My tile in the FIMO 50 World Project

Photos have been released of the THE FIMO 50 WORLD PROJECT. The yellow circle shows the tile I contributed. 

This was a collaborative art project, open to polymer artists from around the world, in celebration of FIMO polymer clay being 50 years old. You had to make a 10cm x 10cm (4” x 4”) polymer tile. The submissions were to be displayed on a large framework representing a globe but as you can see, the number of tiles received was way more than the globe could hold. The original idea was that the individual tiles would be auctioned off and the proceeds go to two charity organisations, Samunnat (Nepal) and the Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies (USA). However, Staedtler (the manufacturers of FIMO) have decided to keep the globe together in one piece as a collaborative artwork, and instead will present a generous donation to the two charities. This means the globe can remain a global art piece and will continue in existence as a symbol of unity that links the Polymer Clay Community throughout the world.

Work in Progress - September 2016

I have 3 weeks left until the submission deadline of 3 October 2016, for the Hibiscus & Bays Art Awards. Not only do I have to finish making and sticking all the tiles in place, it then needs to be grouted and photographed, as initial selection for the competition is by photograph. Will I get this finished in time? Yes, I have to!

Great Art Sale at the Lake House Arts Centre

I went over to the Lake House Arts Centre to take a photograph of my two pieces in the Great Art Sale, which has just opened. To my delight, I found my glow in the dark ‘Out-of-this-World’ sculpture had just been sold, so the photo only shows my other sculptural entry, ‘Lady Aotearoa’.

No more polymer clay workshops for the time being

Sadly, I have decided to take a break from teaching polymer clay workshops for a year or so. This year, like previously, there has not been enough interest for the workshops to run. With only one or two, if any, students signing up, it is not viable for the local art centre to run them when they need a minimum of six students.

I will instead concentrate on my own creative work. Maybe in a year or two I will try again, looking at some new teaching material and ideas to try and attract interest in polymer clay as a creative medium.

Work in progress - August 2016

This is what is currently on my studio work table. I think I first started this in October 2014 but I did not get very far with it. It was my first dot mosaic picture but after doing a small portion of it, I decided it would be better to practice on some smaller pieces before continuing with this large picture. Several dot mosaic pictures later, and a house move, I have finally got back to completing it.

Work in progress - August 2016

I have been working on it for the last couple of weeks, particularly making a lot more tiles in different colours. My plan is to submit it for the Hibiscus and Bays Art Awards 2016, which has a deadline of 3 October, if I can finish it in time.

Last week of the 2016 Members Merit Awards Exhibition

I was thrilled to discover that one of my three entries, 'Flowers in the Round', has been sold. There is only one week left, as the exhibition closes on Sunday 31 July.

Lady Aotearoa    -   Flowers in the  Round   -   Light Sphere

Auckland Polymer Clay Guild - to close

It is with regret that I am taking the decision to close the Auckland Polymer Clay Guild, which I have given my time voluntarily to run over the last three years, since its inception in August 2013. 

Throughout 2015 and 2016 (to date) there have been minimal, if any, members come to meetings and no new interest from potential members, hence my reason for closing the Guild.

I would like to thank those of you who have participated over the last few years and wish you all the best with your polymer clay and other creative ventures. If anyone wants to meet on a personal basis, please feel free to contact me, and of course I am still happy to answer questions or give advice at anytime.

Claire

Members Merit Awards Exhibition 2016

In the foreground: 'Flowers in the Round' and 'Lady Aotearoa'

Have just returned from our two week trip to the UK, so went to visit the Members Merit Awards Exhibition at the Estuary Arts Centre in Orewa today. I missed the opening night on 7 July, as we were flying back from London, but was pleased that two of my three entries had a very central position in the exhibition.

For more details of the exhibition, which runs until 31 July, see 
www.estuaryarts.org

Lady Aotearoa

I started this sculptural piece while we were waiting for our New Zealand Citizenship applications to be approved (November last year) and I have incorporated some NZ icons (two Kiwi, the Pohutukawa flower, a fern leaf and Koru/fronds which are repeated as curls in her hair) into the design, so it seemed appropriate to call her 'Lady Aotearoa'. Now she is finally finished, here are four different views.

The core of this sculpture is a polystyrene head, which I used a few years ago as display prop, covered in several layers of papier mache and modelling paste and then sealed with acrylic paint and PVA glue. Onto this base I glued round mosaic tiles, made and baked from polymer clay, and then filled the joints with white tile grout.

Lady Aotearoa will be one of my three entries in the forthcoming Members Merit Awards Exhibition at the Estuary Arts Centre at Orewa (north of Auckland, NZ).

'Polymer Journeys' - arrived in the post

The hard copy of this fabulous book arrived in the post today. It showcases the most innovative use of polymer clay over the last two years. I am so proud to be included on page 117. To order your copy, go to http://www.polymerjourneys.com/