5 Friday Favorites - Progression

Technically this is a “5 Friday Favorites” because I am going to show you 5 photos, but instead of a random pick these are 5 favorites from my old photo files.

I thought it would be fun to take a look back today. In part this is a response to yesterday’s post. I said that we tend not to think about the work behind the scenes or the progression in an artist’s work when we are looking at a beautiful new piece. I have thought for awhile that it would be fun to do a “Then and Now” comparison with a lot of polymer clay artists. Wouldn’t it be fun to see the progression? The growth?
So all you other polymer clay bloggers consider yourself tagged. Post at least one piece from your early days in polymer clay (or post a progression like I am going to do) and something current. They should be photos of things you really liked at the time, something you were/are proud of. Be honest about what you liked at the time, but this is also an opportunity to feel proud of your work along the way.

Black & White Cane Sampler Necklace - February 2002

This was the earliest piece I could find that I really loved at the time. I started working in polymer clay in a concerted way some time between 2000 and 2001 and as far as I remember (no photographic evidence) most of what I did before this was marbling colors of clay together straight out of the package. There’s such magic in that when you first open a couple of packages of clay. I had moved on to simple caning when I did this necklace, and I can tell you I was completely thrilled with it at the time.

Scribble Safari Necklace - April 2003

I still like this necklace, although it has a lot of areas for improvement. You can see I continued on a black and white kick, but this was my first foray into raised designs with liquid polymer clay, scribble designs. The beads in this necklace are huge, over one inch in diameter, but they are pretty light because the cores are aluminum foil. For me, the biggest flaw in this necklace is the clasp. It’s base metal ,and its shape and design are completely out of proportion with the rest of the design. This necklace is in Lark’s 400 Polymer Clay Designs book.

Scribbles in Sand Necklace - January 2004

I spent a couple of years playing around with the liquid clay “scribble” designs. By the time I made this necklace you can tell the raised designs are tighter and more defined. I also started playing around with a ceramic look by glazing base polymer beads with tinted liquid clay. Actually that technique came about as a solution of what to do about all the tiny cracks I was getting in my base beads. The liquid clay seals up minor cracks and adds a new color dimension. This photo doesn’t show the clasp, but it has a much more appropriate clasp, an appropriately proportioned sterling toggle with a small polka dot scribble bead dangle. This necklace placed second in the 2004 Bead Dreams competition.

Split Sliver Bead - April 2005

Finally I’ve got some fun colors! lol I am still having fun with the combination of glazed textured clay and smooth bright veneer designs. This bead was part of a set of 4 beads that placed second in the polymer clay category of the 2005 Bead Dreams competition. It combines Kathleen Dustin’s Depth of Surface techniques. The Lime Split Sliver Necklace on my home page is another bead from this group.

Green 6 Block Pendant - June 2007

2006 was lost in the great creative black hole that was corporate relocation. This pendant is an example of some of my most current work. I am still playing with the contrast between texture and pattern, but I have started including metal work. This is less of a drama piece than the last three.

There’s my progression. I look at that first necklace now and think “ouch!”, but at the time I was really jazzed about it. Now I am jazzed that I have grown and it’s fun to look at the progression. Can we see yours?