Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy

www.irismishly.etsy.com

Who inspires you?

I am most inspired by millefiori art and artists, my favorite millefiori artists are Karen Hennessey from “ZECCA” and the people from “Silly Millies” canes, both were featured in my polymerionline blog. I love making flower millefiori canes and I admire other artists making more complex and unique canes.

What inspires you?

I am a former makeup artist and studied fashion design so I am looking at fashion magazines and try to be updated on trends, colors and seasonal information. Most of the time I can look at an item unrelated to craft and see my future design in it, I enjoy taking a walk at home decor &   accessories stores, looking at any item/fabric/pattern/color and think of my own handmade piece of art inspired by that theme.
Playing with color is a major part of my clay work,  Since I was a little girl I loved color crafting and that is the reason I called my business name ARCOIRIS – in Spanish “rainbow” which match my name too, I love the basic colors and use them a lot in my beads, hamsas, jewelry and accessories.

Where do you create?

At the moment I have my own small room for creating, I am currently adding an additional gallery floor in my home so I’ll have a big space to work and teach, and it’s going to look amazing :)

How long have you been working with polymer clay?

I’ve been working with polymer clay since 2004.   3 years ago, one of my friends invited me to a short art lesson in a local school to learn what polymer clay is (for the first time of my life) and I was caught by the polymeric virus (b.t.w my friend didn’t like the clay at all but she is getting gifts from me ;)

www.beetreebyme.etsy.com

Who inspires you?

I’m not sure if my family inspires my clay work or just tolerates it !!!  I am grateful for their support and willingness to live on pizza when I’m short on time.  Actually, almost everyone inspires me!  Artists, jewelry designers, people I meet.  Other people’s tastes, interests and emotions show me the world from different perspectives.  That leads me down different paths and inspires me to try new ideas.

What inspires you? 

Nature is my biggest source of inspiration for designs.  Almost all of my work is fashioned after realistic or fantasy flora and fauna .  My inspiration for color comes from everywhere.  The natural world , magazines and unknown sources . Sometimes color combinations just pop into my brain .  I think most of us store inspiration without realizing it . Then we draw from it as needed.

Where do you create?

I have to say this …… ANYWHERE I WANT TO!!!  That’s the wonderful thing about clay.  I can work anywhere!  Sometimes even in bed on a lap tray!  But most of the time I work at my dining room table .  It’s a big Victorian oak table I inherited from my grandmother.  It has always been in my life and is part of many fond memories.  I think it brings me good vibes.

How long have you been working with polymer clay?

I’ve been working with clay since the late 80’s.  At that time I had a farm and sold fresh herbs at local farmer’s markets.  I met a vendor who was making great pins that were collages of cane slices.  I experimented and came up with design for a vase style brooch that would hold a tiny herb bouquet.  The brooch upside down looked like a skirt to me. That became my angel and fairy design.  I never looked back after that .  There is always something new to try with clay .  I LOVE it!

 gingerbellsgifts.etsy.com

Who inspires you?
I am lucky to belong to a great group of polymer clay-aholics at Polymer Clay Central. I am awed and inspired by a great many of them. The caliber of talent here at PCAGOE is so awesome it makes me want to work harder and continue to learn more.

What inspires you?
The beauty of flowers and the sea are my biggest inspirations. Color is very important to me. I like pretty functional things.

Where do you create?
There are only the 2 of us and we have a 3 bedroom house. I have taken the dining room over as my workroom and I use one of the spare bedrooms as a supply room. I also work on the front porch when the weather is nice. Oh yea I do a  little work in the kitchen too, I guess my Hubby is right I am slowly turning the whole house into a big craft studio.

How long have you been working with polymer clay?
I have always done some kind of craft and polymer clay floated in and out, I kept coming back to it. I became obsessed with it about 4 years ago and it seems to be a major part of almost every one of my projects. I am amazed by all the things that can be done with it there is always something new to do with it, I am never board with it.

www.CLBcreations.etsy.com

Who inspires you?
Maureen Carlson by far is my biggest inspiration… the faces she creates on her characters are just amazing… really inspirational. And her techniques make the art of sculpting faces seem so effortless.

What inspires you?
Oh gosh… everything really. But mostly any kind of fantasy art. Brian Froud’s work is a BIG influence with me… if I had half the talent he does. Wow… the creatures his mind comes up with, never in a million years would I think of doing some of the characters he designs. Now even though I say this… I can look at one of his sketches and start off with a specific goal in mind, but then by the end of the process my creation looks totally different than I originally expected. My critters just kind of form out of the clay as I work on them, personalities and all.

Where do you create?
At home. Sometimes on the kitchen table watching TV or mostly in my craft room listening to my “newage chant till ya die” music. The repetition of the sounds really puts me in the zone. I completely tune out to what is going on around me and before ya know it… an hour and a half have gone by.

How long have you been working with polymer clay?
Well I used to use it to make faux glass eyes for the teddy bears I was making. But that was well over 3 years ago. I was reintroduced to clay, this time more than one color, back in November of 2006. I was laid-off from work and was looking to keep myself busy, and to make some holiday ornaments for the season. I decided to use clay to make reindeer, snowmen, Santas, and elves. It was a big hit. Everyone loved them and said I should sell them… Well… I kept making more and eventually had enough to put in a display case at the local library. I just wanted to share with the kids and parents in the community to show them and say “look what I did”… That was also a big hit. The librarians had so many positive and encouraging comments. So… it was at that point then that I decided to make a go of it… and start seriously selling my little critters.