At the end of the 1800's, science and manufacturing were becoming
very good friends indeed, with the artist coming in for some wonderful
new materials as an afterthought. The plastics that we think of as being
very modern marvels had their industrial beginnings then, with such entrepreneurial
chemists as Robert Bakelund. He was searching for a laboratory style version
of shellac, a very popular finish made using the body of the laq beetle.
Used for smooth wooden floors (such as bowling alleys the rage at the
time) as well as part of the finish on lightweight "lacquered"
furniture and decorative items, demand for the product far outweighed the
supply. The unexpected results he came up with hardened as it set up and
cooled, and became a product he patented as "Bakelite".
His work in creating polymers blazed the way for modern
versions of thermally set plastics. When people make disparaging remarks
about the value of "plastics" as a medium, they are obviously
unaware of the sturdy and collectable nature of Bakelight, whether in the
form of billiard balls, classic auto parts, radios, buttons, jewelry-or
BEADS!
Just as modern acrylic paints were once given a suspicious greeting
by the Art world that has now embraced it as a medium for fine work, so
plastics are now truly beginning to come into their own-after more than
a hundred years! Books available through Amazon.com such as "The
Bakelite Jewelry Book" are a treat to the eyes while also containing
fascinating information about these beads, buttons and baubles.
Embraced with enthusiasm by jewelry and fashion designers, Bakelite
even had kits available at one time for home use, but this was discontinued
due to the flammable nature of the phenol based plastics.
Today's versions are no longer flammable due to a different chemical
base, and are certified as nontoxic and safe for use by children and home
artists. Available in a wide array of intermixable colors, today's polymer
clays are an incredible medium that welcomes the beginning creative experimenter
as well as the proficient professional artist. 
Popular brands
such as FIMO began as a medium for doll and miniature making in Europe
in the 1940's to help replace manufacturing shortages caused by wartime.
Other brands such as Sculpey, Premo, Cernit, Modello, and Kato Polyclay
are now in the hands of artists all over the world, who create amazing
works of art ranging from the very tiniest of miniatures and beads to furniture
and pieces of much larger scope.
Using millefiore techniques, colored polymer clays have been placed
to form the patterns that decorate these Geisha styled beads. Formed and
baked around ping pong balls, they require extra ventilation for safe baking,
but make a striking visual impact! Smaller beads make use of the reduced
clay "canes" for the detailed embellishments.
This mermaid's head, hands and scales are made of polymer
clay. Each scale was cut using a round Kemper tool and then sliced and
affixed in place.
I also used it to create the faux "seashells" and "coral"
beads of her cascading necklace.
Instructions for making fullsize faux seashells and coral are given
in "Create
a Polymer Clay Impression".
New techniques and applications are being uncovered and shared at a
staggering rate by those who find this very malleable, truly "plastic"
medium almost irresistible.
After over twenty years of intensive work using polymer clays, I am
still finding new things that can be done with it all the time. In upcoming
columns that will alternate with the series brought to you by the very
talented Mitchell Sisters, please join me in exploring the potentials of
polymer clay.
With well known and up-and-coming artist interviews, reviews of products,
techniques, and tools as well as projects, we'll take an on-going look
at this astoundingly versatile medium.
Click here
to view more wonderful bead and polymer clay articles online at The Bead
Bugle.
