Artists around the world
have been using Polymer Clay since the 1940's. Bakelite is one of the most
collectable kinds of costume jewelry and is an earlier form of plastic
modeling material.
Todays versions are much safer for home and industrial uses. With its
bright colors and the application of many different techniques, artists
of all varieties find it almost irresistable!
Used for making models, machine parts, beads, jewelry, sculptures, mosaics,
buttons and more, the uses are practically unlimited.
Brands of polymer clay include: Premo, Kato Polyclay, Fimo, Cernit,
Modello, and more. Plasticine is another form of it that is never hardened,
but is very useful in clay animations.
Cured in an oven, not a kiln, this man-made art supply is
different from earth clays in many ways, including ease of use and cost.
And did we mention the colors??
Bead Lounge is very pleased to have the author
and artist Sarajane Helm and her partner Bryan Helm on staff.
Together they create all sorts of artwork that ranges from beads to
dolls and sculptures, furniture, mosaics, and more.
While working on new books,
Sarajane offers classes in the many uses of polymer
clay. The next book in line for publication is co-authored with Judith Skinner, discoverer of the "Skinner Blend",
an distinctive color gradation technique widely used by thousands of polymer
clay artists.
The Helms, Skinner, and
many other well known polymer clay artisans are featured in a display at
Bead Lounge during May 2006. Stop in and take a look, or sign up for a
class. More can also be seen at The
Polyclay Gallery.
