About the Artist - Libby Mills:
Color, texture and shape captivate me. I enjoy exploring the contrast between textured and smooth, pattern and plain surface. Working in polymer clay allows me to play with these concepts. Adding elements in silver, copper and beadwork has opened up further avenues of exploration. All my pieces are one of a kind; making a single set of beads is about as far as I can go before I get pulled into a new design, a new path of discovery.
Although my formal education was in East Asian Studies and business, I grew up taking as many art courses as I could every summer, studying calligraphy, silkscreen, batik and ceramics to name a few. Always on the search for the medium which felt right, I began focusing primarily on polymer clay in 2001. The feel of the clay, the variety of possible techniques and the sheer fun I am having has only grown since then.
I live in Glastonbury, Connecticut with my wonderful family who supports me on this creative journey. Pursuing continued advancement of my art, I have taken workshops in Polymer Clay, Beadweaving, Precious Metal Clay and Metalsmithing. I have been fortunate to study under many artists including Pier Voulkos, Kathleen Dustin, Jeff Dever, Celie Fago, Dan Cormier, Judy Kuskin and Linda Edwards. I occasionally teach workshops in Polymer Clay through the Southern Connecticut Polymer Clay Guild and area bead stores.
Please contact me at Libby@Libzoid.net
Bachelor of Arts, East Asian Studies, 1983, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont
Master of Business Administration, 1988, University of Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut
400 Polymer Clay Designs, editor Suzanne Tourtillott, Lark Books, August 2004
Bead & Button Magazine, October 2004
Bead Dreams 2005, Kalmbach Publishing Co.
Bead & Button Magazine, October 2005
The Painted Surface, by Rebecca Gill, Stewart Gill Ltd. UK, 2005
Polymer Clay Creative Traditions: Techniques and Projects Inspired by the Fine and Decorative Arts, by Judy Belcher, Watson-Guptill Publications, January 2006
“The Rave 2003”, Northwest Polymer Clay Guild Ravensdale Conference, Issaquah, Washington, August 2003
“Perspectives on Art & Craft”, The Mill Gallery, Guilford Art Center, Guilford, Connecticut, April 2004
Bead Dreams 2004 Finalist – 2nd Place Polymer Clay, Bead & Button Show, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 2004
Bead Dreams 2005 Finalist – 2nd Place Polymer Clay, Bead & Button Show, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 2005
“The Rave 2006”, Northwest Polymer Clay Guild Ravensdale Conference, Issaquah, Washington, August 2006
Southern Connecticut Polymer Clay Guild
Northwest Polymer Clay Guild
National Polymer Clay Guild
American Craft Council