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Eggs can be simply colored or lavishly encrusted with splendid and costly
details, as in the Faberge versions, which were made of precious gold,
platinum, diamonds and other gemstones for the delight of patrons including
Tsars and Queens. Now eggs can be decorated with polymer clay in these and
other styles too numerous to mention here--they really deserve a book all of
their own! And, because there is a hole all the way through, these are by
definition very large beads! Here's a look at a new batch of eggs--when we talk about baking up a pan-full here at the Polyclay Gallery, its not usually about breakfast! There are so many ways to decorate eggs with polymer clay, creating delicate and yet durable art collectables. Here are two eggs with geometric canes inspired by Sandra McCaw's polymer clay style and also by fabric quilts. Seminole style patchwork trim on traditional clothing is done with colorful strips of fabric, and these patterns are formed with colorful stripes of polymer clay--manipulated carefully.
There are metallic and pearlized polymer clay colors available, and others can be mixed--red and gold, or black and gold; these make wonderful color mixes. Try mixing gold and silver for a lovely color that goes with both. Eggs can be buffed to a smooth sheen, or glossed with Varathane to really show the brilliance and depth of the mica bearing clays. Premo and Kato clays both have rich colors and mica bearing metallic or pearlized clays. Each lends itself well to many styles of caning and impressed techniques. Mixing and matching adds to the fun. The style shown below is done with sheets of clay cut into decorative forms with cookie cutters, placed over prepared eggshells and baked. Then some of the exposed areas are beaded with glass and metallic balls, or glitters. I particularly like The Art Institute Glitter for its wide range of colors that withstand baking.
Those decorative items that can't take baking can be added afterwards. The varying textures of the surfaces catch the light in interesting ways, especially when hung on a Christmas Tree--or an Easter Branch--with decorative lights. Another style of egg decoration involves cutting polymer clay pieces to place over the egg shell in a style that mimics filigree. Some versions leave some egg shell exposed, as seen on the left.
Also, larger eggs can be opened and meticulously lined and hinged to make treasure boxes in the style of Faberge. Use them as an addition to an egg collection, to decorate a whole tree or just a branch! These also look fabulous with an added silk tassel, and can be used to great effect as a drapery tie-back. This is particularly effective with velvets and Victorian motifs. Another way to decorate eggs is by using slices of polymer clay canes applied to eggshells and rolled smooth, so that the egg is encased, then baked.
One of my own favorites is Carol Simmons, whose precision and color sense always move me to wanting more of these little rounded works of art!! Her eggs, shown here, are eagerly snapped up by collectors, and you can see why! Other colorfully done eggs can be seen at http://PolymerClayCentral.com where many PC artisans meet to share information and peeks at their works as they progress. Click here for more polymer clay covered eggs Copyright©1995-2009 Sarajane Helm
All rights are held by the artist |