Two entries for 'Art in Motion'

I have managed to complete another small piece, in time for this event, so I now have entries:

Celebration
polymer clay mosaic, 20cm diameter

Aqua Swirl
mixed media, 17cm diameter

Polymer clay UV light fastness trial - after 3 years

I started this trial on 12 December 2021. Six months on, I looked at the tiles after cleaning off all the sticky residue from the black masking tape (top row in photo). There was slight yellowing of the exposed area on the white and purple tiles but this is not easy to see in the photo. The neutral tiles showed no noticeable change to the colours but the varnish has attracted a lot of dust/dirt, so I would definitely not use varnish on items intended for outdoors.

The bottom row of the photo shows the tiles after three years. The heat of the sun on the black masking tape had almost welded it in place. I decided it wasn't worth the time it would take to try and remove the tape and clean off the sticky residue. It was quite clear that all the colours had faded and the white, pearl and translucent colours had discoloured considerably. The white had yellowed (not so easy to see in the photo) but the pearl and translucent had almost gone brown.

Sadly, this experiment has confirmed that polymer clay is not suitable, in terms of light fastness, for long term use outside.

The End Of An Era

The End Of An Era
40cm (16 inches) diameter

This piece was created with the last of my handmade round mosaic tiles, marking the end of my phase of dot mosaic art.

Two new pieces: Dream Lamp and Contemplation #2

Here are the latest two pieces I have been working on

Dream Lamp - shown in different lighting situations
15cm (6 inches) diameter

Contemplation #2
20cm (8 inches) diameter
extruded polymer

Polymer clay UV light fastness trial - after 6 months

I started this trial on 12 December 2021. Six months on, I looked at the tiles after cleaning off all the sticky residue from the black masking tape. There was slight yellowing of the exposed area on the white and purple tiles but this is not easy to see in the photo. The neutral tiles showed no noticable change to the colours but the varnish has attracted a lot of dust/dirt, so I would definitely not use varnish on items intended for outdooors.

Trial after 6 months

Two Sales in One Day

Today turned out to be a great day, I sold two mosaic pictures. My ‘Poppy’ mosaic that was part of the ANZAC display in the Whangamata Information Centre and ‘Aroha Nui’ (with after glow) from the Whangamata Club. I'm feeling elated 😊

Poppy

Aroha Nui

Polymer clay UV light fastness trial - after 3 months

I started this trial on 12 December 2021. Three months on, I looked at the tiles. There was no change to the coloured tiles. On the neutral tiles, the varnish has attracted dust but there was no change to colours.

Neutral tiles after 3 months

Big Arts Day Out and Harcourts Challenge - Waitangi Weekend 2022

This should be a great event over the Waitangi Weekend. I have two entries submitted for the Harcourts Challenge, this years theme is 'Looking Back, Looking Forward'. I will also have a stand in the other BADO hall, where I will be selling a selection of mosaics and Swirl-StoNZ.  In addition, I will be demonstrating how I make the Swirl-StoNZ, and selling $1 raffle tickets to win the picture below. The winning ticket will be drawn at 3.30pm, half an hour before the event closes, on Sunday 6 February 2022.

 

Polymer clay UV light fastness trial - after 1 month

I started this trial on 12 December 2021. One month on, I looked at the tiles. I did not photograph them because I could not be bothered to clean all the stickness off the surface of the tiles that came from the black tape but it was quite clear that there was no change to the colour of any of the tiles. 

Review of 2021

I usually do a review of the year that has been on New Years Eve, however, there is not much to review this year.

Apart from the the major milestone at the end of June, of leaving my paid employment to follow my dream of being a full time artist, Covid has has put a stop to nearly everything else.

I decided early in November to focus on mosaic art and design, so I know where my plans lie for 2022, I just need to ensure that my opportunities to sell are not thwarted by any Covid restrictions that may be imposed.

Photo in the Hauraki Coromandel Post 16.12.2021

I got quite shock this morning, when I was looking through the local paper, to suddenly see myself staring back.

Polymer clay UV light fastness trial

For some time I have felt it is a shame that I cannot sell my polymer clay mosaics/creations for outdoor use, as the colours will fade if exposed long term to sunlight. How much and how quickly this will happen, I do not know, so I have decided to set up a trial. I wanted to get this going now, as we are just entering the summer months (in New Zealand) and our sunlight is extremely harsh, so it will be a good test.

I am currently using the New Zealand made brand of polymer clay, called Du-Kit, as it has been hard to get Sculpey Premo (my prefered brand) since the Covid Lockdowns. To save mixing colours, I am using the ends of some canes that were made for a project, which have a range of colour blends within a particular hue (shown to the left in the photo below). I have also included some neutral colours (shown to the right in the photo below): black, grey made from 50% black and 50% white, white, pearl, transluscent and Super Sculpey (grey). 

The polymer clay tiles have been stuck and grouted to the back of a couple of ceramic wall tiles, as this was all that I readily had to hand. 

The top half of the coloured tiles have been masked off with opaque black plastic tape. I am hoping this will hold up to the long term effects of the weather.

There are two rows of tiles in the neutral colours. The top half of the top row has been masked off with opaque black plastic tape. The bottom row has been used to test UV protective varnish; the upper half of the bottom row has 2 layers of Josefine Very Matt Varnish and the bottom half has 2 layers of Josefine Satin Varnish.

Today (12th December 2021) I have placed the trial tiles on the bottom rail of the garden fence that gets plenty of sunshine during the day.

I plan to check how much colour fading has occurred after 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. Then, depending on the results, I may continue to monitor.

"She loved yellow flowers"

Today, it is a year since my mother passed, so I thought it fitting to present the mosaic that I did in remembrance of her. It was the first piece of mosaic art created in my studio since I became a full-time artist back in July of this year. 

It is titled “She loved yellow flowers” because when my husband met my mother for the first time, he gave her a bouquet of yellow flowers. I remember my mother saying that yellow flowers were her favourite. Now, whenever I look at this mosaic or any other yellow flowers, it always makes me think fondly of her.

 

Figuring out the way forward

Since leaving my job at the end of June, I have spent the last four months considering, researching and trial designing many different and varied creative ideas.

For various reasons, either in terms of design/manufacture or selling (all major markets in the region have closed down due to Covid 19 restrictions), I am no further forward. I have even considered changing medium but I keep coming back to polymer clay mosaics. I think this is because it is where my enjoyment, satisfaction and skill lies. So, now I am finally settled on my way forward, I will try and develop my mosaics to be more profitable.

In the New Year, I will re-brand my website, simply as Claire Fairweather – Mosaic Art and Design. I will create the ‘mosaic art’ that I so love to do, and the ‘design’ allows me the freedom to include other designed items, whether they include mosaic or not.

Whangamata Arts Collective - Easter Open Studio Trail is this weekend

I will be displaying some of my work at the Information Centre Hub on Port Road, Whangamata. 

Hope you can drop in and say hello.

My display at the Big Arts Day Out - Waitangi Weekend 2021

Here is my display on the opening (Friday) night of the exhibition. I will be demonstrating how I make my Swirl-StoNZ throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. 

Exciting event coming up this Waitangi Weekend - 6 & 7 February 2021

 

In addition to my entry in the Harcourts Challenge, a sand painting titled 'Essence of Aotearoa', I will be having a space at the Big Arts Day Out showcasing my polymer clay mosaics and also demonstrating how I make my Swirl-StoNZ.

Photos from the Spring Mingle

This event was very well attended. Lovely nibbles were handed round, as visitors viewed the art on display with a glass of wine, and various musicians played in the background.

Midwinter Mingle - Sunday 16 August 2020

I joined the Arts Collective Whangamata last year and this will be the first event since the Covid-19 Lockdown. Really looking forward to getting back into the art/craft scene. Due to continuing house renovations, I have not yet had time to create anything new. So, the piece I have chosen to exhibit at this event is my double** award winning dot mosaic sculpture titled 'Inspiration'. It is a piece that I am really proud of and I think it shows my skill and ability well. I will be very sad to see it go, if it sells, as it is one of my favourite dot mosaic sculptures so far. I will just have to try and make time to create more, as the ideas are all waiting in my head.

*2018 International Polymer Clay Awards: Applicant Artists Members Choice for Non-Functional Sculpture and Hanging Art
*2019 Annual Members Merit Awards, Estuary Arts Centre (Orewa): 3d Category

What's on my mind - Whangamata

Here is my dot mosaic sculpture created for the Harcourts Arts Challenge 2020, which has the theme 'What's on my mind'. On display at The Big Arts Day Out Exhibition on 9, 10 & 11 January 2020 at the Memorial Hall, Whangamata, NZ.

Various views of 'What's on my mind - Whangamata'

Imprinted in the round mosaic tiles that make up the sculpture were the thoughts that went through my mind, as I came up with the design. You will find the following:

• Whangamata
• Protecting our slice of paradise
• For future generations
• Keeping the air clean
• The forests full of birds
• Protecting our wildlife
• Supporting local business
• Land free of litter
• Pollution free waterways
• Beaches clean
• Recreation in harmony with nature
• Fish stocks sustained
• A precious place to be conserved for all to enjoy