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An Unedited Clay Conversation with Judith Skinner

Sarajane: So, Judith-- when's the first time you remember getting your hands on some polymer clay? I think mine was in 1978.
Judith: Summer, 1995. The short answer is I was in my umpteenth drawing class after being told I had to learn how to draw before using my long-hidden artistic talents. A neighbor said "I think the Art Store carries FIMO. I want to sculpt a purple armadillo for my brother". I asked her what FIMO was. I stopped in the Art Store on the way home, got some clay and Nan Roche's book (The New Clay). Dropped the drawing class. The rest is history.
Sarajane: hehehehe! I'm glad-there's plenty of people that can draw and the clay world made a great gain there. I was in the college bookstore art supply section--a favorite haunt. They had white in the box Sculpey, and I thought it might work for making costume maquettes and dolls.
Judith: Very quickly the was house covered with new projects. Every horizontal surface.
Sarajane: Yes, and that's the way my surfaces are now too---bet yours are also. That old Sculpey was much easier to work than papier-mache or wood putty...but it blistered and burned in the oven. Back then, who knew about thermometers? I didnt try polymer clay again till I tried FIMO in 1984 and that was that...I've been doing things with clay since then. What did you make first?
Judith: I found the Clay Factory reference in Nan's book, went to Escondido immediately looking for classes. Howard said one of the best teachers in the country was in the Pasadena guild. Carolyn Potter. Joined the guild, took as many classes as I could find.
Sarajane: She's wonderful--what a sense of color and the roundness of female forms. The Clay Factory--and the guilds in California--are responsible for nurturing a very large group of wonderful polymer clay artists, many of them now instructors. That's where we met, in fact, Judith--Clay Day at the Clay Factory.
Judith: My first attempt was a pattern from a Navajo rug charted for needlepoint. I didn't realize you could reduce canes, so my first attempt was with almost threadlike pieces. Didn't work too well. The first one that worked was a lace cane in black and white, with a touch of red. I still have the necklace I made with that. And, the lace cane is still one of my favorites. Yes, I remember meeting you. And wishing you were still in California. I think we did our first run at Embellishment not long after that.
Sarajane: Yes, that's right. So you started with beads?
Judith: I did a few beads. The first thing I really did was Amish quilt patterns. Still do those, too.
Sarajane: Marie and Howard Segal were the first people that I met who knew anything about polymer clay---and boy---they know a lot. And share it too. The first things I did were doll heads and hands. I only had teeny samples of each color---and combined all the white, trans, porcelain, ecru and such to get enough to make a few dolls.
Judith: The sharing with great people is still the most remarkable thing going in polymer clay. I tell people in my cooperative galleries about the retreats and clay days and guilds and they can't believe it. They have guilds too, but nothing like ours.
Sarajane: and I still do dolls--I think where we start continues to be someplace we cycle back around to many times. That's very true about the sharing quality. I read several newsgroups, and the polymer clay community is very open and sharing with information. Not all media contain lots of people like that.... Part of it is that so many of us take such JOY in the things we do-it's hard to contain that enthusiasm.
Judith: The log cabin quilt pattern is my first, my favorite, and one I never tire of demonstrating. Maybe because it is always successful, even if you mess it up it looks great.
Sarajane: yes, its such a lovely design, and simple---yet so many combinations are possible….and there's that color thing.....tell it true, don't you just get a rush from all the colors in clay? It's the same with fabric....
Judith: The enthusiasm is also hard to explain. I just held a couple of local workshops. Most of the attendees were new to clay, sharing pasta machines and ideas. And blown away by the pieces they produced.
Sarajane: I've seen that too, as an instructor. Its just so easy to do something that is pleasing...and then you want to get better at it.... and when you learn from someone that already has been through some of the pitfalls to find the Easier Ways--it really helps
Judith: For me personally, the color and forms you can only produce with polymer clay keeps me from exploring any other medium.
Sarajane: For me, I run and explore those other media and come straight back to clay...recently looking at my new book of Japanese Block prints inspired me tremendously...but not to print!
Judith: You mentioned fabric. I learned to sew at the age of four on my mother's treadle sewing machine, learned to knit, crochet, embroider, etc. as a young child. So I always had something colorful to work and play with. And probably transfer those memories into clay as well.
Sarajane: That's funny Judith--I used a treadle Singer for my first people-sized garment though I'd used my Mom's Electric Singer without the power to make doll clothes for several years. There's something so powerful about transmuting something from pieces into ...something else! And one of the things I love about sewing is that you can use even teeny pieces of fabric in quilts---that's also something I love about PC--no waste!
Judith: I made doll clothes, too. As a young teen I thought about fashion design. Went an entirely different direction and ended up using my creative talents as a hobby.
Sarajane: So did I--along with theatrical costuming. And though we both explored some very different directions--you especially--we both come round to the love of form and color.
Judith: Sometimes I look at my work and realize it is all little pieces of color, cut up, and put back together.
Sarajane: That's a very true observation, Judith. Its one of the things I like about your work. That and the scale---I love small. You work very precisely, even small. So your first cane was built with teeny pieces--you do them now pretty close to size, don't you?
Judith: Most of my quilt patterns start with a basic block about 1 1/2" to 2" square. They are repeatedly reduced to 1/2" logs, "pieced" back together, and finally end up as a full size quilt pattern.
Sarajane: so you aren't doing HUGE reductions, but enough to miniaturize and recombine. That's probably one thing that helps you stay precise. That, and STARTING precise.
Judith: You are right about the miniaturize and recombination. I've done a couple of canes that start as 4" to 6" canes, but not very many. The sunshine and shadow was huge by my standards. I think 6" square. I had to reduce it by placing it between acrylic sheets and standing on it. Repeatedly bending over to turn it certainly was good for the waistline!
Sarajane: STANDING on it!! Now, thats a technique I've not seen....Sandra McCaw's Milk Maid technique is pretty good too!
Judith: Made a LOT of pins from that cane. - Yes, standing. And even bouncing up and down a bit. Tried pounding it with a rubber mallet, but that hurt my arm! I'll demonstrate bouncing at Pingree.
Sarajane: I'm trying to train myself to start smaller and do less reduction.
Judith: I liked her Milk Maid technique, too.
Sarajane: I started so tiny, and then when I began buying pounds of clay instead of the 2 oz blocks. I went in the other direction.
Judith: Oh, I have tons of clay. So much inventory my accountant asks me each year - "are you sure?". I also have pounds of quilt canes that are years old and still workable.
Sarajane: me too---the ones I wrap in Saran With Cling are as much as 7 years old and still somewhat workable---they are great for at least four years. Though this year, I am making a push to use up old ones and make new ones. I'll be doing that at Pingree (our annual retreat) with lots of new canes using colors found in Japanese block prints
Judith: A word about Carolyn Potter. She just spent a week here with me. We taught one of the workshops together. Then we played with clay for several days running. Didn't get much sleep. Our work is so very different from each other, but we use a lot of the same basic stuff. One of her goddess figures has a log cabin quilt pattern on her belly.
Sarajane: That sounds like a lot of fun!!You mentioned the power of the connections in the polymer clay world---its true that there are "mostly women" as there are in quilting. But the percentage of very intelligent women is extremely high, I think. There are some brilliant women out there with wads of clay in their hands--molecular geneticists, surgeons...even engineers and computer programming whizzes like you!
Judith: That (intelligent women) was one of my first exciting discoveries with polymer clay. The advanced degrees, the technical backgrounds. That blew me away.
Sarajane: Judith, you recently did a Gallery Showing of Polymer Clay artists there in AZ...How did that go? Was it well received?
Judith: Gallery Showing: The gallery was the Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery. I have been one of the 22 local artists in the gallery for almost 3 years. The gallery has been in business for over 10 years (so I think we are going to make it!) It is located right downtown in the middle of "Whiskey Row", one of the streets on the town square. Prescott is always loaded with tourists so we have a great location. The show was very successful. Several of my fellow artists said it was the best show ever.
Sarajane: Thats great!
Judith: My intention was to introduce polymer clay to Prescott. They have all seen my work in the gallery, but my work is only one aspect of polymer clay. I invited five friends who do work much different from mine, and different from one another. Sarajane Helm, Carolyn Potter, syndee holt, Marie Segal, and Lindly Huanani. (I only had room for five - I could have invited twenty-five). We had people from all over the state come in just to see the display. I was very, very proud!
Sarajane: I know the work of all those artists--and though the medium is the same, the styles are VERY different...
Judith: I can't wait to see your Japanese block prints. What color!
Sarajane: How often did people say "Is this ALL polymer clay?"
Judith: That was a sign I put up for the show. "This is all polymer clay".
Sarajane: heheheheh! That works.
Judith: It did.
Sarajane: and so how often did you hear--"no, really---what is this?"
Judith: All the time. I get that with my own work. Is this leather? Is this metal? What is this stuff made of? It's so light? Is it durable? Do you paint it after it is hardened? Fortunately, with the co-op I'm only in the gallery 3 or 4 times a month. (Of course, I'm in the Jerome, AZ co-op, too. So I hear it a lot.)
Sarajane: That's part of the appeal...its so...unbelievably malleable.
Judith: I think one of the best things about teaching is all of the ideas I take home. I may have come up with a couple of production pieces while 'teaching' the last workshops.
Sarajane: I agree. I learn a LOT from my students!
Sarajane: And every stray thing can combine with all the other bits and flotsom in my head...and new things come out! Any more, I try to say "instruct" rather than "teach", because the flow really is so both-way, sometimes. To me, "teach" has a " I know and you don't" kind of sound...whereas "instruct" sounds more " here's a way of doing"
Judith: "Instruct" is a good word. I like "demonstrate" too.
Sarajane: yes, "demo" is definitely good. I know you are working on your line of jewelry...do you sell through the Internet as well as your galleries?
Judith: Not now. I keep telling myself I will, someday. For some reason doing things "to order" ruffles my inner-child's feathers. I'm just not good at that. (One of our psychology clayers could probably tell me why.) I think that is why I love the co-ops. If I don't want to make that piece this week, I don't. Probably lose some sales, but keeps me happy.
Sarajane: I don't like working to order either...but you could sell your back stock, not take orders
Judith: My back stock is always the wrong color!
Sarajane: oh, its the right color somewhere, sometime---I learned when I had a store that just because it was not my OWN favorite didn't mean it would not be SOMEbody's!!
Judith: I took an aptitude test once - creating (anything) was good, following directions (any) was bad!
Sarajane: Yes. A Contrary Streak. I make use of it---I have several projects going at once, and ditch my duties in one to do another.... That's another thing we share Judith---we love to do things but not necessarily what we're told to do...its more fun to explore. Which is why you and I will work well together to create this Quilt Canes In Clay book we've been talking about!
Judith: My personal color palette runs to greens and golds (autumn colors). A wonderful clothing designer told me to not try designing in someone else's palette. It isn't just color - it is size, and shape, too. I live (design) by that. That was a very freeing bit of advice.
Judith: That is so true. I'll stick to the geometric patterns that I love. You can do the florals.
Sarajane: One of the things I'd like to do at this years retreat is some pieced quilt pieces...flat work pieces…and trade canes for using in them. Gimme some of yours, I'll give you some of mine--and we'll ask around.
Judith: Oh, that will be fun. Yes - we will trade canes. Maybe this year's focus for us should be quilts.
Sarajane: Sounds good to me! I'd like to do some appliqué pieces that are co-operative
Judith: I might even try a floral pattern - just don't "make me" :-\
Sarajane: oh no. Wouldn't DREAM of it. Perhaps I'll even say "its too dangerous...don't even try!!!!" In fact, now that I think of it---I know several clayers who respond like gangbusters to "oh, that can't be done".
Judith: Oh, I love "that can't be done". My former life was in computers and I did a lot of "that can't be done" there, too.
Sarajane: yes...."why not?" has always been one of my big drivers, motivationally
Judith: Did I tell you I am taking an Autocad class? (Architectural Drawing). My first practical use of it was drawing some geometric stamp patterns that I am getting ready to send to Ready Stamps!
Sarajane: hey! That's great! I look forward to seeing them.I think the computer is of tremendous usefulness to artists---and that's another discussion altogether! So, we'll each bring some books to the retreat----I STILL think that books are the most amazing sources of inspirations.
Judith: Books I have. By August I might even know where they are. I loaned my workshop to another artist. My storage is off-premises right now. Only my favorite quilt books are in the cabin.
Sarajane: Do you see yourself as still working with this medium five years from now? and why?
Judith: I will work with polymer clay for a long time. I have never stayed with anything this long. I also have a short attention span. Once I figure out how to do something with something, I'm on to something else. With this stuff, there is always something new to do with it that I haven't figure out yet.
Sarajane: That's exactly how I feel. Polymer clay has yet to be boring on ANY day. I've never tried a medium that is so.....plastic!
Judith: So true. Plastic is a wonderful adjective. We should use it! Do you realize we've talked for an hour and neither one of us has mentioned the Skinner Blend!!!
Sarajane: well, other people talk about it a lot!
Judith: We don't need to!
Sarajane: That's right. Though...I do use it a lot now in my new canes! It sure does make shading a breeze. And thanks for figuring it out, so the rest of us didn't have to!
Judith: Well, if we have to be honest, I use it in most of my pieces. I think I am headed back to geometrics. Clean lines. Who knows?
Sarajane: it is among the things, like reduction itself, that gets the biggest "oooooh!!!!!" when I demo techniques.
Sarajane: how about some geometrics with blends? like fifties style fabrics?
Judith: Just playing right now. Keeping up with inventory and loving the creative time. Yes, geometrics with blends.
Sarajane: very cool!!
Judith: I wore feedsacks in the fifties. Mostly floral prints. I don't think I'll try that.
Sarajane: Whatever you do, I look forward to seeing it!!

Judith Skinner's new website is found at http://www.JudithSkinner.com

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Sarajane Helm is an artist and author who resides with her family and fellow artistic collaborators in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

She currently has two books about polymer clay in publication, "Create A Polymer Clay Impression" and "Celebrations With Polymer Clay" through Krause Publications. She also writes a column for Belle Armoire Magazine and creates a line of beads, dolls, and wearable art.