Small Black Rainbow Cards (6 September 2009)

These little cards are A7 size - the sort of size you see in wedding invitations. They are the perfect size for these small panels, measuring 2cm x 2cm.

For these designs, I laid out a long length of rainbow strands on the background clay, rolled them lightly to incorporate them into the background (which distorts the lines slightly), and then cut out three squares to create these panels.

I created a similar effect in the cards on the left using thin slices taken from the thicker rainbow strands. I placed the tiny circles randomly on black clay, rolled them in, and then cut out the panels. I think they look like streams of tiny rainbow bubbles.

Black Rainbow Panels (6 September 2009)

I woke up on Sunday morning at 6am after dreaming of rainbows all night. So what choice did I have but to get up and make some rainbows!

Having loved the effect of bright colours against a black background, I started from there. I experimented with the prism effect of splitting the colours. On the right hand panel (which measures 4cm x 4cm), I left the 'split' strands lying on top of the background, and rolled the rainbow stripe into the clay to produce a two-level effect. It puts me in mind of crossing the plasma streams in Ghostbusters.

For the panels on the white cards, I had had this idea in my mind for a number of months. In fact, I had tried to create this effect using rainbow-coloured bamboo poles and a large black frame from IKEA several months ago, but without much success.

I cut out the black frames by using two sizes of square cutters, and then I laid out the rainbow strands across the back of each frame and attached them using liquid polymer clay. I only varnished the frames, leaving the rainbow stripes untouched. The frames don't have backs to them, so you can see the white card through the rainbow stripes. These panels measure 3cm x 3cm.

Red and Black Abstract Panels (5 September 2009)

Here are a few more abstract panels I made on Saturday night.

I do feel that the red/pink strands against the black is very effective. With the left panel, I laid out strands of clay and lightly rolled them into the panel so the design was integrated.

With the right panel, I left the clay strands standing proud, and only varnished the black background to highlight them further. In both  designs, I love the fluidity and movement suggested by the strands - it's like a snapshot of an infinite flow or current.

With this heart card, I  love the simple bold shapes and colours. I initially started off with just the white outline of the heart, and then on a whim I added a red strand, which gives it more of a 3-dimensional feel. I'm thinking about creating more rune-type designs - it'll give me a chance to read up on some history as well!

The heart panel measures 4cm x 4cm, and the red and black panels measure 3cm x 3cm.

Red Abstract Panels (5 September 2009)

I had  a bit of a breakthrough this weekend. I've not returned to the abstract panels since working on them a few weeks ago, mainly because I just couldn't see a way to mount them professionally on cards. Whilst I love the look of them, and it was so much fun experimenting to see what showed up, they felt as though they needed something else something more before they could be mounted on cards.



But last night, I started playing around with extruded clay and thicker square panels of clay (the earlier panels I'd done were pretty thin). It felt like it had been a while since I had a really good experiment with clay, having spent quite a while working with the cat designs (which has been loads of fun). So I found myself working on until nearly 11pm (poor Greg, we had to wait until then to eat dinner!) continually pushing the boat out to see what worked and what didn't.

I had so much fun with these, I couldn't wait to see what came out next - I had so many ideas, they were tripping over themselves! I have a strong sense that I have dug a little deeper and discovered more out about my creative side. I have always loved working with polymer clay because of its flexibility, but I have tended towards the 'cute' side, keeping my 'serious' work for other media, eg felt and wire. However, by combining a variety of techniques I have developed over the years, I have found a way of creating the sort of designs I really love (abstract, fluid, rich colours, etc) and which I am proud to call art.

So my next thought is to create mixed media collages using these techniques and to frame them. I have put these panels on cards for the time being, but part of me does not like the thought of these being given once and thrown away. I feel very attached to these four designs, and it may be because these are the first expressions of what feels like a new direction for me creatively. So I may well end up framing these and keeping them for myself - I'm sure there will be many more where these came from!

For those of you keeping score, the larger squares measure 3cm x 3cm, and the smaller squares are 2cm x 2cm. They are mounted on cream A6 cards. My absolute favourite one so far is the top left panel (second from the left in this picture). It reminds me so much of rich fire. This is the only panel which is unvarnished - the rest have a gloss finish.

Watch this space!

Pudsey Arts & Crafts Market - 11 October 2009

Well, I've booked my first ever stall at a craft fair at Pudsey Arts & Crafts Market, organised by Artsmix, on Sunday 11 October 2009! I will have a covered stall measuring 4' 6", which should be plenty big enough for the Piglings, Rainbow Cats and Wee Beasties which will mostly be on offer!

So over the next month, I will be focusing on making enough stock for the craft fair, including a range of handmade cards with polymer clay and felt toppers. I started last night and made up 10 Piglings. Today I'll be focusing on Rainbow Cats - will need to pick up some more clay from town! If you have any thoughts about what particular items would go down well, please drop me a line!

Pudsey Arts & Crafts Market

Pudsey Marketplace

11-4pm

Sunday 11 October 2009