Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy

This month’s challenge was a regular Masquerade Ball. All participating members worked hard to stretch their imaginations and create unique and innovative masks. As always, the voting was close this month, but there was a winner, Juliespace.etsy and her Floral Disguise Mask !! The mask was extremely well-made with vibrant colors, beautifully sculpted flowers, leaves and even a bee with just the right amount of patina. Congratulations Julie!! Here is a quote from one of the voters about Julie’s mask, “It uses all colors and in a very gracious, natural way. Love the flowers and leaves.”

2nd place went to me, blockpartypress.etsy and my “Avian Prince Mask”. Read about it’s inspiration on my blog.

A very close 3rd place went to gabriel.etsy for her Hallowed Mask. An incredibly beautiful and innovative design which even incorporated the handle.

Honorable mention went to another fantastic entry from new member Saltandpaper.etsy for her Octopus Mask. I can just imagine it being worn by a stylish mermaid!

PCAGOE members weren’t the only winners, we also had 2 voter winners. The first prize pack is going to Janet Holmes and the second is going to Hannah from Elegantscarf.etsy.com. Thanks so much to everyone that took the time to look at our entries and vote. Your support and wonderful comments mean a lot to all of the PCAGOE members!!

Here are the entries for the PCAGOE October Mask Challenge. October inevitably brings about thoughts of Halloween for many people, so we thought we would take an element of Halloween and create this month’s challenge, while not making it strictly Halloween themed so that those from different religions, faiths and countries would be comfortable participating and voting. The challenge this month was to create a polymer clay mask or mask-themed item. As always our members have wracked their creative brains and come up with some truly unique masks that really show off the versatility of polymer clay. Thanks to all that participated!

VOTE and WIN one of 2 incredible Polymer Clay Prize Packs (created by PCAGOE members) listed below and valued at over $100 each!!!! This month’s prizes include necklaces, pendant, earrings, bracelets, brooches, hair accessories, a picture frame, a holiday ornament, a magnet, beads, cell phone charm, embellishments and more. They would all make wonderful holiday gifts!

All you have to do is vote for the winner and you will be entered into a drawing for 1 of 2 fabulous polymer clay prize pack created by the talented members of the PCAGOE. Take a look at all of the entries for the October Mask Challenge. Keep in mind the mask theme and how well the piece interprets the theme. Once you have chosen your favorite, please complete the form at the bottom of this post and submit it (please note that e-mail addresses will be used to contact the winners only and will not be used for any other purpose) . Two winners will be randomly chosen from all of the voters. You can vote once between 4pm on October 26th and midnight (Eastern Standard Time)on October 28th . The winners will be announced on September 29th.

To view the entries close-up and to read the descriptions of the memories, please click on the title links below the entry photos. To purchase any of the items, or to see what else the artists have to offer, click on the shop names listed below the entry photos.

Thank you and good luck!!

1. Matuko by camida.etsy.com
2. Natures Mask by beetreebyme.etsy.com
3. Aussie Bush Mask by polyclarific.etsy.com
4. Queen of Hearts Mask by breezydawndesigns.etsy.com
5. Mask of Intrique by thecolorofdreams.etsy.com
6. The Eyes Have It Mask by Peggers.etsy.com
7. King of Cats Mask by studiobijou.etsy.com
8. Sun Goddess Mask by ilysaart.etsy.com
9. Floral Disguise Mask by juliespace.etsy.com
10. Cane Mask by clayspirits.etsy.com
11. Personality Masks by papernclay.etsy.com
12. Hallowed-Mask by gabriel.etsy.com
13. Octopus Mask by saltandpaper.etsy.com
14. Avian Prince Mask by blockpartypress.etsy.com

VOTE HERE:

ScotteGBeads.etsy.com

Who inspires you?
Generous supporters of other Artists.  I’ve been selling on Etsy.com for less than a year and have witnessed some truly amazing acts of generosity.  From the person in the forums who gladly gives advise or support to a total stranger, to those people who support others in need, whom they only know by username.   

Talented Artists and Craftspeople, unique designers, ambitious artists and crafters, all these people are an inspiration…  the people who do what they love and love what they do.

My family is a big inspiration.  Everything I do is for them.

What inspires you?
Music plays a lead role in my work, whether it be painting, drawing or working with polymer clay - how the sounds work with each other, the rhythm and the patterns  and how all of these things come together, in a friendship or a cooperative effort of a close relationship.   

I love to see and experiment with color combinations, and when I find a great combination…  Wow, that is inspiring.  The colors have to work together much like the different elements of a musical composition.  When I’m setting up to make some beads, and I start putting colors together and rolling them smooth, I’m always amazed by the transition that occurs.  The individual colored pieces of clay maintain their individuality in a group even as they are squeezed, twisted, rolled and stretched.  It’s fascinating and addictive, and can use up all my clay stock.

Where do you create?

I’ve got some great studio space in our house.  We have half of the house dedicated to clay and artwork.  At one point when we were first living in our home, we realized that most of our day was being spent making beads and other artwork.  That’s when we decided to expand our workspace out of the dark and musty sub-basement and into our lovely finished basement room complete with bathroom, windows and exterior door with a deck.  Yeah, I’m definitely feeling a bit spoiled, but hey, I’m paying for it :)

How long have you been working with polymer clay?  

I’m fairly new at working with polymer clay.  My wife introduced me to it early 2005.  I watched for a while and helped with mixing colors for her projects.  It was the mixing that hooked me.  I was mesmerized by watching two or more colors blend together as the balls of clay are twisted, folded and squeezed.  From there came my experimentation with polymer clay beads and jewelry designs.  I’ve been a potter and a painter, and my polymer clay work pulls from both of those passions.

These are Etsy Treasuries, they are hand picked by etsy members who appreciate polymer clay art. Some of the polymer clay artwork is from PCAGOE members and shows the versatility of polymer clay.