Leaf Book

Leaf Book, Liz Mitchell, 3.25″ x 1.75″

polymer, polymer mosaic, leaf, paper, plastic, screen, metal

After MIPCES, Liz Mitchell continued to experiment with a variety of book forms. Leaf Book is a transitional piece in her evolution as an artist. In the making of this book she incorporated three different polymer clay techniques; photo transfer, thin sheeting and micro mosaic. From here, Liz went on to further explore multimedia in book arts.

Impressive to me is how these creations bridge the artistic and academic worlds, bringing a level of intellectual concern to Liz’s creations. Where once her work was colorfully whimsical, her evolution took her to more serious concerns. Her evolution as an artist aptly mirrors the evolution of the medium itself, growing in both technique and intellectual heft over time.

On a personal note: Liz Mitchell was my first teacher. I met her in a workshop in October of 1993. At that time, Liz was creating and marketing caned jewelry and home decor similar to what you see below. You can compare that to her current work by visiting her website.

I cannot remember a time in my life that I wasn't interested in looking at art, talking about art and the making of art. In 1990 I earned a Phd in art history at the University of Maryland. My first experiences with polymer clay were in 1992, but I consider my real work with the medium to date from 1999.