Tougaloo 2008 Polymer Clay: Icons, Dolls, Puppets &
Masks
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here to view the class description
In 2008 our focus
was once again on making faces
using polymer clay, with an extra emphasis on using textiles and other media
to add to the figures as desired.
This time around is different because we had
Amazing Mold Putty from
Alumilite.
This is a two part silicone mold making
material, and I had not yet become familiar with its use when I was at Tougaloo
in 2004, so this is a wonderful addition! Alumilite
has a large line of casting and mold making products.
I
particularly like the 2 part silicone because the molds are easy to make, very
detailed, and very flexible.
The wonderful people there donated three pounds
to our class at Tougaloo College Art Colony, and everyone had a chance to make
several molds.
Everyone who came through our room was
astounded at the detail we got with these molds and their ease in use--from
touring groups of children to visiting professionals. We made molds of our
original faces, of costume jewelry, shells, keys, watch parts and more. Silicone never needs a mold release---not when
a mold is made, and not when it is used.
Because we kept adding more students, I ended
up demonstrating how to sculpt
an original face and then make a mold four different times.
This
was great for me because then I came home with four different face molds to
add to my collection. Each one is slightly different, and each pull from the
mold is also easy to manipulate into different forms and styles.
The first original (on the left in the picture
below) singed slightly as we were finding the correct temps in our two toaster
ovens. We noticed the hotspot in the oven at front left, adjusted the temps
accordingly as well as the placement of items in the pan to keep them from
being too close to the heat coil. Paying attention at the start really pays
off for later! Shown below are three of the originals and molds, with the
different "pulls" from each showing their versatility!
Here's Emily, who made faces as well as hands and also some
switch plates and boxes!
Brenda put together a spirit doll she promptly dubbed "Jezebelle".
Her evening gown is a former marching band gauntlet---recycled finery was definitely
all around in this class!
Timetta created an Exotic Queen, complete with a leopard
throne! She was our teaching assistant too, and helped keep things running
smoothly. She even found time to go to one of the other classes and create the
painting in the window behind her!
Jean made the sun and the moon and a Mermaiden as well.
And here's a digital picture combining a polymer clay domino
mask made in class and the sky at night seen from the Tougaloo College
campus. I like it as a reminder that we can combine all SORTS of things in our
creative connections with polymer clay!
Special thanks to all the students, instructors and staff at
Tougaloo College!
send email to: Sarajane@polyclay.com
