Many, many hours of planning and organizing the Synergy2 Gallery with Mary Fassler and Judy Belcher along with short, sleepless nights in Baltimore made me feel all this week that I needed to be doing something related to the conference. It took me a few days to realize that it’s time to get back to whatever it was I was doing pre-Synergy2…art show applications, gallery replenishment, and, hopefully, some actual time in my studio followed by photography, blogging, website updating. Yikes, better get cracking!!!

A conference with so many components creates a slightly different experience for each attendee. Although I spent the majority of my Synergy2 time tending to the Gallery I was able to attend portions of a few presentations, the opening night Ford/Forlano talk, and the closing night banquet. Here’s the Charm City / “Ace of Cakes” creation made especially for the International Polymer Clay Association’s 20th anniversary. It served over 200 people and it was yummy! The Ace of Cakes crew were given pictures and books of polymer clay art for inspiration. The top layer was definitely Ford/Forlano-esque! I kept visiting while in the cake line and lost my place a few times so was happy that I finally made it to the front before every piece was gobbled up.

I left Synergy2 with loads of inspiration and a strong desire for more tools…a kiln and enameling equipment as a result of snippets of presentations by Tam Honaman and Gwen Bernecker. The best part of the conference experience for me was the opportunity to meet and chat with all the fabulous artists. We heard so many times how the polymer community has advanced artistically by leaps and bounds even compared to just two years ago.

Back to work!

Maureen

Synergy2 is only three weeks away. I can’t wait to see all the fabulous polymer clay work in the Gallery and Exhibit. Friend and fellow Clayville California member, Victoria James, submitted this beautiful polymer clay and pine needle basket for the exhibit, which made the back cover of the Synergy2 Exploring Connections exhibit catalog…very exciting news! The conference theme revolves around collaboration. The Exhibit showcases artwork either produced by one artist in mixed media or made by two or more artists working together (or both).

Please stop by the Gallery and say hello if you will be in Baltimore!

Maureen

Yesterday was “box day” at PlacerArts in Auburn. This is the third year (but the first for me) that area artists have been invited to reserve a box and turn it into a work of art in two months. Yesterday, we picked up the boxes. This year, they are beautifully constructed 9″ square wooden boxes. We can leave as is or deconstruct them as long as all of the pieces are used. The final work can be any size as long as it fits through the door of the PlacerArts Building!
This is a big fundraiser for the local arts. During the Exhibit from April 8 to May 22 people can make silent bids, with the highest bids being the opening bids at the live auction on May 22.

I won’t have time to actually work on my project until I return from the Synergy2 Polymer Clay Conference in Baltimore at the end of February. Meanwhile, I’ll have something to think about as I fall asleep at night. It helps to actually see the box; I’ve already crossed a few ideas off my mental list.

If you live in the area, please come to the “Outside the Box” exhibit and support the arts! For everyone else, I’ll post some pictures again when my project is finished. Wish me luck!

Maureen

Next weekend is the annual Placer County Autumn Art Studios Tour. More than 70 artists will present their works and the local wineries will be open for tasting as well. I’ll be at Fox Barrel Cider Company in Colfax as I have no “studio” to tour (I work at mini-stations throughout my house and garage).

The pendant/pin pictured will be given away in a drawing at the end of the weekend. If you’re able to stop by Fox Barrel to taste their delicious hard ciders please fill out an entry form!

Hope to see you there…

Maureen

I was so excited to finally see the November-December 2009 issue of Step by Step Beads on the magazine stand! One of my polymer clay necklaces, “Circles and Squares”, was chosen as a finalist in their first Colorworks Contest. The challenge was to create a piece of jewelry in the purple, green, and orange triad. Congratulations to the winner, Cheri Stewart, and the other finalists. I was so pleased to see two other polymer clay pieces on the page (by Lindly Haunani and Carol Simmons)!

Maureen
Maureen Thomas Designs

My husband, Clyde, has been busy in his studio (aka garage) creating display busts. He wanted to offer different configurations of neck, shoulders, and textures and ended up with twelve different busts! He’s finally gotten enough of an inventory that there’s a good chance that we already have what someone orders.

This has been a great creative outlet for him. I wanted some unique display for my art shows. We were inspired by some displays that were made by Lorrene Davis (a fellow Clayville California member) and by a local ceramic artist as well as a workshop I took with Robert Dancik.

When I get ahead on my own work (ha!) I’m going to try doing some embellishment on one of the busts…some fancy paint technique or mosaic or ????????

As a texture fanatic, one of my favorite tools for working with polymer clay is the texture sheet. Victoria James, my friend and fellow Clayville California member, creates the most amazing silicone texture sheets. There’s always at least one on my work table. Victoria started by using trees, moss, rocks, and plants to create the texture sheets, but she now offers sheets made from her vast collection of textile print blocks. If you work with any kind of clay I think you will find a texture sheet (or two or three or…) a wonderful addition to your tool collection! They are strong, flexible, and they don’t require a resist. (Note: the sheets are actually green in color.) The polymer clay box shown above is currently on display at The Art Building in Auburn, CA as part of a promotional show for the upcoming Autumn Art Studios Tour 2009. Click here for more details.

Maureen
Maureen Thomas Designs

I urge all polymer clay artists to consider attending what is sure to be a wonderful and inspirational conference. The theme is “Exploring Connections” and the emphasis is on artistic collaboration, from artists working together on a single project to a single artist expanding his or her horizons by combining other materials with polymer clay. Please check out the Synergy2 website for more information.

I am once again working with Judy Belcher and Mary Fassler to organize and manage the Synergy2 Gallery, where all attendees are encouraged to display and sell their polymer clay works. The 2008 Synergy Gallery was amazing and I predict the Synergy2 Gallery will be even better. Imagine the fabulous works of 80 artists lined up row after row all in the same room for you to see and purchase!

If you want to kick your work up a notch or two or three I strongly recommend that you consider attending the conference. The sooner you register the better your chances of getting into the presentations that are of most interest to you.

I thought I’d start posting a message now and then about an unusual tool, gadget, or material that I can’t live without. I used this little scrub brush a number of times today so thought I’d start with that. What artist doesn’t love having an array of tools to make their work easier? I’ve used these little nail scrubbers from Lee Valley Tools for years and have recommended them to lots of friends. They are sold in pairs or by the dozen so I have them stationed in lots of places in my house and polymer clay studio. They are actually manufactured for hospitals and surgery scrub rooms. I use them for scrubbing veggies, cleaning my rubber stamps and texture sheets, and they are especially great for cleaning hands and fingernails of polymer clay, paint, garden dirt, etc. Plus, you can’t beat the price!

I’ll be at the Gourd and Arts Festival in Folsom, CA this Saturday and Sunday (September 26-27). During setup today I saw the most gigantic gourds for sale. If you’ve ever cleaned a gourd to use for an art project you know what a lot of work goes into just the prepwork. There are sure to be some amazing gourd-related pieces and a lot of other artwork as well. I’m in booth 19 so stop by if you decide to check it out.

I’ve also had a few other art show confirmations in the past week or so. Please check out my website’s Events page for more details and links.

Maureen
Maureen Thomas Designs