Sunday, August 31, 2014

Little Black Ball Challenge

September's theme is the "little black ball" challenge. Everyone had to started with a 1-inch black ball of clay that remained recognizable in the final piece. As an added twist, members were asked to choose a technique or something discussed in The Polymer Arts magazine or blog published by fellow member Sage Bray who is the feature artist on the PCAGOE Facebook page right now.


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:

1. Chopped Metallic Polymer Pen with Black Ball No. 142 by Susan of 11BOLDstreet
This pen with stand expands upon an idea that I floated past Sage Bray and which was included in The Polymer Arts, Spring '12 issue. Instead of only chopped translucent polymer, this piece utilized metallics and leaf to adorn the black ball starting point. Happy Anniversary, TPA! See more about this piece at http://www.11boldstreet.com/2014/08/pcagoe-little-black-ball-challenge.html


2. Black and White Swirls Polymer Clay Box by Angela of polymerclaycreationsThis is a collectible box handmade from 100% polymer clay, covered with a technique I like to call faux silkscreen mokume gane. 

3. Black Pearl by Line of PlaySculptLive
The seashell is a mokume gane cane made of pearl green, pearl blue, purple and black. I covered the black pearl with iridescent mica powders and sanded a bit off of the top to show the black through. The sea foam is from a neat trick I learned from a fellow sculptor. Read more: http://playsculptlive.blogspot.ca/2014/08/a-little-black-pearl.html

4. Fan Pull by Jill of JKollmann
Fan Pull for the September Little Black Ball Challenge and inspired by TPA articles on repetition, flow, caning and contrast.

5. Black and White Impressions by Lisa of HiGirls
I chose to slice up my little black ball, as well as add natural texture. The Polymer Arts issue I was inspired by was Fall 2013 "Plein Air Polymer". Using impressions of leaves on white polymer followed by a wash of black tinted liquid clay, I achieved a ceramic look for the white disks. The little black ball has been textured using the very spiky center of a purple cone flower. For more views: www.flickr.com/photos/39493796@N08/14983816372/

6. Filigree Swirls Decanter and Bottle Stopper by Arlene of Ashpaints
 The Little Black Ball required for this challenge is actually the ball on the bottle stopper. But it was lonely by itself, so I created a decanter covered with filigree swirls inspired by Sage Bray's blog post on May 21: Monochromatic Intricacy (http://www.thepolymerarts.com/blog/monochromatic-intricacy/)

7. Black Ball Challenge Mandala Ornament by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns
A 1" black polymer ball is the center base for this mandala ornament. The mandala is constructed of polymer, dowel supports, and liquid polymer coated cotton thread. This piece was inspired by two blog posts from The Polymer Arts Daily Blog, one on mandalas and another on repetition. For better photos and to read more about the creation of this piece, visit my blog here: http://createmyworlddesigns.blogspot.com/2014/08/11th-hour-work-sessions-and-other.html




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.

Click here to put a form like this on your site.

Featured Artist Lorraine Vogel

 
 
Meet Lorraine Vogel
She's been the featured artist on our PCAGOE Facebook page for the past two weeks. 
 

Lorraine lives in Delray Beach, FL. Living in South Florida lends inspiration to this artist's creations with the execution of playful, colorful pendant and beads which she then incorporates into jewelry pieces. With a graphic artist background, Lorraine's jewelry designs are clean and bold with a tropical flair. About her polymer journey, Lorraine says this: "6 years ago I decided I needed to find something to do creatively that wasn't like my day job as a graphic artist. I needed time away from the computer. So, I took a local wire-wrapping class...and fell in love. Soon after, I was browsing in the book store for jewelry making instructional books and picked up a book on polymer clay. I fell in love again.
I bought a few blocks of clay and some cheap tools and got to work. I'll never forget the first time I created a design using the mokume gane technique. I could hardly wait to try other colors and stamps."

Lorraine opened a two other etsy shops in recent years, one called MySchoolJewels…dedicated to fun jewelry for the avid college or school fan.
And the second called LOVOBeads dedicated to handcrafted beads and jewelry components.

Find Lorraine at these online locations:

Saturday, August 9, 2014

August Challenge Winners

The winners in the PCAGOE August Challenge "Home Decor" are:

Public Vote

Top entries selected by the public:

1. Cheery Songbirds Decorative Ornaments by Marie Young of YoungCreative


2.   Summertime by Brenda of BeeJWilson



3. Rays of Summer Soap Dish by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns

 

Member Vote

Top entries selected by PCAGOE members:

1. TIE: 
Summertime by Brenda of BeeJWilson
Patriotic 'Scope Pledge of Allegiance by Jill of JKollmann


2. Rays of Summer Soap Dish by Beth of CreateMyWorldDesigns






3. Pink Flower Bowl by Line of PlaySculptLive


View all of the entries:
http://polymerclayartists.blogspot.com/2014/07/august-challenge-home-decor.html



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

Susan Hicks
Sherry Lewis
Ronda Barber

Comments from the voters:
Muy buenos trabajos, difícil decisión elegir solo 3. Suerte a las participantes. Saludos cordiales
Such beautiful work to all but I can only choose three,:)
All the work you do is amazing wow!!
I like the idea of this challenge and the really useful items caught my eye. Decorative is nice, but not really what I think of as "for the home", which I took to mean something you would USE. They are all beautiful.
Very creative and beautiful entries.
Great work done by all
Beautiful, beautiful and y'all are very talented!
Love the colors on the teapot !
Love the creative artwork.
This time it was a real challenge to choose my favorites... They're all so wonderful.
This one was especially hard to choose, I love them all!
Great.
All these creations are wonderful! Well done everyone!
Great work ladies.
The Revolving Bottle Stopper Art Display is a perfect gift for a collector.
Great work to all.
Incredible work as always. Everyone has put an amazing amount of thought and effort into each piece and it is obvious. Thank you for your contributions during the summer months. I enjoy voting during this time as well as during the winter.
This challenge brought a nice verity of projects !! I loved that #5 was artistic, useful, and recycled items into the design. Great Job.
These were beautiful, creative and stimulating. Makes me want to get into the studio for about 10 hours.
It was very hard to pick just three items. All entries are winners.
I look forward to the monthly challenges and how each participating member interprets the theme selected for the month.
Very beautiful works.
Very diverse selection!
I'm in love with those songbirds, they're so delicate. If only I think of using eggshells I would be afraid I'd break them. The colors of this soap dish are magnificent, thanks for showing! and last, but not least, I do love precious teapots. This Balinese one would suit my collection ;-)
Sometimes I am just left speechless by all the beautiful claying.  Thanx.
I could just see my co-worker's daughter's picture in the frame #7.
All of the items are so beautiful. As usual, it is difficult to choose. Each of you has a unique style. I do love the bright colors!!!
Such talent! Love seeing all the creative ways of using clay!
This was a hard choice to make - you all do such beautiful work.
There are some very fine entries here, it's hard to choose.
So many great ideas this month!
As usual, very hard to choose just three!
Incredible creativity and design!
I am amazed to see all the different items that can be made from polymer clay! All the entries are such wonderful pieces of art!
Love the variety! Tough choices once again, everything is so well done!
 

Friday, August 8, 2014

Featured Artist Linda Riopel


 
 
 
Meet Linda Riopel
PCAGOE featured artist for the weeks of August 4th through August 17th. 
(View her work featured on our Facebook page throughout this time period.)    

 
Linda has lived in New York all of her life, calling Smithtown (on the North shore of Long Island) home. She is proud of both her state and the big city of Manhattan. Linda has been working with polymer for many years, since retiring from work at Stony Brook Hospital. Linda is well known for her impeccable image transfers, gorgeous floral cane work and flawless finishing. Linda says this about her polymer clay pursuits: "About ten years ago a friend invited me to a craft session. She was using polymer clay. I was so intrigued, I went and purchased some that very day. Since that time, I have been claying, teaching and loving every minute of my new found passion."

Find more of Linda's work at these online locations:

www.nkdesigns.etsy.com and
www.nkdesignslindariopel.blogspot.com and
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nikkiken/