its growth as a medium for artistry. 
 
But how many realize that this could never have happened without the support and vision of Seymour Bress, founder of Flower Valley Press.  In [...]