In the world of polymer clay Melissa Terlizzi's work is easily recognizable thanks to her ability to infuse cheerfulness into every piece. Her sculptures have become cherished treasures for art enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Join us as we step into her enchanting world, where frogs, toads, snails, mushrooms, and turtles come to life with a touch of whimsy and a dash of realism. “I’ve been creating frogs and toads for several years now,” she says, “and they continue to evolve. Every time I make one, the process changes a little. My goal is to make the most realistic-looking animal I can, that is also still cute. I like that their eyes are a little too big, and their expressions a little too human to be real. I want people to be drawn into the face and recognize some feeling there. The brown toads are based on American toads, and the green frog is called exactly that—green frog; both American toads and green frogs are common where I live.” The world of snails, with their captivating eyes on stalks, slime trails, and endearing mouths, is a playground for Melissa's imagination. She infuses her snail sculptures with personality and charm, showcasing her talent for turning ordinary creatures into extraordinary works of art. This summer, Melissa's artistry took an enchanting turn towards mushrooms. “I have made a ton of them this summer,” she cheerfully explains, “including a bunch for an upcoming clay swap. I figured out a way to make the individual gills underneath the mushroom cap, so I have been doing a lot of experiments, seeing just how thin I can get the clay to make them look realistic. I’ve also been reading up on mushrooms - so interesting!” Among Melissa's creations, turtles stand as the most burdensome. Crafting these reptiles tests her patience and skill, but the results are nothing short of spectacular. “Of all the things I make, turtles are the most challenging and frustrating,” the artist mentioned when we asked her about these sculptures. “As a result, I don’t make them very often, and when I do I curse a lot. My most recent “Western painted turtle” went viral on Facebook, which was crazy! I suddenly had an audience that my artwork had never reached before. Most people had no idea it was polymer clay. One guy told me that he was “taking back his like” because it wasn’t actually a real turtle!” Wow! Some people are really weird! A vital part of Melissa's creative process is the photography of her sculptures in natural settings. She refrains from traditional studio backgrounds in favor of outdoor scenes where her creatures come to life. “When I put a turtle in the water, or a toad in the mud, it comes to life in a way. It suddenly has a home and a back story,” she explains. Her dedication to capturing these moments often leads to amusing encounters, as passersby watch her squatting down in creeks or lying in the grass, fully immersed in her artistic world. Melissa's polymer clay sculptures are celebrations of nature's wonders, imbued with her unique perspective and creative vision. Each piece showcases the passion for her craft, offering a glimpse into a world where whimsy and realism coexist harmoniously. Melissa's art reminds us to find joy in the beauty of the natural world, even in its tiniest and most delightful creatures.

Since her childhood, the Italian artist Roberta Ponte liked to play with colors, especially painting with markers and watercolors. Growing up, her drawings started to be influenced by fantasy art and she created her first jewelry collection using recycled cardboard which she hand-painted. She discovered polymer clay some years ago and it was a real game-changer as she started to develop a new personal style. Her creations combine woman faces, animals or abstract shapes with intricate lines and play of colors. Once she discovered polymer clay, Roberta has been approaching the world around her with different eyes, trying to find a connection between what she sees and this amazing material. Even when at the grocery store she’s looking at the items around thinking how they could be used with it. “Each artist is taking inspiration from the surrounding environment,” she says. “Nature is full of free resources ready to use: color palette, shapes, animals, trees and so on. I love using natural color combinations, they’re already perfectly mixed.” We are surrounded by art in all its forms. Famous artists from the past left us thousands of artworks as do the contemporary ones. There are a lot of different styles, but they all have a common point: they’re generating emotions. “Sometimes,” the artist mentions, “when I am walking in town, I spend time admiring murals and graffiti because they’re giving me powerful emotions with all those brilliant colors mixed together. Color is for me very important and it pushed me towards abstract art, especially Kandinsky-inspired works. His beautiful way to mix colors and lines had a big imprint to my work: my style took a totally new direction. For the first time, I have experimented with how to mix colors and lines without thinking too much about the result." "Of course, it’s very important to keep an eye on the color wheel, but sometimes it’s fun just to let your hands go.” When the artist starts working she loves to have in front of her a huge amount of color shades and she often uses them all. To create a piece, the process starts with a sketch in a notebook then the design is transferred to the clay. Sometimes what is on the paper is not working on clay so she lets her creativity flow without any scheme. When sketching a piece, Roberta does not have in mind how it will look at the end or which colors will be added. The creative process is a constant flow and she switches off her mind as much as she can, so everything comes natural and easy. “Most of my work is inspired by woman figures and shapes,” unfolds Roberta, “but I also like to create abstract pieces full of colors because... Abstract art is the easiest to take inspiration from, as you can mix together different styles and colors and have, in the end, a wonderful result.” To get more inspiration, the Italian artist loves to take classes with famous artists. “Even if their styles are so different from mine,” she mentions, “I can always learn something to improve my personal one. Polymer clay is a very versatile material, you can almost do whatever you want with it, just let go and keep on creating: emotions are at the bottom of everything, let them flow and they’ll be your huge font of inspiration.”

Anna Roon has nurtured a passionate inclination for creating things by hand since childhood. At school, she sewed clothes for cosplay, painted pictures with acrylics and watercolors took fantasy photos, and made papier-mache sculptures. However, it wasn't until she discovered the art of dollmaking that she found her true calling. The artist was acquainted with doll-making by pure chance. A friend showed her the short film “The Maker” by Amanda Louise Spayd, and Anna decided to make Amanda’s character. She didn’t know about professional materials and created the doll with things she found at home and at a local art store. This process captured Anna so much that she no longer saw her life without creating dolls. Step by step she mastered this art and looked for her own style. With an educational background in biology, Anna has developed a deep appreciation for nature and all creatures. She specializes in a distinctive "creepy cute" style. The main inhabitants of Anna’s fabulous universe are small, cute monsters, personifying various representatives of flora and fauna. Her cats are depicted in peculiar forms, such as avocados or pumpkins. An unusual look at familiar things makes her works distinctive and memorable. Within each piece, she strives to infuse intricate details and a whimsical touch, creating works that are sure to leave the viewer mesmerized. At Kossicatdolls, unique creatures are born using small pieces of fabric and polymer clay. Transforming these materials into something beautiful and magical fills Anna with immense joy. Her dolls are truly one-of-a-kind, each possessing its own personality and having a story to tell. She loves to make interactive characters with moving parts, which make them more alive and distinctive, using a special combined technique of various types of fasteners: cotter pins, threads, and wire. Polymer clay, with its endless possibilities, allows her to refine the character of the future creation and to accentuate the details. Anna’s favorite part of her work is assembling the dolls. It is at this moment that the material takes on a soul and the character comes to life. “Customers tell me that my creations give them joy and help them survive difficult moments of life. I can't treat them like objects,” says the artist. Drawing inspiration from the diversity of nature, folklore, and pieces of art in the fantasy genre, Anna believes that interesting ideas surround us everywhere. They just need to be noticed and embodied in the right material.

“I clay to my own drummer,” starts her story Ellen Deskin-Wellingson, “my own eye for color, my hands for designing shapes, my own sense of style or what I think looks right, and a wing and a prayer that others will like what I create. When I start a new set it always starts with the colors but I never have any idea where those colors will take me. It is a magical mystery ride, and I call it My Happy Place.” Ellen was a passionate artist from a tender age, fearlessly exploring various mediums, but it was jewelry that truly captivated her at the age of forty. As Ellen designed and collaborated with jewelers, a deep yearning for unexplored artistic endeavors remained. “It was satisfying but there was still something missing, unexplored,” she recalls. Ellen discovered the enchantment of polymer clay at a friend's house. Within minutes of creating a small piece together, her curiosity was ignited. Determined, she delved into polymer clay literature, ordering numerous books from the local library. She acquired her first block of clay, embarking on a transformative journey. “I was 68 years old and about to find the craft love of my life,” she remembers. The sensation of manipulating the clay brought her immeasurable pleasure: “Oh the joy of feeling the clay in my hands was something indescribable! It was like nothing I had worked with before! It gave me a sense of being able to manipulate it to my will, strong but not immovable, bendable yet sturdy, velvety smooth or accepting of intricate patterns. Pure heaven in my hands!” When creating jewelry, Ellen approaches each piece with a blank mind, allowing her creativity to flow freely. After selecting the colors and conditioning the clay, she experiments with different arrangements and combinations of shapes and colors. Hand-cutting the designs, she meticulously assembles them, ensuring clean edges and captivating patterns that complement the overall composition. Ellen's inspiration stems from her love for the world and diverse cultures, influenced by her experiences living in various countries. The pieces often take her in unexpected directions, leading to unique names that add intrigue. After carefully selecting the appropriate findings, the jewelry is double-checked before baking in the oven. While a part of her is anxious, the joy that follows upon seeing the finished, cooled pieces is immeasurable. “For someone new to clay,” she says, “if asked I would say do your homework by reading the wonderful books on the subject out there that offer the advice of the forerunners in the industry who developed the techniques that bring you the wide world of clay and teach you how to manipulate and attain a high form of artistic beauty. Although polymer clay has been around a very long time now it is still an infant to be explored and manipulated to perfection!” Throughout her clay journey, Ellen has encountered both challenges and triumphs. Reflecting on it now, she can confidently say that it has been an incredibly fulfilling choice, perhaps even an addiction. Clay has provided her with a gateway to unleash her creativity, allowing exploration of nature's wonders and embracing countless additions, techniques, and styles. Beyond jewelry, clay offers limitless possibilities in sculpture, boxes, bowls, wall art, canvas decoration, and more. It empowers you to bring forth virtually anything you can imagine. While intricate techniques may present a learning curve, experimenting with different approaches allows mastery to swiftly take shape.

Wearing the right jewelry has the power to highlight a woman’s best features and make her look extra glamorous. A well-chosen necklace on its own is enough to completely transform and elevate the entire appearance. Taking a step further, the power that a beautiful jewelry set holds is unparalleled. When it comes to unique creations centered upon organic shapes, a combination of matching earrings, a necklace, and a bangle highlights the impression that the person wearing them is confident, knows and understands what they want, and isn't afraid to just go for it. Using flowers and plants as her source of inspiration, Athena Barda transforms these natural creations into simplified organic shapes, creating outstanding jewelry. The Greek artist prefers organic forms, though she sometimes yields to geometry if this serves the design she has in mind. In many of her creations, we can notice bold, contrasting colors. Though an English teacher by profession, she has been in the jewelry field for about twenty years now, mainly out of her inner need for creation and expression. Virtually self-taught, she initially and for a long time created jewelry using silver and semi-precious stones Later, when recession struck her country, the trends changed, so Athena turned to other materials and techniques like felting, needle tatting, macramé, papier mache, crocheting, and needle weaving. In her constant research for more potential and possibilities, she discovered ceramic clay and porcelain, which she immediately fell in love with. However, the Greek artist was soon disheartened as working with these materials required special workspace and equipment. It was then that she stumbled upon polymer clay, which until that moment she had known as a material for children's creations. When she saw what masterpieces artists created from this medium and its endless potential she was infatuated. “I got into a frantic marathon of study and research, collecting whatever information I could obtain concerning techniques and artistic work,” she recalls. “Later I attended workshops with renowned artists like Jana Roberts Benzon, Bettina Welker, Ana Belchí, Olga Chernyshova, and Anna Rudaya, always hoping to be taught by many more!” For about six years now Athena has been creating jewelry almost exclusively from polymer clay, experimenting with its endless possibilities and working out new techniques frequently combining them with other ones, originally meant for other mediums. “Such experimentations led me to the creation of my faux felting technique and the combination of polymer clay with threads, either using the needle felting technique," and undoubtedly, the future holds great promise for her, with much more to unveil!

A self-taught artist who lives in rural Indiana in the USA, Angela Thompson found polymer clay in 2006 and quickly became obsessed with the medium. “It's a wonderful way to express yourself creatively and there's no limits to what you can make. I love to combine polymer clay with mixed media and make one-of-a-kind wall art or sculptures,” Angela shared with us, preferring to make art to surround herself with, that is displayed throughout her home and office. Her polymer journey led her to a class with well-known polymer class artist and instructor, Teresa Pandora Salgado. The two artists quickly became friends. Pandora launched a yearly polymer clay event called IndyJam in 2018, a weekend of polymer clay activities held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Angela was first an attendee, then an instructor and collaborator. Pandora relocated to the West Coast in 2022, making her yearly event no longer feasible. She graciously handed the reins to Angela and the event was renamed “Polymer Clay Peeps Conclave” to align with Angela’s own Facebook group focused on polymer clay, Polymer Clay Peeps. The plan is to continue a yearly Conclave three-day weekend in the fall each year, with the first annual event being held on September 29, 30th, and October 1st of 2023. The name for the inaugural event is ‘Welcome to the Jungle’. The theme provides a framework of ideas that Angela will incorporate into the classes that she'll teach. The projects were designed with the goal of expanding skills, showcasing alternatives, providing hands-on guidance and suggestions, and helping bring the vision of the projects to life. Many of the attendees are long-time polymer clay artists themselves, but there will be also those who are "clay-curious" and haven't used the medium before or have used it in a limited manner. “There's always something wonderful that happens when you bring polymer clay artists together,” Angela says. "The vibe and energy within the group is tangible and I always learn from my students, just as they learn from me. Online tutorials or videos are great tools and opportunities, but they don't compare to the learning environment that comes from being together in a room, working on a similar project, and watching how others do the same thing that you're doing. It can be something as simple as the way another person holds a tool that can be an "A-HA!" moment for a student. Everyone does things their own way, and seeing that in person offers something you don't get from a video or written tutorial!” The event is a great opportunity for attendees to try the medium without investing in all of the often overwhelming choices of tools, products, and clay items that are on the market The materials to make the projects are included in the event fee. “The students will take home all the items they make and a few items that are essential to the classes, which includes a set of unusual sculpting tools and one tool that I make myself,” concludes Angela. That sounds like fun!

A pharmacist by profession, Romanian Tünde Vass found her passion in polymer clay art, a medium that has captured the imagination of many artists. Creative by nature, she has been exploring the art of making jewelry for almost a decade. “It started as an activity to have with my daughter,” the artist recalls, “but the versatility of the material fascinated me and I got addicted to it. Working with clay helps me relax and recharge my batteries.” Tünde’s love for the medium blossomed into a passion for creating colorful and unique jewelry pieces. We asked Tünde to give us a glimpse into her journey with polymer clay art and her creative process. “I learned mostly on my own,” she says. “I started to learn from tutorials that I found online. Then I bought some polymer clay books which gave me new ideas and I experimented a lot. In addition, I also attended several workshops which pushed the quality of my work to a higher level,” Tünde explains, as the influence of Dan Cormier or Martina Burianova might be visible in her art. What the artist loves most about her work is the process of seeing her ideas come to life. She finds inspiration in everything around her, from colors and fabrics to specific outfits and new techniques. While she doesn't often sketch her ideas beforehand, she enjoys playing with colors, veneers, and shapes to create one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. “I enjoy seeing what has come from my hands, and I love wearing what has been created,” she mentions. When it comes to her style, Tünde's designs are as varied as her inspirations. “My style changes from day to day,” she says. “I make colorful, one-of-a-kind jewelry, or small collections. Among my work, you can find organic style and geometric styles as well. I also like to mix the two of them, making jewelry suitable for office and casual outfits and sometimes for elegant occasions as well. My daughter says that my jewelry is more suitable for middle-aged women than for teens.” Regardless of her daughter’s opinion, Tünde enjoys creating unique statement necklaces, which she loves to wear on specific occasions, and bracelets as well, which are always accompanied by matching earrings. For those interested in exploring the world of polymer clay art, Tünde’s journey serves as an inspiration to pursue one's passion and experiment with this versatile medium. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, polymer clay offers endless possibilities for creating unique artwork. So why not give it a try and see where your inspiration takes you?

“I have often been asked to explain who I am and how I express my creativity,” says Simona Rotaris, from Italy. “Today I can summarize that I express myself through color!” Over the years, Simona became passionate about different techniques, all related to handmade jewelry, from macramê to weaving with beads up to the most long-lived love, the soutache. Over time she realized that it was not the technique she used that fascinated her, but the chromatic potential that allowed for experimentation. In 2017, after having embedded cabochons of every shape and material in soutache, Simona felt the desire to develop new shapes, which would allow the creation of jewelry outside the classic models. After a period of experimentation, she decided that polymer clay is the perfect material to make her wish come true. She was so caught in the process of making focal stones that she no longer had the time to work them as finished jewelry. “The more I did, the more I wanted to do,” she recalls, wanting to experiment with new techniques, new colors, or finishes, and a real job was born. Today, Simona makes cabochons for anyone who wants to have unique focal stones for their handmade jewelry. Each element is a unique piece and will give life in the hands of the artists to an absolutely unique jewel. "It is always a strong emotion for me to see the creations that were born from one of my cabochons," she says, "to see how the artists who buy from me interpret my ideas. It is mind-boggling to think about how many unique jewels have been born in recent years from the synergy between what I create following the mood of the moment and the creative hands that embellish them with pearls, crystals, and elegant embroidery: not even in a thousand years I alone could have created so many jewels and experiment so many techniques." There are aspects of this job that Simona dislikes. The administrative part, shipments, and the management of social media, are all aspects that she would gladly delegate to others. But as far as the creative process is concerned, at this stage, the first axiom is to do something that gives her pleasure. “If you want to get closer to clay, do not lose sight of a fundamental point: you must have fun and allow yourself to express yourself,” the artist advises. “Watch tutorials, study the recipes, then when your hands can manipulate the clay without the brain piloting them, forget all the rules, recipes, and models you have studied, and start experimenting: it is a material so versatile that creating something new and innovative is simple,” Simona shares her advice.

A resident of Melbourne, Australia, Michelle Sansonetti has been working with polymer clay since the ‘80s. She first became interested in sculpting figures when her mother brought home some blocks of Fimo from a craft store, and then was inspired by sculpture books by Maureen Carlson and Donna Kato's books on caning. In recent years, Michelle has enjoyed the challenge of making sculptures of pets, aiming to capture their essence as a caricature rather than a realistic model. She is also drawn to organic themes, enjoying both the process and the result, as well as the juxtaposition of organic and more orderly patterns. “I must say I'm not one to do a great deal of planning with my work,” Michelle says. “I don't generally draw designs beforehand. When I have an idea, I usually simply begin, but depending on what I'm making, I may mock up the piece roughly with scrap clay to see if it could work. With my sculptures, sometimes I'm not entirely sure how I want the finished piece to look until I arrive at a point where I am happy with it,” Michelle says about her process. Sometimes, her pieces may be inspired by particular patterns, colors, shapes, or textures: “I use these as a starting point, and mix and match until I come up with something that is pleasing to my eye.” Michelle enjoys being able to create pieces that mean something to other people, particularly with her sculptures of animals and beloved pets. Although she now finds almost everything browsing online, Michelle still likes to refer to the polymer clay books that she collected throughout the years for inspiration. She enjoys playing with a variety of different techniques and she finds it hard to stick to just one thing due to the versatility of polymer clay, including colors, patterns, textures, and translucent clay.

From a young age, Gabriela Stoleriu had an inclination towards creativity, constantly adding unique details to her clothing to stand out. Her passion for handmade techniques led her to become a textile engineer but remained passionate about all handmade techniques such as soutache, felting, macramé, and wire jewelry. “Still, my biggest love is polymer clay and its wonderful versatility,” says Gabriela. “For me, working with polymer clay is like painting in 3D, because I can get so many unexpected effects. I really feel that I found my best medium to create.” Creating jewelry and planning new projects in her kitchen, which doubles as her workspace, is Gabriela’s favorite way of spending her free time. She believes that a day without creating is incomplete, although it can be challenging to find time to do so with her full-time job. Her favorite techniques involve combining polymer clay with other materials such as leather, textile, wire, and metallic components. Her latest collection focuses on textures and uses rubber stamps, buttons, and screws to create pieces that are both unique and unexpected. The most rewarding aspect of Gabriela’s art is the joy it brings to her clients. The artist's biggest satisfaction is the smile on the faces of her customers, and the surprise they experience when receiving the jewelry they ordered. “I would like to tell the newbies in the polymer clay field to feel free to experiment,” she says, “to fully enjoy the process of creation. Be kind to yourself, find your favorite colors, do not buy many expensive tools. Invest time in learning tips and tricks.” When looking at Gabriela’s jewelry, we can’t help ourselves but want to transport to the summer beach place, looking at the sea and searching for shells. The artist's preferred color palette includes earth tones combined with green or turquoise, with metallic colors adding a modern touch to her designs. Working with three different colors for jewelry is her usual choice, although her mood sometimes inspires her to create using pastels or bold hues. “What I believe is great about polymer clay is that you can get unexpected results and combinations,” she says, “just by being playful with tools that you have around you.” She draws inspiration from artists such as Lisa Pavelka, Christine Dumont, Lucy Struncova, Pavla Cepelikova, and Olga Ledneva, and is grateful to have found a supportive community of polymer clay creators.

Making polymer sculptures is popular among many polymer artists. How about making toys? Lara Manova's cute animal toys are original, detailed, beautiful to look at, and pleasant to the touch. Lara is a Russian artist living in Pskov, where she was also born. She studied architecture and, for a time, worked in an architectural office and also tried interior design. As for her artwork, she began to devote herself fully to her art three years ago, making these adorable creatures while also starting her Instagram profile. First, Lara sculpted big half-meter boudoir dolls for herself, but her interest waned soon. She moved to create animals, even fantastical ones, and delved more into this wonderful world of the author's toy. Because she loves experimenting and is interested in almost everything, Lara always tries different materials, techniques, and styles. Initially, she used to work with a papier-mâché, but polymer clay eventually turned out to be more suitable for her work. “This is a very plastic and grateful material. The possibilities are limitless,” she adds. She puts a strong emphasis on details. Even the finest details of the animals are perfectly elaborate. Polymer clay is an ideal material for textures, and texture plays a significant part in her artwork. She creates textures that are interesting to look at and, at the same time, precisely made with no special tools, just a needle, a toothpick, the back of a brush, etc. Lara uses a pleasant color palette which she highlights with beautiful shading and smooth color transitions. In her work, she combines polymer with other materials representing, for example, animal fur or feathers that complete the overall design. Thus, her sculptures are not only attractive to look at but also appealing to be touched. She is able to create about five toys per month. Inspiration comes from within herself. “It is like a part of you, the natural state of your consciousness. The characters seem to appear in my head by themselves. I'm not making anything up on purpose,” Lara says. Next month she plans to implement sketches of fantastic sea animals and has a lot of plans for the future, too. "I want to make small flower pots in the form of dragons and Cthulhu. And a lot more," Lara concludes. We cannot wait to see her new works from polymer clay!

“Polymer is highly addictive. For me, it equals happiness,” says Debbie Kronsted, whose teapots, with beautiful colorful designs and eye-catching patterns, are a feast for the eyes. Debbie is a full-time polymer clay artist living in Copenhagen, Denmark. “When I sit in my workshop, the world disappears completely, and I feel in harmony and balance. It is a state that is so lovely that sometimes it is difficult for me to be pulled out of it and come back to reality,” she says and adds that initially, her polymer work was a counterbalance to work stress and pressure, currently working with polymer clay for fourteen years. Her education and work experience had nothing to do with art. “I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I could become an artist, work with colors and patterns and dedicate myself so much to it,” Debbie admits. She came across polymer clay by chance on YouTube and became immediately interested. She likes to work in various styles, such as millefiori, geometric, mokume-gane, watercolors technique, or chalk pastels. She loves exploring the possibilities to bring her idea to life and tries techniques that cross her mind, often combining several at once. “For me, there is no such thing as good or bad taste,” she says. When she starts creating a teapot, she never plans anything other than what color will be the dominant one. “I then find all the canes in my stash that contain that color. I normally use quite a lot, 20 - 30, maybe 40 different canes. Then I start putting slices on the object, starting at a random spot, and then the pattern develops,” Debbie explains the process of how she makes a millefiori teapot with a crazy patchwork technique. She always sands and buffs her work. “I can sand a teapot for 1.5 hours if necessary so that the surface is exactly how I want it. I then treat the surface with Renaissance wax,” adds Debbie. She matches and combines colors beautifully, thus also emphasizing the patterns and geometric or asymmetric shapes she uses. Color transitions and blending are smoothly done. Debbie creates both harmonious and contrasting combinations, and the motifs and patterns of the individual teapots are very diverse. Her inspiration comes naturally from the object she chooses to work with. She finds her items at thrift stores and flea markets. “I have always been very impressed and attracted to crazy patchwork, and my inspiration often comes from it as well as fabrics in general.” Debbie is also inspired by other artists creating with polymer and has gained a lot of inspiration from MacKenzie and Child's typical checkered patterns. Having many art books, Debbie often browses their pages, looking for specific color combinations that will one day appear on her colorful teapots.

Jewelry making remains a trend among artists working with polymer clay. And although we have already had the opportunity to see polymer jewelry from many artists, all of them were unique and interesting in their own way. Today's protagonist is Päivi Tyni with a very distinctive style. Looking at her jewelry is like stepping back in time. Päivi started making polymer clay jewelry by stringing beads. Soon she wanted to put her own mark on her jewelry pieces, by experimenting with different materials on polymer clay. “I saw that surface coloration would get me closer to more organic and textured surfaces than the highly sanded and buffed ones,” she states. Päivi wanted to develop techniques to achieve an old relic-like patina surface texture on clay, making jewelry structures and rustic surfaces entirely out of polymer clay. And she figured it out. History and nature play a huge role in her work and art history is an endless source of inspiration for her. Päivi studied a lot of prehistoric jewelry and primitive art, which is apparent from her pieces at first sight. Her jewelry has a rough and three-dimensional appearance with a stone or metallic impression on her clay components. She uses old ornamental and geometric shapes. “I also prefer other ancient symbols from Viking pieces of art, old cave paintings, and primitive art. I usually make my pattern molds of polymer clay myself, using old pens, needles, and all kinds of things I have in my household, trying to keep everything very simple.” She is fascinated, above all, by the endless possibilities of the clay for surface treatment. She experiments with various materials, like structure paste, paper mache, salt, baking soda, and iron oxide pigment, to get a rustic, boho appearance with organic shapes. “I also experiment with different paints on clay surfaces like metallic colors and mica powders, watercolor crayons, pens, alcoholic inks, and soft pastels. Sometimes, I use Swellegant to get patina on clay. Recently, I have combined soft soldering with my jewelry, which gives a new dimension to the use of polymer clay,” she explains. For sealing, Päivi uses matte water-soluble varnish and finishes her pieces with Renaissance wax to get matte results. “We all know how flexible and versatile polymer clay is, along with its infinite possibilities in color, texture, and form. The only limit to working with clay is our imagination,” Päivi concludes.

“Polymer clay is, for me, the synthesis of all the arts that I love. It is my corner of happiness, silence, and meditation,” says a self-taught polymer artist and musician, Cecilia Leonini. We can definitely characterize her artwork by vivid colors and their eye-catching combinations. A pianist by occupation, her encounter with polymer clay happened by chance in 2013. Since then, Cecilia has worked with the material and mixed techniques every free moment in search of new colors, shapes, styles, and techniques. She learned to work with polymer clay entirely by experimenting, desired to express an idea and give it shape, content, and sense through various surfaces and structures. Born and living in Italy, Cecilia is greatly influenced by the Tuscany countryside surrounded by greenery. She is also inspired by the works of great painters, especially impressionists and expressionists, and nature. Also, her approach to polymer clay has been heavily influenced by music. For Cecilia, music and polymer creation have several aspects in common, such as harmony, balance, shape, completeness, and beauty. "I also add the tactile pleasure of working with my hands. I felt the same vibrations in polymer clay and my instrument," Cecilia says. “For me, color is a life, and I love life,” she states, enjoying chromatic contrasts, bright and lively colors, and crescendos of chromatic intensity that are gradual and powerful, which amaze the eyes and create light. She combines colors pleasantly and harmoniously and instills everything she loves into her jewelry. Cecilia uses the shapes of leaves and other natural, as well as animal motifs or, for example, musical notes. Very important are also symbolic natural elements: earth, water, air, and fire. “I translate the theory of elements and apply it to polymer clay. I can get amazing effects,” she explains and adds that working with scraps is her favourite thing to do, as she can improvise and assemble beautifully strange things. Nowadays, Cecilia also teaches her polymer clay techniques and experiments in live workshops and online courses. She has already achieved many successes, as her work has been featured in several blogs and publications and exhibited at the International Mineral Bijoux exhibition in Bologna. Now, her priority project is to continue to derive pleasure and joy from working with polymer clay and share with others what she has experienced so far.

“I have always been into making artwork, starting with construction paper dragons that I used to make in grade school,” says Heather Brown, the creator behind Gizella Dreams. The artist reveals that she took some art classes in high school but learned most of the techniques she uses for sculpting her fairytale characters online. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Heather recently became disabled and she turned to sculpting as a favorite activity while she heals. “I have come to the conclusion that I am indeed a sculptor at heart,” she says. It is my happy place and really therapeutic for me. I make surreal, whimsical and fantasy sculptures with polymer clay. People refer to my art style as "creepy cute" and "Burtonesque" which is exactly what I aim for since I adore Tim Burton's style.” The artist began working with polymer clay after watching videos of people making canes. She bought some colored clay and attempted to make canes herself. She was not very fond of the result, but after playing around she discovered her talent for sculpting. The part of the artistic process that Heather loves the most is texturing her sculptures, whether it is by making wrinkles or fur. “The detailing is fun for me and makes the sculptures I create unique,” says the artist. “I also like adding the eyes. They allow me to see the creature I'm making come to life.” Some people sketch their ideas, but Heather starts her projects by playing with foil. She uses foil as an armature for her sculptures. She crushes it around until she starts to see a creature forming. From there, she wraps the foil in clay snakes and smooths it using her sculpting tools. The eyes are added next, then the basic shapes, and ultimately the fine details. Sometimes she also bakes the sculptures in stages so that she can add more details or delicate pieces. The sculpting part is considered finished after the author’s initials are added on the bottom and the piece is smoothed out with clay softener. After adding the color and baking, Heather rushes to take photos of her newly born creature, to introduce it to the world.

Simplicity, geometry, graphic patterns, stripes, lines, and dots. Isn’t it cool? Francesca Santoro is a self-taught artist based in Italy who creates unique, playful polymer clay jewelry that is both retro and fun. After purchasing a pair of polymer clay earrings on Etsy, she fell in love with this material and has been creating earrings, necklaces, and brooches often featuring an 80s touch. Despite working a day job as a shop assistant, Francesca spends her free time creating polymer clay jewelry. She describes her creative journey as starting with a simple purchase of polymer clay and a small oven, which led her to create pieces for herself, her family, and friends. She then opened her shop and started experimenting with different techniques and tutorials to refine her craft. The pandemic gave her more time to create, which she used to her advantage to explore the variety of possibilities that polymer clay offers. “I love every single step of the creative process,” she says, “the idea in my mind, working with polymer clay, the sanding, and polishing. It's so satisfying looking at something that you have created totally with your hands,” explains Francesca, who remembers of her childhood when playing with plasticine. She truly takes great satisfaction in every step of the process and also values the opportunity to connect with her customers from all over the world, which is a significant part of her work. Francesca's creative journey continues to evolve, with new projects always on her mind. "I wish I had more time to create,” she says. “I always have many projects on my mind. About a year ago I started to create necklaces and now I'm working on brooches. The roads of creativity are endless, and I wish to cross as many as possible."

Art has the power to captivate and transport us to a world of wonder and beauty. It can come in various forms. For Elena Sycheva it has taken the shape of exquisite polymer clay flower jewelry. Over the past five years, Elena has been creating miniature botanical masterpieces, showcasing her passion for fine craftsmanship and love for the beauty of nature. As a child, the artist was drawn to miniature objects, such as her grandmother's figurines, jewelry boxes, and her mother's jewelry. She was fascinated by the intricate details and the grace of these small treasures. Although she could have chosen a more traditional hobby, such as embroidery or beadwork, Elena's adventurous spirit led her to explore the world of polymer clay, a magical material that has become her medium of choice for creating stunning floral art. A teacher by profession, Elena could have pursued a career in education, teaching German to children. However, her adventurous and curious nature propelled her towards seeking new experiences, meeting new people, and visiting new places. One day, she came across pictures of handcrafted flowers that looked unbelievably real. She was struck by the combination of their small size and natural appearance and she was inspired to learn more about this form of art. With the help of online resources and videos, Elena delved into the world of polymer clay and began to experiment with her own creations. “It's a magical material,” she says. “It allows you to create incredible and beautiful things.” What sets Elena's work apart is her commitment to handcrafting every petal and leaf, without using molds. She believes that this personal touch adds a special magic to her flowers, making them one-of-a-kind. The artist currently resides in Montenegro, a place that she finds most conducive to her creativity and self-realization. She draws inspiration from the beauty of nature and the warmth of the people around her. Her polymer clay flowers are a reflection of her love for the world she inhabits and also of the joy she finds in creating art that captures the essence of nature. Over the years, working with polymer clay has become more than a hobby. Elena describes this activity as a “labor of love, a passion that brings her joy and fulfillment”. Her creations have also evolved from being purely personal to being a source of income, as she sells her work and offers online lessons and courses to share her passion with others. She expresses gratitude to her subscribers and fans, who have supported her on this creative journey.

“I hope that people will come away impressed by the incredible versatility of polymer clay and the amazing possibilities of things you can do with it,” wishes Jennifer Arthur, an American artist who creates three-dimensional pieces, such as vases, boxes, and various decorations. Besides being pleasing to the eye with their diverse patterns and color combinations, her works are also practical. Due to their complexity, their creation requires assembling multiple sections before the underlying box or vase is covered with decorative cane slices. Making these items is thus more challenging and also time-consuming due to the need to bake them in the oven several times. She employs different color palettes, structures, and designs to create a finished piece and often uses recurrent patterns and kaleidoscopes. “I often sketch and measure the dimensions so I know what size and shape the cane pieces need to be to cover the inner object I have made. For complex designs, I sometimes do a sketch on the computer to see if my idea will work,” Jennifer explains how she balances structure and design. Inspiration comes to her unexpectedly. Sometimes, it is a color palette that intrigues her. Other times, she sees a pattern or shapes somewhere that capture her interest, and she tries to replicate it in clay. She takes inspiration from inlaid wood items, museum ceramics, building facades, and even once from a blouse worn by a woman she passed in the street. Growing up in New England and attending Smith College in Massachusetts and Stanford University in California, she took painting and drawing classes for 15 years before discovering polymer clay in 2018. These art classes proved very valuable in her clay work, giving her a good understanding of blending colors and making pleasing combinations, composing a piece to make an attractive, balanced, and proportional design, and she “learned to take risks and be willing to make mistakes or have a total failure, which does happen now and again,” as Jennifer says. “I truly believe that if you only make things you already know how to do, you’ll never create anything extraordinary.”

Being a full-time mom is a challenging job and finding time to pursue one's creative passion can be even harder. However, for Ellen Randall, her time in the studio is her own and she makes the most of it by getting lost in her work. “I love that I can just get immersed in what I’m doing,” she describes. “There are parts of my process that are less enjoyable but my favorite element is the details. The texture, the flowers, the 3D elements are what makes the process and pieces stand out for me.” Because her time in the studio is limited, the artist does all of her research and designing during the day, allowing her to focus on creating during her precious few hours in the studio at night. Starting with a hand-drawn design, she translates it into clay and often spends time prototyping an idea in a basic form before creating the final piece. She enjoys the trial-and-error process of designing, particularly with structural designs that require engineering or translucent clay that changes when it bakes. For landscape pieces, she works on the background first before adding details by building up layers, much like a painting. Recently, the artist upgraded her studio space, moving from a small box room in her house to the master bedroom. This move allowed her to have dedicated zones for different aspects of her business, including material storage, packing, and photography, as well as her desk where she creates. For Ellen, owning a small business means connecting with people, answering questions, discussing potential custom orders, and sharing thoughts and ideas with other artists. She feels part of a community and finds that the connections she makes with people are the best part of her business. Using jewelry as her medium brings Ellen much joy, but she says that there’s something inspiring about having a larger “canvas” to work on from time to time. Sometimes the result will be a stand-alone piece, and sometimes there will be miniature jewelry, but they’ll be equally beautiful. Her silvery moonlight scene is a prime example of this inspiration. “This silvery moonlight scene is mesmerizing,” she states. “I just love the depth created by the mica shifting moon against the black tree silhouette.” Indeed, it is an astonishing piece, and the tiny leaves and graceful branches imbue it with a sense of movement. Despite the limited time she has to create, Ellen puts in the effort to make each piece stand out with intricate details and textures. “The sense of pride you get when you start to call yourself an artist is amazing,” says Ellen, “but when your child gets asked what mummy does as a job and completely unconsciously replies with “my mum’s an artist”... I could’ve cried, pride doesn’t even cover it!”

Many women from the world of polymer clay will relate to Julie Timis' journey that began when her youngest daughter was a few months old. She needed a hobby that allowed her to disengage from the everyday chores of being a mom. After trying several polymer clay techniques, and creating the first covered vase with polymer clay, she fell in love. "I knew this was the right art medium for me," recalls Julie. "After a few years of crafting vases and bottles, I started making journals and other personalized gifts. I believe that there is something special with gifts that are made especially for you." Julie does not have any art education other than learning from the tutorials of various polymer clay artists who inspired her throughout these years. She's constantly trying to improve her skills and creates artwork full of wonderful details. Besides polymer clay, the artist has a few other favorite materials that she likes to integrate into her creations. "I love adding stones and crystals in my designs," she describes. "I also work with pan pastel, pearl ex powder, and metallic paint and paste." While creating sketches before actually working with the clay, Julie also plans ahead for the color schemes. “I do the same process for commission work," she reveals. The design sketch has to be approved by her clients before she starts sculpting. Getting inspiration from nature, she loves creating something whimsical and unique with metallic finishes. The artist enjoys the whole creative process, from picking up a block of clay to shaping it into something special and magical. "I love sculpting, adding colors and other details. All my pieces are handcrafted with love." For those who are just beginning, Julie's clear advice is to enjoy the process. "Learn from your mistakes and don’t be scared to try new things," she encourages beginners. "Patience and practice! Practice is a must!" Gazing to the future, Julie says that she'll never stop learning. "I would like to learn more techniques and incorporate them in my journal and box designs," she reveals. Her future plans also involve creating more video tutorials to share inspiration and knowledge with other aspiring artists.