Polymer Clay Workshops

The New York Polymer Clay Guild is please to announce the following workshops for 2008:

Like Fred Aster and Ginger Rogers, peanut butter and jelly, frank and beans, peaches and cream, polymer clay and Precious Metal Clay were made to compliment each other. In this workshop, we will concentrate on projects that bring these two art materials together to form beautiful pieces of jewelry.
 
This class is open to beginners as well as those who have experience with PMC.

What we will do? Create decorative bezel forms. Then use Polymer Clay as an inlay material to enhance these forms. This process will entail rolling, cutting, dry construction, use of texture plates, sheet laminating, crewelwork, and much more, all with PMC. We will go over firing and finishing the PMC. Then, you will use your Polymer clay— a Skinner blend, fancy cane, or simply a solid color—to enhance your piece. And finally, we will go over polishing the PMC and polymer inlays for a fabulous look.
 
So gather up your supplies and come on over to St John’s for a fun and creative time while making something beautiful to wear.
 
If you have any questions, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please be aware that because of the fluctuating price of silver, the cost of the materials is approximate and will be based on the market price of silver. The current materials fee cost is $77. This includes 28grams PMC+, 7.5 grams PMC+ Paste, 1 PMC+ sheet, plus other consumable supplies used during the process which Terry will supply. If you want to bring your own PMC, that’s fine, but you will still need to pay at least $15.00 for the consumables.

Skill - All Levels

Day 1 - Learn how to make a 2 color Skinner Blend and 3 simple canes - Bull's Eye, Jellyroll and stacked. We will combine these simple canes into a complex "funky" flower cane. Techniques for reducing a cane will also be shown.
 
Day 2 - Using the techniques learned in Day 1, we will continue to make some simple canes and incorporate them into a realistic flower cane. 

 Skill level: all levels
Materials fee: $25 includes clay and findings
 
Some say that Mokume Gane rhymes with “play with clay all day” and that is exactly what we will be doing for two days in this fun, fast paced survey of this excitingly versatile technique. You will learn valuable tricks and tips while making five different brooch or bead styles that feature-Haunani-gane, Roche-gane, Amt-gane, Wavy-gravy gane (unfortunately NOT a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor) and ‘end-of-the day gane”.
 
Haunani Gane - Glistening, gossamer, intriguing layers of polymer clay characterize this version of Mokume Gane.which is an adaptation of an ancient layered metalworking technique. You will learn the keys to color selection, how to tint translucent clay, make a mokume block and useful strategies for multi-layered construction. Discover what works best for beads, sculptural surfaces and flat pieces that have the illusion of real depth. Explore ways to manipulate the surface finish to accentuate the beautiful designs you have created.
 
Roche-gane - High contrast opaque layers manipulated from above with the matrix used to make rubber stamps. With this version of mokume gane, invented by Nan Roche, you will be exploring a southwestern palette to create stunning predictable, unpredictability and the importance of value contrasts.
 
Amt-gane is a version on mokume gane pioneered by Kathleen Amt where the billet is cut into and stretched to reveal ghost-like spreads of color. You will learn how to fashion a pendant or pair of earrings with this fall inspired palette.
 
Wavy-gravy gane, while not edible, is an exciting way to use a French fry cutter developed by Marie Segal to capture t will choose from a pastel delight or metallic palette to explore this technique.
 
End-of–the-day gane is proof in the recipe, that sometimes too much planning ahead can nip serendipity in the bud....
 
Plan on attending with Your two magical hands, suspension of doubt and an awareness of the true Magic inherent in polymer clay- and leave with several completed projects, an increased confidence with working with color, hands-on understanding of valuable bench tricks and an enhanced understanding of Your artistic self..

For more information on these workshops, directions to St. John's University or other NYPCG activities, see www.nypcg.org or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .