|
|
What are Contemporary Clays? |
... all about polymer and metal clays. |
What is precious metal clay? Metal clay is a material consisting of minute particles of fine silver or gold suspended in an organic binder. Some brands of silver clay are made entirely out of recycled silver (from exposed photography, medical and vet film) making this an even more appealing product to me personally. It behaves a little like porcelain clay although it dries very fast…think in terms of ten minutes…mind you, there are 'tricks' to extending the dry out time… While wet, it can be stamped, rolled , used with texture plates and moulds and sculpted. Once dry, in it's greenware state, it can be filed, engraved, carved, drilled and sanded… and the residue is recyclable. Once the metal clay object is fired, the organic binder burns away and the metal fuses together leaving you with a piece that is 99.9% silver. This is a revolutionary product because it means the ability to create beautiful fine silver jewellery is now a possibility to anyone with a butane torch and a few basic tools. Without having to learn complex metal-smithing techniques like casting molten metals, you can make a beautiful fine silver trinket on your kitchen table in half a day. Truly remarkable! |
What is polymer clay? Polymer clay is a manmade pvc modelling material that remains pliable for long periods (ie years) but bakes in your home oven at a fairly low temperature. Also often termed as fimo…which is the original polymer clay. There are many others on the market now, more refined and all with slightly differing qualities, their use depends on the type of job needed. You can sculpt it, carve it, stamp it, texture it, sand it, buff it, paint it, and build with it to create sculpture, accessories, figurines, dolls, or jewellery and beads, or use it to embellish other surfaces. Clay artists have developed techniques to give polymer clay the appearance of granite, jade, amber, coral, turquoise, and ivory, copper verdigris, slate, cork…the list goes on and on…and its flexibility means you can make pieces in shapes and sizes that wouldn't be possible using actual stone. It also has the ability to be worked into millefiori (cane making), adapting the ancient Venetian glass technique of miniaturizing cross sectional designs. Think in terms of those lollies with the pattern that runs all the way down the length of it, snap a piece off and you see the same pattern running right thru. Slice a paper thin piece off the polymer clay canes and meld them into your base bead and voila, a little 'painting' on your bead. You can also use polymer clay to make mosaics, plaques, wall hangings, furniture, boxes, lamps and other decorations. In recent years, polymer clay has developed from a child's play thing into an artistic medium with works in the famous Smithsonian Institute and other prestigious galleries and museums, yet its delightful playfulness has not disappeared. |