Our membership platform called Society is bursting with inspiration and knowledge that we share with polymer clay people from all over the world. The online class scheduled on Saturday, May 13 is going to be amazing! This time Sandy Pflug will teach the step-by-step process of sculpting a beautiful toadstool portal. In recent years Sandy’s polymer clay production has been focused on custom work, mainly creating fantasy portals. Her projects usually start with a request for a specific theme. The next step is to look to the natural environment to find a way to best portray this. “Although the portal is an object of fantasy,” she says, “my work is heavily influenced by reality and is represented in its design and style. I am fascinated by the careful study of natural forms and drawing upon the features that I find most compelling within them to recreate in polymer.” Sandy’s work is heavily influenced by her other interests like gardening, hiking, and foraging for mushrooms and wild berries. “I’m fortunate to have easy access to wild places much of the year at a beautiful Ontario lake where there is endless inspiration in the surrounding forest,” says the artist. The toadstool Sandy created for her class began with the simple idea of a mushroom and tree frog and it is similar to a piece she completed in 2021. Both are containers utilizing small glass jars around which the toadstools were sculpted. This time the artist chose the blewit mushroom and spring peeper for inspiration as together they provided a pleasing color scheme in contrasting hues and both are her favorites. “I like to create a sense of playfulness and tension, or perceived motion, in the design of the piece as this directly reflects my own experience of nature which I find simultaneously calming and energizing,” says Sandy about her project. “So, the tree frog is perched overlooking the edge of the mushroom cap, perhaps curious about the insect frozen in the amber window below and getting ready to leap.” For the upcoming class, Sandy has pre-recorded video parts to illustrate her sculpting process and how she develops details through the use of colored clay and pastels. She will share her creative techniques and insights with our members, from constructing the cap using foil and Ultralight clay to designing the base structure around a glass jar. During the class, we will also discuss how she handles the inevitable challenges that arise in sculpting such a project. Join us this Saturday and get the opportunity to watch Sandy's artistic skills in action.

There are no limits to the imagination when creating with polymer clay. The work in the cartoon style of Sheree McCready, with roots in Aotearoa, New Zealand, is a great example. Although we do not see similar pieces often, they are simple, ingenious, and, above all, visually stimulating! Looking at these photos, one could easily mistake them for great cartoon drawings. The black color components she uses perfectly complement the black outlines, the asymmetrical shapes add to the authenticity of the comic style, the colors she uses work well together, and the surface shines nicely, emphasizing the three-dimensionality of the earrings. Previously working as a nail artist, Sheree’s collection was inspired by the trend in acrylic nail art. “They are extremely talented artists in their own right and super innovative. I came across the style and thought it would be amazing to try the technique in my own work,” she explains. “I also came across amazing cake makers and cars that used what they called a cartoon effect which was much bolder and usually only effective when photographed from one angle or one side. I wanted to put my own spin on it so that the effect looked like I had drawn the earrings from any angle. I have been figuring out whether I prefer the style of resin coated or just simply hand-painted, and to be honest, I kind of like both,” says Sheree and adds she is excited to see her jewelry worn by her customers. Her knowledge of color theory and also intuition play an important role. “I’m inspired by my mood, music, and environment. I make bold choices and often pair colors that traditionally wouldn’t be considered as a pleasing color combination.” She puts emphasis on contemporary style, bold color, fundamental skills, and connecting with fellow like-minded creatives. Recently, she has delved into epoxy resin casing to add more dimension to her work, enabling her to create matte components using glitter, ultra neon pigments, and micas. Even though she started with a very minimalist style at the beginning of her journey, there were bright pops of color already at that time, a prominent element of her artworks. “Over time, I started to evolve and become more true to myself as a creative rather than creating what I thought people would purchase. I began making what I loved - working in a color-blocking style with distinctive graphic patterns that represented my personality and aesthetic,” Sheree adds.

About four years ago, Olga Zaytseva was addicted to cross-stitching. One day she decided to make a needle minder for one of her stitching projects herself. She bought a package of polymer clay and made her first flower – a pink rose. “I was at once fascinated with this material,” recalls the artist, “and wanted to make more and more clay flowers for needle minders and jewelry pieces. I had to put my embroidery aside because I only spent my free time on clay. Flowers and butterflies became my favorite themes.” Olga studied biology and making realistic scientific illustrations was an essential part of the study. As a student, she enjoyed drawing various insects for entomology class and plants for botanical class. Now she is delighted to make realistic-looking butterflies and flowers using polymer clay. “Polymer clay is my big passion,” says Olga, “however I have various hobbies, including cross stitching, bead weaving, crocheting, and knitting. This is why over the years I collected quite a rich stash of different materials. This allows me to find good combinations for my polymer clay creations. I use glass beads, natural stones, different wires, even ribbons, and lace.” Olga loves experimenting. Sometimes it is difficult and laborious, and sometimes it brings lots of mistakes, but there is a beauty in it – the experience. Since she likes to make realistic flowers, Olga gets ideas for new jewelry pieces while looking at real plants in her garden. When she chooses a flower that she wants to design, she collects a few pictures of it online. The next step is to mix different shades of colors that will be used to create the flower. “I bake the samples to be sure I have the correct color after baking,” she describes. “The same with butterflies. I do not make sketches but I look at real butterfly photos in books and online. Usually, I design a piece in one day. If I take a break or put a project aside, there is very little chance that I will finish it because I will be fascinated by something new.” “I am truly convinced that everyone can learn to sculpt!” says the artist. “All it needs is a great willingness to create and just a few tools! And I know that there are no limitations and a person is capable of everything.”

When she started with polymer, she had no experience at all. Following tutorials and techniques on social media or Youtube improved her basic skills. Then she took a chance to take a sculpting class with professionals. Nowadays, Katesara Wongchukaew, a self-taught 23-year-old freelance sculptor based in Thailand, creates beautiful, part magical, part realistic fantasy sculptures out of polymer clay. There is still much to learn when working with this medium, as she admits. “Working with professionals taught me a real cycle of the working process and brought my skills to the upper level. However, I still need to learn more and practice a lot to be better at this.” She appreciates the ability to control the solidity of the clay through the temperature. It allows her to apply various techniques (shaping, layering, texturing,...) at different hardness levels. Additionally, it gives her time to work with the details despite the hours. Katesara herself defines her style as magic realism. “I love to sculpt the realistic human body, but I also give it a sense of fantasy features. I often use the elements of nature to create or adapt the design,” she says. The human sculpture with flowers was her first fantasy sculpture and anatomy study, and she named it “The passion.” She chose the flower pattern painted on the human skin to simulate the ceramic texture and used freehand techniques to let herself express her feelings and design her own patterns. “I want it to represent the beauty and fragility of humans. In another way, I intend to make the human body look like a vase that contains a passionate state of mind. I decided to symbolize the mind's growth with a flower that eventually bloomed on the top of the body. It could be interpreted as my self-actualization,” she describes her work in detail. Also, the flower she chose for the sculpture is a distinctive element of her artwork, the yellow iris, means passion. Her work is thus not only elaborate in detail but perfectly thought out as well. Katesara usually mixes her own color palette that suits each artwork. Now she uses only neutral colors (brown, white, black) and primary colors (red, blue, yellow) for brush and airbrush painting. “It was fun when I mixed them and played around to experiment with the tones and choose the atmosphere for my creatures,” she states and, at the same time, adds that it can be time-consuming when she wants to paint at a fast pace but needs to remix her colors every time.

For some artists, art can be a way to cope, fight, and raise awareness about their illnesses. That is the case of Melissa Pym from Australia, who embodies these ailments through her work with polymer clay, focusing on her mission of finding creative solutions around her many disabilities and then passing on this knowledge to the disabled community via her YouTube channel and other platforms to increase access to art. Mel creates elaborate corals from polymer clay, which impress with their precise design and fragile appearance. Initially a sculptor, she taught herself to paint in 2012 and continues to explore other mediums as a part of her practice. She suffers from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a heart condition, and chronic "Lyme-like" disease. Her works of art give her joy and fulfillment and provide her with the extra financial support she needs to manage the high ongoing costs of her many chronic illnesses and disabilities. And hopes to inspire others to do the same by fighting her disease. “Sometimes, I go through periods when I cannot even sit upright. These are the hardest to deal with. I never know where or how severe my symptoms will be. I use whatever parts of my body that work, and I am ambidextrous in whichever ways I can, conditioning clay through an electric pasta machine, which has made a huge difference to my sculpting practice!” Her 2023 “Coral Networks” collection aims to find beauty in simplicity. And the artworks she creates are very beautiful indeed, but they also have a deeper meaning. “The fragility and vulnerability of the forms are a metaphor for how I feel in my body as being chronically ill and disabled,” she says. “The transparent pieces express the feeling of being painfully unseen, isolated and unacknowledged in the world on so many different levels. They also tap into my love of the ocean and my dream of once more going there to have sensory experiences and change in environment as I am unable to be transported,” Melissa explains. Tiny transparent drops give her works an authentic marine look and enable playing with light. The colors she uses are beautifully combined, and while on some of her precisely made pieces she makes the texture stand out, on others, she emphasizes the pattern on the surface. Each coral is unique in its delicate design. Melissa considers her life’s mission to fight both for herself and others with "Lyme-like" disease to raise awareness of it in Australia. Despite the evidence, undeniable proof, and the increasing numbers of sufferers, government and health authorities have been reluctant to acknowledge and support victims of this growing epidemic. She believes that education, awareness, and early intervention can help people to avoid this devastating illness. Melissa's attitude is very inspirational and definitely deserves a lot of respect, and we hope and wish her strength in the future and better days full of art to come.

Cos Clay is popular among artists primarily for its unique flexibility after it cures, ensuring durability and resistance to damage, especially during transport. During the past months, we have seen many talented clayers using this type of clay for astonishing sculptures. One of them is Samantha Mullen from Pennsylvania we are happy to introduce to you today. Samantha is one of the artists who create breathtaking artworks with this material. At first, she found herself in Pyrography which was the beginning of her artistic journey. For ten years, wood burning was her main avenue of expression until 2021. When her enthusiasm waned, she moved on to sculpting by experimenting with paper clay and acrylic painting for about a year. But it was Cos clay that enabled her to engage her imagination to the fullest and materialize her ideas. “This medium has my brain exploding with possibilities. I am having so much fun making art again,” she says. Cos Clay enchanted her with its unique properties, especially with how easy it is to create even the finest details with this material, of which the author takes full advantage in her work and which are also an integral part of her pieces of art. “I am also loving the way polymer clay accepts interesting compositions, like mobiles, for instance,” she adds another reason why she fell for this medium. Now she focuses solely on creating works that are colorful and rooted in promoting joy and wonder. Currently, she creates beautiful sculptures in a fairy-tale style. Playing with textures, surfaces and details, she intertwines living beings with animals, plants, and objects in 3D. Her use of color is also what makes her artworks unique. Even though her chosen color palette does not contain bright cheerful hues, the colors she opts for give a joyful and optimistic impression when combined. After living in New Mexico for two years, this talented artist is beginning another chapter in life, moving to Madison, Wisconsin. We hope she will find more inspiration for her work there, and we are sure she will enrich the local artistic community with her work.

Jewelry with bird motifs is a timeless and elegant trend that has been popular for centuries. Whether it's a simple pair of bird-shaped earrings, a more intricate pendant or a brooch, jewelry with bird designs is a great way to add a touch of nature and beauty to any outfit. Tatyana Salun's love for art began at a young age and has only continued to flourish as she's grown older. She has explored various art mediums throughout her life, including oil painting, porcelain painting and stained glass painting. However, it wasn't until she discovered the art of making beaded jewelry that she truly found her passion. As Tatyana delved deeper into the world of beaded jewelry she began to study the materials she was working with. She watched workshops and studied the techniques and works of famous artists in order to learn how to interact with clay and combine it with other materials such as metal, leather, fabric and natural stones. With this knowledge, she set out to take her art in a new direction. Tatyana's experimentation led her to combining polymer clay with glass. She was captivated by the way the cold glass details, with their transparency and flecks of color interacting with the polymer clay. She knew that she had to study glass fusing in order to take her art to the next level. As Tatyana continued to explore the possibilities of polymer clay and glass, she constantly pushed herself to take her art in new and exciting directions, looking for new ways to express herself through her work. We were particularly attracted by a magnificent collection with bird motifs the artist has created with her innovative technique. “Why birds?” we asked Tatyana. “Because they are beautiful,” she replied. “Transparent and frosted glass is very suitable for making these delicate creatures. Ornaments with birds are very popular, many people want to wear them and give them to their loved ones. Birds on the branches, birds on the window, birds over the sea… Nature is the most talented artist. We're just learning from her.” Decorations with birds are a common sight in many homes, and for good reason. Birds are beautiful creatures that come in a variety of shapes and colors. From the bright and memorable birds of warm countries to the calm and gentle shades of birds from the middle latitudes, they are a delight to behold. But why are birds so appealing to so many people? One reason is that birds are a symbol of freedom and beauty. They represent the natural world and its many wonders. They are a reminder of the beauty of nature and the joy that it can bring to our lives. There are many different reasons why people choose to wear jewelry with bird motifs. For some, it is a way to celebrate the beauty and grace of these magnificent creatures. Another reason is that birds are a symbol of hope. They remind us that even in the darkest of times, there is always something to look forward to. They remind us that there is always a chance for a new beginning. Tatyana's unique approach to beaded jewelry has earned her recognition as an artist and her work has become highly sought after. She is a true inspiration to aspiring artists, showing that with passion and dedication, anything is possible.

What she loves about working with polymer clay is versatility. “My brain loves creating new designs. I crave pushing the boundaries and going the extra mile, and polymer clay allows for all of that,” says Noémie Dubé-Dupuis, a French Canadian living in the United States. 112,000 followers on her Instagram profile is proof of her success, and the videos of her creations that she regularly shares, are definitely worth seeing. “I started playing with polymer clay in 2020 out of boredom. I was craving a creative outlet. The minute I started, I fell in love,” she says. “This earring business really has brought out my creative side, which, honestly, I never really knew was there,” adds a mother of three children. Both she and her husband are entrepreneurs with multiple businesses, and they love it. The earrings she creates impress with their elegant appearance. The design of her precisely handmade pieces is clean and complemented by subtle components, such as earring hooks, which beautifully underline and highlight the elegance of these accessories. Their right choice is crucial, as unsuitable earring hooks could spoil the entire design. Noémie also applies resin to finish her pieces, which gives them a beautiful shine and, at the same time, highlights the golden color. Her color palette is quite diverse, and she varies it based on what she loves at that moment, following her feelings. As she says, she goes with the inspiration of the day. In the case of these pieces of jewelry, she opted for a very appropriate combination of black, white, and gold, which is the most striking element and adds flair and elegance to her pieces. Working with gold is certainly not an easy task. “I’ve been wanting a gold option that will not crack (like gold foil) for a while now. I’ve been down lots of rabbit holes and finally found a good option,” explains Noémie. When it comes to design, the most important thing for her is how it makes her feel. Noémie loves simplistic designs. She aims to create something that brings joy, and as she mentioned, she’s focusing a lot more on emotions and energy this year and on letting her creativity flow. She intends to keep up her work, and we’re curious to see what else she’ll come up with. “I’m still exploring all the possibilities, so you’ll see lots more of this style in the future,” adds Noémie, and we definitely look forward to the new lovely pieces she’ll create.

Laurel Swetnam is an American artist based in Portland, Oregon, who started exploring polymer clay about fifteen years ago. The medium was used during her interventions as a family therapist to make simple games and figures. Gradually, she became intrigued and started noticing the amazing artworks the artists around the world created with this new-to-her medium. A few years ago, Laurel began working with polymer as an art medium, focusing on one-of-a-kind jewelry and small vessels. She considers polymer clay as a three-dimensional color. The versatility of this material invites explorations into the symmetry and diversity of natural forms like pods, anemones and flowers. “Millefiori cane work appeals to my love of patterns (textiles, quilts, baroque music) and I find simple, organic designs the most appealing,” the artist states. Laurel enjoys selling her artwork in galleries and shows and each piece she creates is unique. She begins working on a new design by sketching a few ideas, then creating a palette. “I prefer to mix all colors from primaries, black and white – it’s elegantly simple and so relaxing,” she says. “Next, I design a few canes using my colors, combining simple designs to craft more complex patterns. I love to make necklaces, with oodles of beads, because they’re comfortable to wear and dramatic. I make several types of “ruffles” – leaves, pods and shells, each with over 100 handmade beads.” Laurel often works with clay veneers, creating a collage of millefiori patterns with some added textures to create earrings, pendants, bracelets and disk necklaces. To give the final artwork an elegant look and a lovely sparkle, all pieces are carefully sanded and buffed. Her studio is at home, where she also teaches classes for small, four student groups. She also teaches classes on Zoom and occasionally offers in person classes in Portland, Oregon. Must be a great experience!

Delphine Vignoble's collection named Funny Face can surely put a wide smile on anyone’s face. The collection was born "by chance" one day in 2019 when the artist was sorting through her 1001 boxes in which there are 1001 unfinished pieces. A pearl placed on the beginning of a pendant made her think of a face. Letting her creativity flow, she created a mouth with polymer clay and then a nose with brass wire. Having had a lot of fun with this first funny face, Delphine made a second, then a third, with different shapes. When she was preparing the subjects for her workshops in 2022, Delphine decided that it would be a fun and interesting idea to teach the Funny Face. She imagined and designed new shapes, new colors and also made earrings. Some funny faces are inspired by real characters like Rosie the riveter. Some people say that the pieces remind them of African masks or artists like Picasso. “I really enjoy creating these characters,” says Delphine. “It requires a little precision to make the small parts, but I like it.” The first Funny Face workshop took place at the end of January in the south of France. “I was both excited to see the funny faces of my attendees and at the same time I was a bit worried, as it happens with each new subject,” recalls the artist. “It was amazing to see the attendees imagine new shapes of faces, mouths, eyes… I saw things that I would never have thought of. That's the magic of teaching, it's sharing and giving what we have created and receiving new ideas in return.” This subject will be taught several times this year, in France and Belgium. It’s a subject that offers an infinite of possibilities and provides a lot of pleasure and joy. One particularity of the Funny Faces is that it draws everyone’s attention and regardless of the fact that you like it or you hate it, you will certainly notice it.

Take inspiration for blossoming days and get some spring vibes. The floral motif is a timeless trend and also a key element in Dasha Paradok's work, a 27-year-old Belarusian artist from Minsk who lives in England. When she was young, she loved to make accessories from beads. Nowadays, she creates lovely jewelry from polymer clay. Dasha became interested in art at an early age, taking extra classes where she embroidered, knitted, and sewed. She was about 15 years old when she learned about polymer clay and fell in love with this material. When she started, there were only a few tutorials and videos on how to work with polymer clay, so she had to learn by herself. “But then there were already crafters who created realistic flowers, interesting patterns and kaleidoscopes, stunning miniatures, and looking at their professionalism, I wanted to improve the quality of my work and create something special,” she says. And looking at her pieces, that is exactly what she did. The lovely flowery letters she creates are, at first glance, delicate and precisely made. She uses soft hues of colors, and the overall design, in combination with white, is pure and diverse at the same time. The first step in her creative process is the creation of a frame in the shape of a letter out of white polymer clay. After baking, she fills the frame with tiny handcrafted miniatures of flowers and leaves that resemble small succulents. By precise technique and attention to detail, Dasha achieves a clean and sleek design, even though working with white can often be challenging for its susceptibility to dirt and the visibility of flaws. For a long time, she had to combine her hobby with studying at the university and then with work, while also managing to make custom orders and sometimes participating in fairs. Now, Dasha can finally devote herself fully to her artistic creation. “Since 2022, the creation of polymer clay jewelry has become my main work, and with this, I have more and more new ideas and inspiration,” she states. In addition to these beautiful letters, she also creates earrings with a flower motif, brooches, and bookmarks. Individual flower letters are available for purchase and can be used, among other things, as a keychain, magnet, or a beautiful accessory not only for spring days.

“In my work, I have tried to convey my love for nature, enthusiasm, and passion for beauty, creating in a style that represents me,” says Denisa Amza, a Romanian artist whose creations are handmade from polymer clay and mostly focus on floral motifs. Denisa is thirty-four years old and looking back at the start of her artistic journey she says that it all started as a game. Her initial passion for clothes naturally led to the need to accessorize them. After years of customizing her clothes, trying to give them a note of originality, and realizing that she had nothing to match them with, she thought about making her own accessories. She was in Bucharest, in her second year of college, when she created her first pair of earrings made of air dry clay, modeled and painted by hand: a coffee cup. “I received compliments from my classmates and that gave me confidence,” she recalls. With time, as the clay was quite fragile, she started experimenting with various other materials and that's how she discovered polymer clay. “I would recommend anyone who is creative, or just wants to relax in their free time, to give polymer clay a shot,” is her advice. “It may work as a real therapy. And for those who recently discovered polymer clay and already started to exercise their abilities, I suggest taking their time and gradually developing their own techniques, to linger on a piece and do it flawlessly, so that they can learn through the process, but also be happy with the result.” Frequently drawing inspiration from nature, the artist developed, over time, a true weakness for floral patterns, pastel shades, and gradient backgrounds. . “Sometimes an idea comes to me when listening to a particular song, or simply seeing someone's dress on the street,” she says about the things that inspire her. “I also find it a true challenge to design a piece based on the ideas and indications of the client.” Denisa is fascinated by the effects obtained by combining various modeling techniques, and the artistic freedom offered by the material. “In my work, I avoid using colors in pure shades, preferring instead to obtain my own tones,” she says. “The rest is a lot of passion, diligence, inspiration, and attention to detail.” Her creations are so delicate and have a romantic allure, we were naturally curious about how a project develops from the first idea to the final artwork. “It all starts with an idea or a theme that concerns me at a certain moment,” she says. “As the project evolves, I add or remove different elements, and I mix ideas, so that the final result may look quite different from what I had in mind in the first place.” In the past year, with the arrival of her second child, Denisa had to organize her activities according to the priority needs of the baby, putting aside a number of artistic projects very dear to her. “But I look forward to the moment when I can dedicate myself to my number one passion again,” she mentions. “I have so many ideas that I can't wait to put into practice!”

I make naive and silly characters to make you smile and to transmit my love for science and nature,” says Marina Sabio, a sculptor, and illustrator born in France but currently based in Barcelona, Spain. The artist studied cinema at the FCC Blanquerna and specialized in cinema direction and script writing. Her cinema studies made Marina lean toward stop-motion animation and finally, towards character design. “All my works are handmade in my Barcelona studio, where I also proudly run my own online shop and business,” she says. ​ Marina spends her days creating and looking down at tiny things on her desk. In her spare time, she likes to compensate by looking up at the vastness of the universe. She is an amateur astronomer and likes to read science books whenever she gets the chance. Polymer clay is the first medium Marina tried and the one that got her into sculpting. “When I was little I loved modeling and making characters with plasticine,” she says, “so later on, as an adult, I tried to find a material that would look a lot like plasticine but that would cure and that I would be able to sand and paint. Polymer clay was perfect for this and I still enjoy working with it every day - I guess it keeps my inner child happy, who feels like she is still playing with plasticine.” Nature is undoubtedly Marina’s biggest inspiration, as it is for many artists. She is a lover of the natural world and she is constantly trying to portray it with her art. Her favorite things to sculpt are nature and science-related things such as planets, animals, space probes, hominid skulls, etc. “Details used to be very important when I started sculpting,” says the artist. “However, the more I sculpt, paint, and work on this medium, the more I realize it is by simplifying that I achieve my favorite results.” “I think you must first get lost in making details to realize what is essential, and finally, stick with that.” Marina's workshop is in a little room in her apartment. It has a lot of natural light and it is quite cozy, although she keeps dreaming of a bigger studio, in a wooden house, in the middle of nowhere, and in the woods. Considering her plans for the future, the artist mentions that this year she would like to develop her illustrations, try other mediums such as paper-mâché and felted wood, and keep making her own sculptures. Sounds like a wonderful plan!

Marina Andrei usually likes to create necklaces, probably because she can make them large enough to include several colors, patterns, and textures. But somehow, every winter her attention turns to brooches. “Winter can be freezing in Romania so you'll need high-neck sweaters, thick jackets, and big hoods,” she says. “But nice accessories are a must for me, so every time I take a look at my plain colored sweaters, I feel they would deserve something to cheer them up,” says Marina. This year her first brooches were very colorful and she liked how they turned out. “But opening the door of my wardrobe I heard my sweaters shouting for a more black and greys color palette. And this is how the story of the Constellation brooches began.” Marina began the story of the brooches by revealing that the first step was to bake various 3D organic doughnut-shaped structures that were then covered with small sections of veneers. Getting nice and curved structures with a large hole in the middle was the most difficult step and she made several attempts before using her usual hollow forms techniques. She was disappointed because she wasn't getting the desired results. So one day, she had the idea of trying some valuable tricks she learned from Dan Cormier during his Bioforming Masterclass. She did not use all of his processes, but I rather used techniques she learned. “The two master classes I took from Dan had a big positive impact on how I work with polymer clay. One piece of advice I would be happy to offer to anyone is that master classes and tutorials are great, but you don't have to follow them entirely. You can just be inspired, learn from someone else's experiences and ideas and include this knowledge in your work. Combine what you learned with what you already know and you will definitely get a new, personal design,” says Marina about learning from others. Covering the pre-baked structure was the fun part. Marina decided to try some of the silkscreens and textures that she received from Lucy at Polymer Week to try on her projects. “I used the Silkscreen Set no. 8 with dark blue, a light grey blue, and gold on a black piece of clay. The pattern gave me the feeling of a dusty, starry night from the first time I saw it, so this is why I chose these particular colors. The pattern of the silkscreen matched the one from Texture Stamp no. 7, which obviously resembles a constellation. I took advantage of the positive and negative variants in the set and I used them both: one light, one dark, to enhance how the two complimented each other. I then decided to upgrade these two small pieces by adding gold ball pins at the intersection points.” Marina also paid attention to how to cut and place the veneers in the brooches and tried to distribute the headpins evenly. Black clay covered with gold leaf was the third important surface technique she used. It enlightens the brooches, enhances the greys, and matches with the metal pins. And that’s how Marina’s mini collection of polymer clay brooches called Constellation was created. “I feel proud of them, I am in love with this color palette and I am sure that one of them will bring peace to all my dull sweaters,” concludes Marina. We were certainly captivated by this collection from the moment we laid our eyes on it and can’t wait to see what new ideas the artist will come up with during spring.

Andreea Corpodean is an artist known for her use of polymer clay to bring mystical worlds to life. Her exceptional use of color creates vibrant, enchanting designs inspired by fairytales. Ever since Andreea started working with polymer clay, she has been fascinated by wings. “Whether we’re talking about birds or mythical/fantasy creatures such as dragons, phoenixes, or griffins, the wings are always my favorite part to sculpt,” she reveals. “So, when a customer asked if I could make her a hummingbird necklace, I was super excited. As it turned out, there’s a small step from excitement to obsession.” Birds as a motif in jewelry are often associated with certain meanings. Hummingbirds are symbols of joy, happiness, and hope. They may be small but they are very powerful, and that’s exactly how Andreea wanted these necklaces to be: an explosion of vivid colors and positive energy, a joy to wear and to look at. They are quite small compared to her other bird necklaces but they are bold and eye-catching nonetheless. What started as a single custom piece, soon turned into an entire collection, simply because the artist was overwhelmed by all the possibilities. “How is one supposed to make only one necklace when the color possibilities are endless?” Andreea embraced her incapacity to make choices and did what any restless artist would do: obsessively make more and more hummingbird variations – because if you can’t make up your mind and stick to only one version, the next best option is to try all color combinations, right? Thinking about her artistic journey, Andreea never thought of herself as being the kind of artist that could make the same design over and over again without getting bored. “But here I am, unable to stop creating these cute and colorful birds,” she continues her story. “I still sculpt them fully by hand, although people have suggested making molds for them. But, for me, using molds seems to take away part of the joy of creating something from scratch and seeing it come together. I want to fully experience the process for each one of these little birds.” Making so many colorful hummingbirds, the artist discovered that making variations of a design can be a good exercise for creativity. You’d think that the more you make the same design, the fewer ideas you have about it, but Andreea found out that it’s quite the opposite and it’s wonderful. After this experience she knows for sure she’ll be making a lot more of these hummingbirds because there are still a ton of ideas and color combinations she wants to try out. “However, while the comfort of recreating a familiar design feels nice, I also crave to let my mind wander freely in unknown territories in order to come up with new designs and grow,” she confesses. “So I try to mix up the coziness of familiarity with the excitement and challenge of the new.”

Based in Baltimore, Amy Sun Ah is a polymer clay jewelry artist passionate about patterns and color, and how they can be used to tell stories and bring meaning to our lives. Amy's work is characterized by a playful and upbeat style, inspired by her original watercolor paintings and textiles from her travels. We love her artwork and she loves to experiment with different patterns, textures and color combinations. "I am constantly striving to find balance and harmony through the use of patterns in my work," Amy says. She definitely succeeds, because the jewelry she creates not only looks beautiful but also evokes positive emotions and uplifts the spirits of the people who lay their eyes on it. When asked what her creative process looks like, the artist mentioned that she starts each design by creating a pattern mood board, laying out colors and creating patterns in her sketchbook. “Next I transfer my curated patterns to polymer clay,” she says. “I then bake the tiles and hand cut and finish each one and assemble them.” Amy fell in love with polymer clay for its forgiving nature and versatility. “I love to create lots of ideas quickly and polymer allows me to try lots of ideas in a short amount of time,” she says. “I love that it is so lightweight and durable!” In order to create her jewelry, Amy’s favorite tools include a collection of different clay cutters made by herself, a letter stamp from Japan used to sign her work, and a set of different blades needed to cut her tiles after baking. The artist mentions that she’s heavily inspired by her father, who is not an artist but an astrophysicist and works with Hubble and the James Webb telescope. “I am infinitely inspired by his work ethics, his commitment to the science community and how he solves problems,” reveals Amy. “I feel that creative problem solving within my own work and who I am as an artist has a lot to do with how my dad raised me to question everything, see things from all angles, and to contribute to the communities I exist within.”

A self-taught polymer clay artist based in Austria, City of Graz, Anna Karp spends most of her sculpting time making commissions like wedding cake toppers, birthday presents or realistic looking sculptures of animals. A small collection of nativity scenes or angel pendants sculpted by her can also be found at Christmas time in some local shops in the city. Anna’s journey involving polymer clay started about ten years ago when she had to write her master thesis, was a bit bored and tried to distract herself. That's when she discovered polymer clay and knew right away this was something she had to try. Very soon she became addicted and found herself sculpting until very late at night every evening. In 2015 Anna decided to open her own company and take commissions for wedding cake toppers. Three years later she discovered the possibility of making realistic looking miniature sculptures and took some classes from the wonderful artist Juliana LePine. “I loved to make those faces look like the actual person and find myself addicted again,” she recalls. “I now offer realistic looking figurines on my website.” Anna enjoys seeing her sculptures come to life. “I love to get them finished. The feeling of completing a figurine you have been working on for days is the best,” she says. “I enjoy being alone in my studio after a stressful day and sculpt until late in the evening.” We asked Anna what the process from the first idea to final sculpture looked like. “First of all I gather all the information and pictures from my clients and discuss the pose and all the details about how the sculpture should look,” she replied. “After that, I start sculpting. I don’t make sketches. Most of the time I start with the head. The majority of sculptures have a wire armature and sometimes aluminum foil. I make the main shape first and add all the details at the end. I paint the pieces using acrylic paint.” Anna is very fond of her home studio and says that she is blessed to have a beautiful room, with lots of space, three tables and an oven. Being on maternity leave at the moment, a typical day in Anna’s life involves getting up quite early, going to various baby-appointments, doing the household and as soon as she has some free time she is eager to get her studio. We asked Anna what advice she would give to someone who intends to start sculpting with polymer clay. “You don’t need all the stuff and all those tools you saw other artists use,” she replied. “Just take a piece of clay and try to sculpt something small. At the beginning you need a good quality clay. I recommend BeeSPuttY or Super Sculpey when you want to learn how to sculpt people. A knitting needle for shaping and maybe a needle tool. You can smooth the surface using isopropanol or mineral oil before baking or you can sand your pieces after baking using sand paper,” shares Anna her tips for sculpting with polymer clay.

Cindy Tanartah is the mastermind behind ANDSEE, a brand that creates mismatched dream earrings with a focus on detail and wearable art. Born and raised in Indonesia, Cindy's heritage and culture have been a major source of inspiration for her work. She draws inspiration from her surroundings and the diverse world of art, always striving to find new ideas and push the limits of her artistic abilities. The brand behind Cindy’s creations has a tale of its own. “To begin with, I wanted a brand name related to my name, playing around with letters and symbols from ‘&C’. When you try to enunciate the whole thing it becomes ANDSEE at some point,” the artist says. “Furthermore, I wanted the name to have a purposeful meaning from my long-cherished dream of creating my own creative space and to see things differently in my own imaginative realm, incorporating that value into my art creations.” Indonesia, Cindy’s beautiful country, has been such a big inspiration for her as a proud civilian and an artist. “Indonesia has been colonized for more than 350 long years,” she mentions. “What inspired me the most is how diverse we are, just the dedication and perseverance all those years teaches me to never stop and reach your dreams even though you cannot see it at the moment. but you will see it in the foreseeable future. I’ve always thought out of the box and I am the type of a person who is not afraid to speak my voice in every aspect of my life. I can confidently say, every single art work I’ve made throughout the years says a lot of what I want people to see.” The Indonesian artist’s first encounter with polymer clay was four years ago, when she wanted to experiment with a new product line. She recalls that it was like a match made in heaven. “I’ve always loved pottery and when I encountered polymer clay, at first I thought the material was almost the same as the clay that I used when I did pottery.” Cindy fell in love with this material because of the flexibility and the large palette of colors it offers. The artist places a strong emphasis on details and is always searching for new ways to create something that has never been done before. One of her favorite steps in the creation process is mixing colors, carefully visualizing the color palette in her head before beginning her work. Her passion and commitment to her craft are evident in every piece she creates, and she takes great care to ensure that each one is not only beautiful but also full of meaning and symbolism. “I always visualize my art and the color palette that I want to use all in my head,” she says. And what are her plans for the future? “I am ecstatic and also nervous about this year,” the artist says. “There are so many things I want to do.” For the following months, Cindy has big plans, including launching new product lines, participating in offline markets, and offering online and offline courses. With her creativity and dedication to her craft, there's no doubt that Cindy will continue to make a significant impact in the world of art and inspire others to find their own imaginative realm.

Floral designs have been a popular motif in jewelry for centuries and Réka Langmár-Nagy, a Hungarian artist, has brought a fresh perspective to this timeless trend. In ancient Egypt, for example, flowers were used to symbolize eternal life, while in the Victorian era they were used to communicate secret messages. Réka draws inspiration from this rich history and incorporates it into her modern designs, resulting in unique and beautiful pieces that are highly sought after. She has been honing her craft for more than ten years, and despite her background in biology she found herself drawn to the world of jewelry making - particularly the use of floral designs - which she is highly passionate about. Réka's designs are colorful, elegant and wearable, inspired from the beauty of nature and fields of colorful flowers, romanticism and antique motifs. Each piece is hand-made with polymer clay and can take many hours to create. The items are made with detailed three-dimensional pieces that are put together with a special application technique. Each detail is made without molds and is placed on the background one by one, using a needle. The versatility of polymer clay enables her to create intricate designs that capture the delicate details of each flower, leaf, and stem. Réka is grateful for the opportunity to do something she loves and brings joy to others through her jewelry. Her dedication to her craft makes her work stand out in the field. Whether you are looking for a timeless piece of jewelry or something more contemporary, Réka's floral designs are sure to impress.

Adina Bonca is a 25-year-old artist from Romania who loves to sculpt animal miniatures. Her inclination for art was noticeable at a very young age. “I always used to draw in my notebooks,” she recalls, “trying to perfectly capture either something specific or to free my imagination.” Adina became interested in sculpting when she was in middle school but never had a chance to take a real sculpting class, so this kind of crafting always remained somewhere in the back of her mind. The first time she tried polymer clay was two years ago when she thought that she would like to have a little version of her cat, Nova. Adina says that she loves miniatures so after lots of attempts and hours of watching youtube tutorials, her first figurine came out. “It turned out a little weirdly shaped, but it warmed my heart so much that I was able to create something with just my hands and a blob of clay,” she remembers. This was the moment that powered her passion and she decided to continue sculpting. Like many artists who started working with polymer clay, Adina was fascinated by the versatility of this material. A few months after playing with different shapes and techniques, Adina was confident enough to start an Instagram page and show the world her creations. “My portfolio was at first composed of my friend’s pets which I sculpted as tiny little figurines.” This is how pawpaw_studio was born. Not long after, her first order came. “It was such a blast to know that somebody trusts my abilities to create a figurine of their pet,” she remembers. Adina only sculpted animals until recently when she decided to try making some whimsical objects to celebrate her first Christmas with her studio, such as cat-themed candle/jewelry holders, earrings, and tree ornaments. “I mostly do commissions and I love to get to know every new pet that I have the chance to sculpt,” she reveals. “As I’m still a learner, I learn something new with every new figurine order that comes by. The beauty of this is that every pet is unique and so are my little clay figurines in which I try to capture their personality as much as I can.” Adina’s favorite part of the process is when the sculpture comes out of the oven and she starts to paint it. “I really like focusing on tiny details,” she says. “Sculpting people’s pets is by far my favorite type of job as I manage to bring so much joy to the pet owners and of course to myself.”