Polymer Clay "Catch 22" - The Artist's Paradox

There is an irony with us artists selling our work. We spend so much time trying to make a living from our wonderful art only to discover that we’ve become way too emotionally attached to our work and can’t let it go.

Sounds familiar?

Think about it.

When you sell a piece of your art, how to you feel? Do you feel great about the sale and ready to pay some bills? do you feel a little sad to see it go, but hey, that’s a part of being a professional polymer clay artist! or do you regret the second you let it go and find yourself hurrying back to your studio trying to recreate a copy of it for yourself?

These feelings of "sale remorse" - We condition, play, shape and design our clay and tend to get physically attached to our final piece, can't let it go.

Many artists are happy to sell, but at the same time, they would also wish they could save a copy of the work for themselves. If not for emotional reasons, it's to “check back on it as a reference for how I made a certain piece”.

Why am I telling you all this?

When I started my way with polymer clay, every fair I participated in - I had mixed feelings.

Glad because I sold and sad because I sold it!

Crazy - isn't it?

In time I learned that although my designs are very dear to me, it's like finding them a new home and letting my customers have a "small piece of me". That's a nice thought. They chose me.

Tomorrow is one of those days. I am saying goodbye to some of my own personal favorites.

As a part of studio re-organization, making room for new things, I am holding a special pre-holiday studio fair - the first in 2 years.

Some of my most favorite PolyPediaOnline tutorial products will be offered for public sale.

These items are very dear to me and always reminds me of the wonderful material we are working with.

If you're wondering about a certain project, want to see it in close, wear one of my jewels or a collector of polymer clay pieces - you are welcome aboard!

Some of the designs have Only 1 item AVAILABLE!

The special link to the sales page will be sent to all PolyPediaOnline members tomorrow during the day, that's more than 5000 artists getting an email from me with a link to the StudioFair page.

If you are interested and want to see one of my pieces in person, you are welcome to join!

The items will be published here in the blog only after PolyPediaOnline members will have the exclusivity to be the first to know and purchase.

Hope to see you in my "booth"! Come & say hello... :)

Polymeri Online 24.3.11

Wall cakes's store is full of wonderful hand crafted decorative switch plates.

Her story reminds me a little bit of my own, when she lost her job she re-discovered her love of art. She says that "losing something is sometimes the best thing that can happen to anyone". As a teenager, she took classes, made things on a loom, watched and helped, her mother and aunt ran a small business making ceramics. Her inspiration comes from the mediums she works with. Polymer clay can be whatever you want it to be - so true.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WallCakes

Olena Mysnyk is a 26 year old designer, studied architecture in Kiev, but once found herself in creating jewelry - she tried to work with polymer clay and could not stop. She creates delicate, bright and tender flowers made into beautiful jewelry.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/HoneyCase2

Katie Oskin has been crafting for the majority of her adult life, but about 2 years ago she began to experiment with polymer clay. Since then she has fallen in love with its affordability, its multi-purpose uses, and the relaxation it provides (squish, squash, bake, crack, paint, oil, cure, etc.) Their designs are mostly whimsical, fun, and humorous in nature. From the cute & cuddly, to the monsters & robots!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/toystorynutty

Amy was always into the arts in one way or another since she was a toddler. Her latest obsession is working with polymer clay. She has been trying different techniques & experimenting, but still pretty new at it. She loves sea creatures, mainly cephalopods. Octopus & squid are her favorites as you can tell by looking through her shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/societysedso

Polymeri Online 1.10.09

LizardsJewelry / Liz Hall is a silver and polymer clay artist, she combine them both into beautiful jewelry pieces, her designs are both organic and geometric forms, usually with colorful stones, glass or found materials. The majority of her pieces are pendants, necklaces and earrings. more about her in her etsy store profile.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizardsjewelry/
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=29276

Doubleparlour is an art collaboration between Ernie and Cassandra Velasco. Both are artists who like to explore a variety of subject matters with different mediums. Some works are done as a joint effort and others are solo works. Current work includes drawings, prints, paintings and polymer clay sculptures.
http://doubleparlour.etsy.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doubleparlour/

Toni Ransfield from NZ sponsored a Fimo Nail Competition for nails decoration, the competitors used her beautiful canes to design a winning nail design, choice was hard but the finalists were so colorful! Winning design was from New Zealand! Just thinking of these long nails, must be very hard to work at home or even clay with those long ones! but on the otherside, let's give DH do some house chores :)
http://www.nailtips.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=2954
Toni's link to her store is http://toninz.mybisi.com/

One of my hobbies over the years was balloon sculpturing, i was hooked by that fast and colorful art of twisting balloons and making a beautiful piece out of it, i bought books and magazines and had a great time! and look what i found - a balloon dog pendant by roscata, she is a biologist, chonchologist, mesmerized by miniatures, and curiosities accumulator extraordinaire - this cutie brings me back to those balloons i love!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31281455

Polymeri Online 4.9.08

Kim Owens has been crafting in several different mediums for 15 years. she discovered Polymer Clay about 3 years ago and it's now her favorite medium, she uses Sculpy and Fimo Polymer to make her Folk Art, Primitive Creations. Once the initial piece is complete, she bake it according to the manufacturer’s recommended time. In some cases, before baking, she will texture the piece to resemble carved wood or give it a rustic appearance. After the piece is completed she will antique it to give it her signature "Primitive" look. (in photo hilda the little witch)
http://www.folkartfromtheheart.com/
http://www.folkartfromtheheart.blogspot.com/
http://www.folkartfromtheheart.etsy.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/folkartfromtheheart/

Lauren Abrams is a purse designer specializing in bag hardware. She makes pigmented cast resin handles, buckles and embellishments by hand and also love designing jewelry with cast resin and polymer clay
http://www.labeana.etsy.com/
http://www.labeanabags.com/

ketztx4me - according to RM Ketzel she is a Proud citizen of the great Republic of Texas, obsessed with the possibilities of polymer clay and a Member of the National Polymer Clay Guild
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8989180@N02/

beautifulmemories creates both collectible Reborns and child-safe Reborns. She has been reborning for several years, to see the doll come to "life" never ceases to amaze her, even after all this time.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11828902

cobcreations After spending most of her life moving around the US and Canada, she settled down in the Big Apple. She finds endless amusement and inspiration living and traveling around all the different NYC neighborhoods,and her cute sculptures are the avidence :) http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5304297