Setting off for EuroSynergy 2014

I am finally packed and ready to set off to the airport to start my long journey to Malta. I leave Auckland for San Francisco, with a 7 hour layover there, then to Zurich and then to Malta. (My return journey goes via Frankfurt and Singapore to Auckland). So when I return, I will have travelled all the way round the world.

 

This is the card my husband gave me, which I found really touching, as he is long-suffering with my 'obsession' with polymer clay.

 

I am so excited about the whole event and really proud to be representing New Zealand at the EuroSynergy Conference. I am also extremely grateful to CreativeNZ for making this dream a reality.

Below are the Silver Fern lapel pins I have made, to give to people I make contact with at the conference, as a small gesture of friendship from New Zealand. (Unfortunately the metal stamp I was using broke, so I could not make as many as I had planned).

Silver Fern Lapel Pins

 

Creating an artwork for EuroSynergy 2014



This artwork has ben created to take to the EuroSynergy Conference, as an item to be donated for the auction/tombola.

 

I wanted to make something representative of New Zealand and it needed to be small and light weight to fit in my hand luggage. I chose the kiwi bird, as it is a New Zealand icon, and designed it in a Maori-style.

 

This is the explanation I put on the back:

 

Black and white colouring was chosen, as this emphasizes the simple design, and will also fit with most home décor colour schemes.

The following photos document the creation of this artwork:

Initial sketches. I needed to make sure it was my own design and
 not a direct copy of an existing one.

The initial design has been refined. Of these three options, I have
chosen No. 3

The design has been traced onto a thin sheet of black polymer clay.

Then cut out with a craft knife and baked.

And here are the feet. I had a couple of attempts at getting these right.



White clay, with a touch of pearl for sparkle, was rolled out for the base.
The baked black shapes were pressed into the surface and then the whole
piece had a final baking.

The white tile has been trimmed to shape and sanded with grades of
'wet and dry' sandpaper from 400 to 1000 and then buffed with a cloth.
It has been mounted in a frame, which can be free-standing or hung on
 the wall.

Close-up of the final piece
(I should have photographed this before I put it in the frame
because I could not avoid the reflections on the glass )

Exhibition opens at beach. + some photos

Some photos of the exhibition

PRESS RELEASE: Local artist representing NZ at conference in Malta

Browns Bay polymer clay artist, Claire Fairweather, is thrilled to have received grant funding from Creative New Zealand towards travel costs to attend EuroSynergy 2014. This conference from 30 April to 3 May, organised by the International Polymer Clay Association, will have seminars presented by the world’s leading polymer clay artists and practioners.

Claire also has one of her polymer clay artworks, a three part sculpture titled “Spring Trio”, selected by the jurors for the 2014 International Polymer Clay Awards Exhibition. The photo exhibition will be displayed and prizes awarded at the Eurosynergy Conference.

“Polymer clay is still in its infancy as a creative medium in New Zealand” says Claire, “I have started teaching others how to use polymer clay but there is so much more for me to learn as I am self taught. I am so fortunate to have this opportunity to meet and learn from the masters, to improve my own skills and knowledge, which I can then pass on here in New Zealand”.

You can see “Spring Trio” and other examples Claire’s polymer clay artwork in her solo exhibition running throughout April at Beach Café at 1a Beach Front Lane, Browns Bay. It is a great place to have a coffee or food from the tempting menu, whilst enjoying the sea view and the artwork on the walls.
(https://www.facebook.com/events/662729837103512)

If you want to try it for yourself, Claire will be teaching polymer clay workshops and classes at Glaze, 17c Vega Place, Rosedale, North Shore (http://www.glaze.co.nz/craft-art-classes/polymer-clay-classes/polymer-clay-intro-class.html) and at the Lake House Arts Centre in Takapuna (http://www.lakehousearts.org.nz/calendar/adult-weekend-workshops)

END.

Spring Trio selected for International Polymer Clay Awards Exhibition

Spring Trio

One of my three entries in the International Polymer Clay Awards 2014 has been selected by the jurors for the International Polymer Clay Awards Exhibition. This selection will also be evaluated by the jurors for 'Best in Show' and IPCA members for 'Members Favourite'. The photo exhibition will be displayed and prizes awarded at the Eurosynergy Conference in Malta on 30 April.

 

I am so excited that I will actually be going to the conference in person, so I will be able to see the exhibition and be present when the awards are announced and presented.

A big thank you to CreativeNZ

I am thrilled to learn today that my grant application to CreativeNZ, has been successful, to cover travel costs to Malta to attend EuroSynergy 2014. This will be such a fantastic opportunity for me to meet and learn from the polymer clay masters, who will be presenting at this international polymer clay conference.

So I just want to express my thanks to CreativeNZ, for enabling this to happen, I am so grateful and excited about this forthcoming event.

Forthcoming exhibition at beach. from 1 - 30 April 2014

"Hold on th your Dreams"

"Hold on to your Dreams"

I created this sculpture to use an unwanted display prop (the black hand). The title of this piece reflects how I feel at the moment, waiting to hear if my grant application to attend the EuroSynergy Conference in Malta has been successful. 

 

The letters were cut from a rainbow Skinner Blend, created using Fuschia, Cadmium Yellow and Turquoise Premo polymer clay. The photos below show how I created the blended sheet.

Triangles of Fushia, Cadmium Yellow and Turquoise polymer clay

 

After a few passes through the pasta machine the colours start to blend

With further passes the colours blend more 

When I was happy with the blending, I traced and cut out the letters

The baked letters were then pressed onto a black backing sheet of clay

 

A burnt offering...

We all have bad days and this was one of them. I spent the whole afternoon making the layers for a piece I was going to call 'Turquoise Shell'. I decided to double up for baking and placed another baking tray of work on top, separated by a layer of fibrefill wadding. I was horrified when I took the trays out of the oven to find this 'burnt offering' underneath. Strangely, it did not really create a burning smell but the colour has totally changed and there is some fascinating bubbly texture on the surface.

 

I guess I will have to keep this as an example, for teaching what not to do in my workshops, and make the piece all over again.

EuroSynergy may be a possibilty?

Today I sent off my grant application to Creative new Zealand, for a Quick Response Grant, to attend the International Polymer Clay Association's EuroSynergy Conference in Malta.

This would be such a fantastic opportunity for my development as a polymer clay artist and to be able to bring back as much new knowledge as I can for the benefit of polymer clay artists in New Zealand. There are no attendees from New Zealand booked on the conference so far, and if polymer clay is to advance in this country, someone really needs to be there. So, I shall keep everything crossed but the announcement of the successful grant applicants will not be made until 14 March 2014.