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My entries for the 2015 International Polymer Clay Awards

Now that all judging of this competition has finished, I can reveal my three entries. The theme for this years competition was 'In the Round'. (I have given a description of each piece after the photos).

Entry 1 - Flowers in the Round

Dot mosaic picture

Close up

Entry 2 - Light Sphere 

Dot mosaic candle bowl - unlit

Shots showing six different colours

Entry 3 - Sherbet Fizz

Dot mosaic mirror frame

Close up

Description - Flowers in the Round

Continuing with my recent interest in creating polymer mosaics with round tiles, for this picture I have also chosen to work to a round frame, to fit with the ‘in the round’ theme. The mosaic is approximately 10.5 inches (27 cm) in diameter, set in the frame which measures 16 inches (41 cm) in diameter overall.

All my mosaic tiles are hand made from polymer, cut with round Kemper cutters from colour blended sheets of polymer (Premo) about ¹/₁₂ inch (2 mm) thick. The baked tiles are glued to the MDF base with Weldbond glue and then grouted with a dark grey tile grout. I chose pink for the flowers, as this is the traditional colour associated with love. Maybe someone will buy this picture to give to a loved one, as the flowers will last forever, unlike a bunch of cut flowers.

Description - Light Sphere 

Not only is this candle bowl spherical (as it uses a glass bowl as the form), it is made from round cane slices, in keeping with the ‘in the round’ theme. It measures just over 6 inches (15cm) in diameter and contains a colour changing LED (battery) candle.

A number of canes, of various sizes, were made by rolling up long sheets of Skinner Blend. I used translucent (Pardo) in the centre of the cane grading to a 50:50 mix of pearl and white (Premo) at the outer edge. The whole surface of the glass bowl has been covered with cane slices, approximately 1/12 inch (2mm) thich, which have been placed to touch each other as much as possible, and then baked. When switched on, the gentle colour-changing LED candle creates lovely mood lighting as well as enhancing the white/neutral colour of the candle bowl.

Description - Sherbet Fizz

This round mirror frame has been decorated with round mosaic tiles, made from polymer in shades of pink, yellow and turquoise. After baking the tiles, I stuck them to the frame and used white tile grout to fill the spaces. The tiles are about ³/₈ inch (1cm) diameter and the whole piece measures 16 inches (41cm) in diameter.

Although I laid the tiles on the frame in horizontal rows, the repeated pattern of the graded colours creates an optical effect (from a distance) almost like waves. The small coloured tiles remind me of ‘Refreshers’, a sherbet candy that I remember from my childhood in England. This, along with the optical wave effect similar to the wave of sensation you get when eating sherbet, is why I gave it the name ‘Sherbet Fizz’.

The March issue of the local Millwater Magazine (for the area where I now live) has just been issued. Each month it has a feature interview with a local resident – and this month it is me J

Still without the internet!

It is three weeks since we moved into our new home and we still do not have an internet connection. Fingers crossed it will happen later today. So much to unpack and sort out. We are slowly getting there but I still have all my studio to unpack and arrange before I can get back to creative work.

 

This morning I was interviewed by the editor of the local Millwater magazine. Each month they do a feature interview with a local resident and I will be in the March edition. The main focus of the interview will be on my polymer clay work and why we have chosen to live at Millwater.

The big move is on!

At 3pm today we finally got the keys to our new apartment. We will move in gradually over the next few days. There will be a lot of unpacking and sorting to do but I am so excited and looking forward to living in our own home again. It may be some time before I get my studio set up in our new home but I hope it will be a place of inspiration and that later in the year I can resume my creative work.

The end of the year

My studio all boxed up

Last night I finished boxing up the last things in my studio, ready for the big move on 23 January into the new apartment we are buying. This is so exciting as it has been over eight years since we have lived in our own home, due to our move from the UK to New Zealand

 

Normally I like to do a review at the end of each year, looking back at what I have achieved and how that compares to the goals I set myself at the beginning of the year. However, this year I do not feel like I have achieved very much as other events, including work but mostly the pending property move, have taken up much of my spare time.

 

This year I set myself the goal of keeping my intentions simple and "just do what inspires me". I said I would try not to commit to too many events and concentrate on developing my dot mosaic technique and creating some great artwork I can be proud of. When I look back, I have done this but just not as much as I would have liked. 

 

I have created a few dot mosaic pieces, some of which I have not yet shown here as they are entries in the 2015 International Polymer Clay Awards. The deadline for this competition was extended from 31 October to 31 December 2015, so the judging has not yet taken place.

 

Originally we were hoping to have moved into our new place before Christmas but this has now been delayed until January (fingers crossed). I am finding it very frustrating at the moment, everything is packed (as we have family visiting for several weeks in the New Year, just before we move) so I cannot do anything creative, yet I have so many ideas going round in my head.

 

I will just have to be patient. Once we have moved and get settled in, my new studio space should be so much better. For this reason, I am not setting myself any goals for 2016. It will be a year of transition, settling into our new home and getting familiar with new surroundings and hopefully finding new opportunities. I am hoping 2016 will be a positive turning point in both my home and creative life. 

 

Polymer Journeys

I was thrilled to receive an invitation, at the end of last month, to submit works for consideration to be included in a new book series (to be published annually or bi-annually) called Polymer Journeys. The book is being published by Sage Bray, publisher of the The Polymer Arts magazine, so I know it will be a high quality book.

I have three pieces that I consider worthy that also meet the date of creation criteria (unfortunately a fourth piece could not put forward as it is a current entry in the 2015 IPCAwards, which is still in the judging process). My submissions were made tonight. I now need to wait until 15 January, when notification of the selected images will be made. Keeping my fingers crossed!

www.art-stonz.co.nz registered

For the last few days I have had an idea going around in my head and could not sleep the night before last as the inspiration was flowing. So, this morning, I have purchased the domain name www.art-stonz.co.nz. It is very frustrating at the moment, as I am supposed to be packing up my studio for moving house in January. I will have to be patient with putting the ideas into action, as there will be a lot to do setting up our new home once we have actually moved - but I am always thinking ahead! It may be many months before this next venture gets up and running, hopefully in time for Christmas next year. So I will say no more now as it is still a work in progress but I am hoping that if this idea works out, it could satisfy all my creative needs and provide some income.

A festive night at the Lake House Arts Centre

Here is my table at the Lake House Christmas Shopping Night, with quite a wide range of one-off hand crafted items. The event was busy with shoppers and festive with carol singing on the veranda, even though the sun was shining brightly. (I still find it hard to feel Christmassy in the Southern Hemisphere).

Opening night of the 2015 Members Merit Awards Exhibition

Tonight was the opening night of the Members Merit Awards Exhibition at the Lake House Arts Centre.

 

My two entries are 'Green Kiwi' and 'Watching the sunrise over Rangitoto'. I did not get an award at the presentation but can always hope for the People's Choice Award at the end of the exhibition, which I won in 2013.



'Green Kiwi'



'Watching the sunrise over Rangitoto'