Feels like crawling sometimes

I think polymer clay existed when I went to art school but it wasn't taught. Shame.

I am working, working, working to learn different polymer techniques. I have read about and am experimenting with making canes and veneers, mokume gane and image transfers. Soon perhaps I'll take a class in metal clay.

Above are earrings made while fiddling around with faux bone techniques. Below is my first attempt at making a polymer veneer. I took leftover bits of clay, made a cabachon shape and overlaid a very thin sheet in the grey/yellow pattern. Its a start.


Not long ago I read about a polymer artist who said they didn't do ANY learning/reading about polymer. Everything they did, every technique they used, they had figured out for themselves. And at first this seemed impressive. No one could say they were copying, right?

Quickly though that thought changed to "why in the world would anyone do that?"
Why NOT learn technique from the masters (hasn't the art world always worked this way?) and make THEN make it your own?

"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet." Aristotle

While my back was turned...

Well...(jaw drops to floor)... I have just found out I have been featured on two great blogs, two days in a row.

Eugena - Can I ever thank you enough?! Eugena, a polymer artist from my neighboring state of Maryland, has the gift encouragement and features OTHER polymer artist on her blog Polymer Clay Chameleon. Yesterday I was her pick.

I really like her very cool and aptly name "Frog Pond" earrings!


She was kind enough to email this morning to tell me that her feature apparently led to today's feature at Polymer Clay Daily! I admire the work found here. Heavy on visuals you will find photos and links to great polymer artists such as...


Claire Maunsell

and Kate Clawson to name JUST a few.

I am quiet thrilled to join the likes of these with a post titled "Williamson's Cool Polymer"! (At age five my daughter informed me that I was NO LONGER cool - well I guess she was wrong.)

I have been a bit out of the loop for the past couple of days accompanying my (photographer) husband to a gallery show and helping him write a grant proposal. These two activities have taken up just about all waking hours since last Friday. So imagine my surprise to find that there are nice folks out there looking at my work while I "have my back turned"!

New Ring

I am pretty excited about this new ring I made. I suppose not everyone wants a ring this large but I have bulky hands and can definitely get away with it. I'm ordering slimmer bands too though so I will be able to offer a sleeker version.



The band is wood and the "gem" is polymer.

Radius

I am very, very honored that the Radius Gallery, the museum shop at the PA State Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is now carrying a small selection of my work. The curator contacted me several weeks ago and I jumped at the chance for my work to be in such a great location and in the company fellow PA artists and craftsman.

This is one of the pieces that went. I have several other feather pendants in the works - they'll be in the Etsy shop within the next week.


I combine trips whenever possible so the kids and I took a 1/2 day field trip to the museum (which is free!). I am most drawn to natural history which takes up the better part of the third floor.

Apparently I have not covered the civil war (at least not very extensively) with my seven year old son because he doesn't ever remember hearing out it. The one room civil war exhibit made a very big impression on him. He said "I don't understand why strangers fight...do you mean to tell me people in the same country fight each other?" (What goes on in the child's mind when we have to tell them that grown ups kill each other because they want things to go their way? I loathe this part of parenting. ) "Yes." I said. "People in many countries, even today, fight amongst themselves." He was silent.