After
returning from the EurosSynergy Conference in Malta, I was excited to try
creating a hollow sphere from polymer clay using a polystyrene ball as the
form. Here is my first attempt.
To save
wasting too much clay (if it didn’t work) I just covered about two thirds of
the polystyrene ball and then baked it according to the directions. It was fascinating
watching, through the glass oven door, the polystyrene ball slowly shrinking
and at the end how small and compact the remaining polystyrene was.
I thought
this was going to turn out well but at the very last few minutes of baking, the
shape seemed to collapse a bit at the base, losing its spherical shape.
This was only
a small sphere, creating a shape suitable to house an electric candle. I still
want to be able to create larger spheres to use as lampshades for electric lamp
bases. I am thinking that polymer clay is not structurally strong enough to
support itself at the size I am thinking of, although I thought a sphere might
be more self-supporting than other hollow shapes.
Next experiment – tissue papier mache
base for polymer
I wondered if
a few layers of tissue paper would still be translucent enough and strong
enough to support a thin layer of polymer clay. So I covered a small inflated
ball with several layers of tissue paper and glue ( I think I used PVA glue
rather than wall paper paste but I can’t remember now). When it was totally
dry, I pierced and removed the ball.
The papier mache shell was not very
strong, it crushed with the slightest pressure from my fingers. I did not feel
confident that it would support a layer of polymer clay and as I was rapidly
running out of translucent clay, I did not want to waste it on another failed experiment.
I concluded
that the only way to make the type of polymer clay lampshade that I have in
mind is to find a glass shade to use as a permanent base. This might be
difficult and I would require a whole lot more translucent polymer clay. Once
again I think this idea will go on the back burner, for the time being.
