Friday, January 31, 2014

Wall Art: The February PCAGOE Challenge

Our members' challenge: 
Create a piece of wall art that showcases your talents made from at least 50% polymer clay.  

Your challenge:  
Vote for your favorites. Three lucky voters will be chosen in a drawing to win a gift certificate from one of our sponsor shops.

To see larger images visit:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1089891@N25/



 

 

1. Earrings on Canvas No. 139 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet
Wall hanging (polymer on stretched canvas) serves as both wall decor and a display for polymer earrings. Related mokume gane/snakeskin techniques used throughout.
4" sq x 1 5/8" thick

2. Alcohol Ink Hibiscus on Polymer Clay Upcycled CD by Angela of polymerclaycreations
I repurposed this used computer disc by painting on polymer clay with alcohol inks.

3. Seal Cove by Lisa of HiGirls
Small polymer seascape on canvas.Several different techniques are used to create what I think looks a bit like a stained glass piece. I've used lots of translucent clay in the sky and the sea, which adds to the effect.  Top and bottom edges of canvas are decorated with pebbles and shells of polymer. See details here: www.flickr.com/photos/39493796@N08/

4. Gnome Domes 4x4 Wall Plaque by Jill of JKAY Jewelry
This plaque is four inches square, and each bit of polymer is custom mixed and shaped by hand, then applied to the plaque. The piece is on a wooden base and comes with hanging hardware attached. Gnome Huts or Gnome Domes are set at the edge of the wooded forest where the little inhabitants feel right at home.

5. Bird of Paradise by Betsy of PolyClayCafe
This is 100% polymer clay, no paint. I wanted to make a piece that looked like it was painted, and I am happy with the results. Hints of glitter of various colors adorn the flower parts and the black background. The art work is mounted on a 6x6" box canvas. Nice size for a little accent piece. Click here to see a side view farm8.staticflickr.com/7396/12077817736_b06a2d27d0.jpg

6. Polymer Clay Celtic Owl by Carole of CompelledCraft
Polymer clay celtic owl has 10 different Polymer clay techniques He is about 7" high and about 3" wide but he is BIG on details. He is mounted onto Cardboard that shows all the great ridges !

7. Fantasy Seascape by Berit of ClayImages
The piece measures 4x6 inches and is 100% polymer clay. The technique is extrusion/mokume gane/mica shift. It is completely flat while it has the illusion of being three dimensional, which fascinates me to no end. It can be hung on the wall with a self adhesive hook on the back.

8. Durer's 1515 Rhino by Mary of MaryClaires
Work is in a 16 by 20 frame, Rhino measures 11 1/2 inches tail to horn, and is 7 inches tall.

9. Fairy Elf Wall Dancer with Butterflies by Peggy of Peggers
Every dance this elf or fairy dances, brings tons of butterflies. He dances with a stick that has a butterfly house on the end. Fairy elf has a beautiful fairy butterfly that he holds next to his heart. Fairy elf loves nature and the freedom that butterflies hold. In this fantasy forest it is summer all the time. Wall sculpture will be summer and spring in your home all year long. Wall Dancer has a butterfly house that is removable from his walking stick. He is one of my favorites. He has a bright metallic blue jacket with black tennis shoes. I added a Mokume Gane cane for his leggings and collar. Entire sculpture is made from polymer clay except for his walking stick that is a real wooden stick.

10. Time Began in a Garden by Arlene  of Ashpaints
A Masonite artist panel was used as the base for this inspirational wall hanging. The main panel was made of scrap clay, then acrylic paint and rubbing wax were used to create a mottled background. Four skinner blends were used in creating the color block panels and the flowers and leaves. Gold leaf was used on the dividing lines and on the square icons in two corners. The saying is a favorite of mine and was added by creating a custom silk screen.

11. Gothic Kiss by Marie of YoungCreative
This passionate couple is a copy of a vintage photo coated with several layers of liquid polymer brushed on to become a canvas. The woman's striking red lips are also liquid polymer tinted with red alcohol ink. The heart around her neck is polymer strung by a gold metal chain. The highly detailed frame features stamped polymer heart cut outs on various textures background sheets. 

12. Sunburst Medallion by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns
Polymer clay wall hanging, 14" in diameter. Layered polymer strategically cut and folded back to reveal a design created by the folds and color contrast. Mounted on a circular canvas that was coated with liquid polymer and gold mica painted in a radiating swirl pattern. To read more about this piece and the story behind its creation, please visit my blog post: createmyworlddesigns.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-play-break-to...

13. Sacred Symbols by Line of PlaySculptLive
Melds glass and quilt inspiration together. Read more:
http://playsculptlive.blogspot.ca/2014/01/february-clay-challenge-met.html

14. Falling Leaves by Cindy of ArrowdaleArtStudio
Actually inspired by the shower curtain for our newly remodeled bathroom. (Actually, currently being remodeled - no shower or sink finished yet!) I made two complementary pieces but being both square, they didn't photograph well together. They will of course, hang in the bath when it's finished - both 5.5" square.

15. Sunset Shrub by Jackie of The Pleasant Pheasant
This dramatic shrub is crafted in polymer clay, and placed on a canvas artist panel.

Read the expanded rules here.


Full Name (required for voter prize notification):
Email Address (Required for voter prize notification, you will not be sent other e-mails unless you sign up for our e-mail list):
For current Dues-Paying PCAGOE Members: What is Your Etsy Shop Name?
Please select your 1st choice: (2nd & 3rd choice must be different from your 1st.)
Please select your 2nd choice: (2nd choice must be different from your 1st and 3rd.)
Please select your 3rd choice: (3rd choice must be different from your 1st and 2nd.)
How did you hear about the PCAGOE challenge?
Would you like to join our email list? (former Newsletter subscribers already included!) monthly reminder to VOTE in our Challenges, along with important Guild announcements. Please add pcagoe@gmail.com and pcagoe.news@gmail.com to your approved senders. I already signed up
yes
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Our members love comments! Please comment here on the entries and/or the challenge in general.

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Saturday, January 25, 2014

Hot Buys from the February Challenge Sponsors

https://www.etsy.com/treasury/ODI0ODcwNHwyNzI1NjA2MTgy/hot-buys-from-the-pcagoe-challenge

Thank you to the shops that are sponsoring our February Challenge. Stop back between the 1st and 7th to vote for your favorite entries and be eligible to win something from one of these sponsor shops.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Featured Artist Cindy Matthews




Introducing Cindy Matthews of Arrowdale Art Studio
PCAGOE feature artist for Jan. 20 through Feb. 2
(Her work will be featured on our Facebook page throughout this time period.) 

Cindy has been crafting and creating for as long as she remembers. She credits her mother as her first creative inspiration. Cindy says, "She (mom) was always "making do" and making a warm, inviting home with what was available or cheap! Even when such economies weren't strictly necessary, Mom still could make a little bit of nothing look like something wonderful. Because of her, my first instinct when I'm feeling creative is to use what's at hand first. Mom recycled before most people ever heard the word! From making salt dough clay to coloring, to those first awful collages using the Sears catalog and tablet paper, there's always been creating going on (for me). I even built my own Barbie house from stuff around the house - even bent my own wire hangers from that nifty copper wire Dad had on his workbench. Sewing, embroidery, collaging, decoupage, painting, and finally, most recently, polymer clay."

For Cindy, finding polymer clay as art medium was like coming home. She enjoys exploring the variety of techniques and possibilities the medium allows. And she credits the generosity of the network of polymer artists coupled with the availability of supplies via the internet as her basis for never getting bored.

Find more of Cindy's work at these locations:
www.arrowdaleartstudio.etsy.com
http://presby2.xanga.com/

Thursday, January 9, 2014

January 2014 Challenge Winners

And the winners of the December Challenge are:


Public Vote

1st place 
Recycled Filigree Tree by  Beth of CreateMyWorld

2nd place
Recycled Mosaic Treasure Box by Arlene  of Ashpaints


3rd place
Eye Pencil Shavings Pendants by Marie of YoungCreative
 

Members Vote

1st place
Recycled Filigree Tree by  Beth of CreateMyWorld





2nd place
Recycled Vessels by Susan of 11BOLDstreet 


3rd place
Recycled Mosaic Treasure Box by Arlene  of Ashpaints


Drawing Winners: 
Ginger Petraglia
Marilyn Buehler
Jane Elder




They get to pick a prize from one of our lovely participating sponsor shop owners.


Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to everyone who voted and supports our challenges each month.

A sampling of comments left by voters:
-Wonderful job everyone! Too bad we can’t pick all of you! This is harder than choosing colors of clay when you can’t afford them all! Good luck everyone!
-Beautiful work by all of you...
-All of these artist's made great use of recycled materials and polymer clay!
-I loved the theme!
-All I can say is wow for all of them but #11 looks like real shells.
-It is so difficult to vote because all the projects are so attractive and well thought out..
-I think that 8 was the most unique use of a recycled item...a beater? Really? Awesome!
-I love the mosaic on the cigar box. So many canes, such lovely colors, and a beautiful saying as well!
-I love the recycled vase. The water looks just lovely. What an interesting technique. I have some sand from my favorite beach and you have inspired me to use it in a polymer creation!
Awesome.
-I think that the mixer beater is so very clever of an item to recycle, plus the tree is just adorable! Hope this piece wins!
-It was difficult to choose a winner this month--so many really nice projects.
-I am always amazed and delighted by the amount of hard work that member puts into these challenges. How they manage this and the rest of their busy lives is beyond me! Good on them!
-What a fun challenge! Everyone had such original ideas! I totally enjoyed viewing your work.
-Excellent!! Creative solutions to reduce, reuse,, and recycle.
-Great selection this month.
-I love polymer clay, seeing all the creative ways everyone uses it to express themselves is so exciting.
-I love the diversity!
-Very creative. I hope to participate more in the New Year. Happy New Year and happy claying to all!
-Fantastic work everyone! Love the diversity and creativity!!
lots of really lovely items!
-All very creative ideas! I especially liked the filigree tree made from the old mixer beater Beth!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Featured Artist Tonja Lenderman

 
Introducing Tonja Lenderman of Tonya's Treasures
PCAGOE feature artist for Jan. 6 through Jan. 19
(Her work will be featured on our Facebook page throughout this time period.) 
 
Tonja is a self taught artist living in North East Washington State. She loves to make jewelry and enjoys quiet time in her studio, reading and surfing the Net. Tonja also has a small business designing and making clear stamps, which grew out of her frustrations in wanting more texture choices, than those that were available to purchase, for her own polymer creations.

Tonja's publications and accolades: She has been published in Jewelry Crafts magazine 4 times and was featured on the cover of Polymer Cafe. Her mini masks can be seen in two books by Sarajane Helm, Celebrations in Polymer Clay and A Collection of Polymer Clay Masks. She tied for first place in "Best use of Product" category at the 2006 Amaco 3-D Memory Trends Designer's Challenge.

You can find her project tutorials online at http://www.polkadotcreations.com/book/showNALL_Lenderman,%20Tonja.html

Find more of Tonja's work at these locations: www.tonjastreasures.etsy.com
www.tonjastreasures.com/wordpress
www.facebook.com/tonja.lenderman
www.flickr.com/tonjastreasureswww.flickr.com/tonjalenderman