Welcome to Sarajane’s Polyclay Gallery!

Here you will find all sorts of artistic eye candy, information, projects and tutorials about polymer clay, ceramics, metal, graphic arts, textiles and many other media. This is the blog page with all the news, and there are many pages listed in the drop down menu above. Please do explore!

Bisque Box Treasures

Oct 6, 2021 | art, ceramics, faces, hands

I recently moved things around in the shed (ok, I had help) I gained access to a cupboard that had been blocked, and found boxes of glazed ceramic tiles I made back when I was taking ceramics classes at Community College. I also found boxes of bisque fired, but unglazed, pieces that I had made and didn’t have time to finish during the semester. Even better, I found the plaster molds I made from my polymer clay originals for making even MORE ceramic faces. Combined with a 25 pund bag of clay I’ve been keeping dampened the last few years, and it looks like I might have what I need to make and glaze lots more—if indeed I can get them fired here in town. I do know some people with kilns!

While I wait to work out those details, I have LOTS of pieces to experiment with, and I have oxide dyes, metal coatings, patinas and gilders pastes in many colors to try on these.

Next year in 2022, I hope to get back into the Wyrkspace program in Laramie to work with their laser cutter, and to be able to fire ceramics locally too. In the meantime, I have lots to do getting pieces made, finished in non-fired ways, and selling the pieces that are already finished. Check back to see how they turn out!

Polymer Clay Redux

Sep 8, 2019 | faces, polymer clay, what's new

I’ve had a box of Kato Polyclay that I’ve been meaning to use for more than 8 years (sometimes the to-do list gets long…) as well as a tray full of left over colors kneaded up and ready to go, and a box of floral canes.

I got the clay meaning to do a new batch of Victorian hand beads and a new face cane or two. I wondered if it would still be workable, and it was. So I conditioned my ivory, black and russet color blends of clay, added some gold…

It worked up very well, and since it has been a while since I played with my clay, I started with a started with a cane for a sloe-eyed, flapper type with kohl rimmed eyes and red lips. I am pleased with how she turned out, and have lots of ideas for dressing her up with beads, feathers, silk sari trim ribbon like you see here, and more polymer clay.

I make components for each part, and make one eye that I cut into two, same with a cheek. I made enough lips to make my Geisha cane as well. The white powdered face and rosebud lips of a 1920’s coquette owe a lot to the style of the ladies of the Ukiyo or Floating World. I love the woodblock prints from that period, and the textiles. I so enjoyed the first batch of beads and pins that I made with a caned Geisha style face, that I made another. I did not like it as well though, sadly. I’ve wanted to try again recently–so I did!

I used a different eye, nose and eyebrow cane or her, but the same mouth. I’m quite happy with her and looking forward to dress-up time with my new canes.

I had some eye and mouth cane from the start of first lady left, and some nose from the second, and more mouth. So I combined what was left–2 inches here, 3 inches there, and added a cheek made with a Skinner blend using the red from the lips and the ivory of the skin. Put them together, pack with more ivory skin tone clay. There was enough for a third face cane, and she’s a lovely damsel. She’ll be great with some of my leftover floral and lace canes also. Playtime coming right up!

Much as I have enjoyed learning more about digital art, metal work, wood and painting in the last 6 or 7 years, I do still love working with polymer clay. Stay tuned to see what comes of it in the upcoming months.

Doin’ The Twist

Apr 6, 2019 | beads, color, metal, what's new

I’m making a new shape that we’re calling “Twisters” cut from 24ga copper or 26 ga brass, to which I apply a patina. Then we finish the edges (I grind, my husband sands) and protect both sides with a coat of Renaissance Wax. Then comes the twist! I love how it shows both the front and back sides of the metal as it twists around–you can see the other side peeking through in the twists and turns.

There are lots of ways to use these; they can be left oa bit more open at the top to allow sari silk ribbons to go through, or when twisted a bit tighter, a headpin and bead can be used to go up through the twister, then make a loop or a loop and coil to attach to an earring finding or as a pendant piece. I like to use a piece of wire to make a small loop and coil so that I could add something else to dangle, or just run it up to make another loop at the top.