Jun.25.2007
5:37 pm
by Libby
Serious Fun
I had an amazing weekend creatively speaking. I spent two days at the Brookfield Craft Center in a class on Cold Connections with Robert Dancik. Several years ago a friend had urged me to take a class with him some day because, she said, “He’ll make you look at everything differently”. Well, she was right. His eclectic approach to incorporating materials is infectious. Serious fun!
We had a smallish group and Robert had a ton of material, so by common consensus the workshop ended up being a kind of “brain dump” rather than a hands on workshop. That was perfect for me. Robert’s very entertaining (a valuable quality in a teacher) so the time passed quickly. I took a ton of notes. I asked questions and picked Robert’s brain about some specific things I’ve been working on. Saturday night at home, I got a second wind and tried out some of the things we had talked about in class, and made a pendant I am really happy with.
As you can see, I am still working on the concept that started as the “11th Hour Bracelet”. This class gave me a chance to play with the design in a different way. The bail on the pendant was soldered, but the polymer buttons and ceramic disks (the small brown disks, I know they look like polymer clay, but they’re not) were riveted to the polymer base layer and the square is secured in the box by the pressure of the sides. It’s still rough, but I am thrilled with the overall concept and new techniques I’ve learned. I’ll be doing more in this vein.
We talked about rivets and tabs and other settings, concrete, epoxies, plexiglas and faux bone. As with most of the classes I have taken recently, it was a privilege to spend time with an amazing artist, hear his stories about his work, and see and handle some of the pieces I’ve seen in print or online. One of the coolest things about the class was digging around in Robert’s many boxes of bits and pieces. Lots of examples of the process, experiments and parts of pieces. Generally all we see of an artist’s work is the finished product. For me, it’s really encouraging to see the pieces that aren’t finished too, that speak more of the journey than the destination.
Elise Winters was in the class which was a lovely surprise. I got to know Elise a tiny bit through Northern New Jersey Polymer Clay Guild when we were living there. I admire Elise’s gorgeous and distinctive work. Something about talking to Elise always makes me feel really encouraged and makes me want to push myself harder.
My head is bursting. I wouldn’t normally take a workshop so close to the exhausting round of classes I had at Bead & Button, but this one was too good to pass up. Now if I can just find the time in our busy schedule to start working with these new ideas.
Filed in metalworking, polymer clay |
Love that pendant!
That must have been a great class!!
That is SOOOOOO cool!
Loving it. =)
Did you get to try out the faux bone material? I have read about it, but have not talked to anyone who used it. What characteristics does it have and how does it compare to polymer clay?
Sounds like a wonderful class!
Thanks everyone.
Jeanne, I bought some Faux Bone to play with, but haven’t tried it yet. I did see it demo’d and handled a lot of samples and finished pieces. It’s a unique material unto itself. It’s much harder than polymer clay and completely non-porous. You can drill it, sand it and shape it with hand tools. You can also texture it and form it with heat. It’s pretty cool.
Hi Libby,
I took a class with Robert last fall and it was amazing! “Brain Dump” is exactly how I described his workshop. He has a way of putting everyone at ease and allowing the class to flow however it needs to. I came away with so many ideas. I have worked some with the Faux Bone and love it.
Faux Bone, now another prduct to add to the stash. Just what I have wanted thou for some ideas I have simmering.
Where’s that credit card when you want it????
I am always so excited to read of peoples class experiences. Because of health issues for my husband I am not able to get to classes or retreats. So being able to read about them not only makes me year but does give me insight to some new ideas.
I am hoping to lure some artist to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state for workshops. Contact me if you are interested.
Glad to hear you’re on the mend! I searched your blog because I thought it was a RD workshop that charged you up! Northern NJ guild is sponsoring him for a 2day Cold Connections in November and I’m taking it because I have been frustrated with what I’ve been able to do with what we learned in the Judy Kuskin workshop. Hope to see you at Synergy! regards, nt