Saturday, January 31, 2009

No it's not painted.

Here's the completed pendant, resin finished with Aanraku bail.
Some people ask me if the flowers on my pendants are painted. They are not painted. They are tiny pieces of clay made into a "cane." A cane is a cylinder of clay with a design running through it very similar to those holiday cookies you buy to slice and bake. In the first photo, a skinner blend is prepared with slits to form the veins of the flower. Then the plug is reduced (or made longer and cut into six pieces. Then they are placed around a central stem (as in the second picture). The third picture shows the translucent clay placed between the petals and around the plug. The plug is then reduced again as in the fourth picture and extremely thin slices are taken from the cane and placed on the pendant as in the fifth picture.

Skinner blend plug with slits made for the veins of the flower.


After it has been reduced and cut into sections, placed around a central stem.

Then translucent clay is wedged between the petals to keep them apart. The cane is then reduced once more to elongate it and make different size flowers.

Here is the cane made into different size flowers.

Extremely thin slices are then taken from the cane and placed on the pendant before firing.



10 comments:

Paisley The Jackabee said...

Oh you do a tiny bit of trans. Love your canework!

Linda Riopel said...

Yes so that I don't have to cut around it so much. It works! Thanks Stormy!

uniquecommodities said...

amazing work!

Unknown said...

your works are amazing! =) I am a polymer clay artist from the Philippines. I absolutely adore your works. =)

Linda Riopel said...

Thank all for your kind comments!

Nicole said...

Hey what great work on this site. The creativity and detail is spectacular. Linda you're amazing. Truly artistic.

Cyndie said...

LOVE the cane tut! I'm gonna give that a try. Thanks!

VAharoni said...

Linda, You are simply a delight!

ValerieAharoniBlogsHere
Polymer and SeedBeads!
Handmade Wonders by VAharoni
Facebook?
1000Markets

Marcia P. said...

Thanks for sharing. It looks like even cane challenged clayers like me can try this one!

Rebekah said...

Beautiful canework pendants! I've chosen your blog for the Kreativ Blogger award and featured you on my blog!

Visit my blog for more about the award: http://treewingsstudio.blogspot.com/.

Have a wonderful weekend! :-)

Rebekah

A Little About Me

I'm retired from Stony Brook Hospital (administrative), and since then have been exploring the wonderful medium of polymer clay. I have two children, and two grandchildren, 5 years old and two years old. They are truly a joy. I am married to the same guy for 41 years. He's supportive of my art and teaching. I'm a Law and Order Junkie and love all books by James Patterson, the Eagles music and Billy Joel.

Proud member of the Polymer Clay Artist Guild of Etsy

Since May of 2007 I have been a member of the Polymer Clay Artist Guild of Etsy. Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. The website, which launched in 2005, has an online community that includes tutorials, downloads, blogs, and a variety of articles on the latest in handmade artistry. In 2006, started by Ilysa Bierer, the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy (PCAGOE) was formed. Today 87 members strong, PCAGOE provides a forum for polymer clay artists to showcase new and exciting techniques, discuss designs and materials, problem solve, and even encourages friendly competition with a monthly challenge. The Guild has supported with the artistry, time and consideration of its members, many different charities. This past spring, tiny clay decorated Bottles of Hope were designed by many members to be donated to cancer patients at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Massachusetts.