Work, wildlife and polymer clay!
Lately, my art workload has been insane, along with our weather. The week of the 4th of July we had flash flooding, which dramatically changed the placement of dirt on our property but made a lot of the local flora and fauna very happy. I got to stay inside, relax and watch the rain while trying out some new projects (nothing like the sound of rain to sooth the soul!). For the 4th I tried making a flag cane.
It turned out to be more fun than I expected. The only issue I find is some slight distortion with the stars when you start to reduce the cane. The next time I will chill the cane to prevent that.
Taking time to let the clay rest, as well as having a very clean and sharp blade, prevents any smearing. The slices can be easily made into lapel pins.
After the rains we had an invasion of dragonflies in our house and I had to keep shepherding them outside.
Bit of a blurry photo but they move like mad. 🙂
Then in the process of cleaning the yard we found a rather dazed Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus uniformis) attached to the side of my truck tires. We gave it some water and tried to let it go but it seemed to want to stay.
I tried to nudge it off and it just hugged me tighter.
Carefully I peeled her off and she just sat there staring at us. You can tell it is female because it had no blue underbelly marking and the head was a faint orange.
Finally she slowly walked off and went right under the parked truck. She stayed there most of the day eating ants. 🙂
After seeing and getting a chance to work with all of these and many more creatures I felt inspired to try some new textures and themes. I always say nature and its wonders are the best of inspiration.
Here is some of my gold/green polymer clay mixes with reptile, fossils and texture themes with their final gloss coat.
Here are some of my cane slices and jewelry pieces after their final gloss coat. The flag slices will have clay flowers and ribbons added to them. Stringing and designing the layout for the other beads and pendents will be the fun part.What wonderful interactions with nature might you have that can inspire you? 🙂
Until next time safe travels!
Texture and shape…
Texture and shape in the natural world has always amazed and entranced me. The flux of colors over a bumpy surface, the shadows, tactile variables all add to the experience. I have always felt any good artist looks to nature for inspiration and by watching it in action, might catch a amazing moment not normally noticed.
Taking photos, doing quick sketches or even a pencil rubbing of a texture of an element in nature is a great way to capture it for future use in artwork. I had the lovely chance to go to San Diego for a short trip and was able to run away to the ocean side for a day. Here are just a few of the lovely textures, shapes and moments I was able to capture, but sadly photos do these no justice.
I love Bougainvillea, anywhere I find it growing I just have to take a picture.
The twists and bends to the limbs give it such a surreal quality.
I didn’t even realize I took this photo, I was trying to get a photo of the rocks. LOL
A tiny crab hopes you don’t see him.
The rocks worn by water reminded me of a Martian landscape.
Happened to see a California sea lion begging the local fishermen at one of the docks.
“Aww come on just one?”
“Fine then I will find another boat!”
All kidding aside it was good that they did not feed it since they can become too accustomed to people and handouts. California sea lions are very smart, fast and can be very quiet, lovely creatures to watch, from a distance.
Until next time Safe Travels!
Ancient and Contemporary Inspired Artistry