polymergence header
In This Issue
P&P Members' Choice
Online Resources
Calls for Entry
New IPCA Officers
Digital Photo Editing
Constructing a LIght Box
Sizing Digital Photos
Time Management for 2012
Polymer in Print
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Photography Issue

This first issue of Polymergence in 2012 focuses on a topic that can be a major stumbling block for polymer artists: photographing your work and processing digital images.

Susan O'Neill has generously donated a downloadable tutorial on basic digital photo editing.

Cat Therien explains how to make an inexpensive light box to photograph your work.

Suzanne Ivester gives step-by-step instructions for sizing photos to upload to CaFE and Zapp call-for-entry sites.

These tutorials are introduced here and can be accessed in full on the Member's Only section of our website.


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Progress & Possibilities 2011:
Members' Choice Voting Now Open
online voting
You should have already received, via email, an invitation to vote in the Members' Choice competition of Progress & Possibilities 2011.

The voting is open through January 18, but we encourage everyone to vote as soon as possible.


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Online Resourcescomputer user

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Calls for Entry

 

Note: Many calls in the US are open to non-US residents!

big prize clipart
Women's Works, Woodstock, IL, deadline Jan. 19

2012 Kreft Juried Exhibition, Ann Arbor, MI, deadline Jan. 20

Tampa 2012, Tampa, FL, deadline Jan. 26

Fidelity Investments All-Media Exhibition, Providence, RI, deadline Feb. 3

(figurative art), Washington, DC, deadline Feb. 6

1001001 - artproject, The Art of Human Freedom, Stockholm, Sweden, deadline ongoing

Latin Pop Shop, online US, selling opportunity for All Latino/Latina Artists, online, deadline ongoing
 

Magazine Challenges

 

"Flowers," Polymer Cafe, deadline Feb. 10. See Feb. issue, p. 60. 

 

Shelf-sitter challenge, Art Doll Quarterly, deadline March 15, 2012 

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Upcoming Events:
Classes and Workshops
 
Kaleidoscope Pendant, by Carol Simmons

Cabin Fever Clay Fest, Feb. 17-22, L aurel MD; 8 pre-conference workshops and 12 workshops 
Carol Blackburn, Santa Fe, NM, Feb. 18-19

Dayle Doroshow,  Tallahassee, FL; reception Feb 17,workshops Feb. 18-20

   

Society of American Mosaic Artists, Lexington, KY, Annual Conference,
Feb.29-Mar. 4 Laurie Mika will teach 2 workshops on polymer clay mosiacs. 

Polymer Pamper Play II, Broadway, UK, Mar. 16-18

Sue Heaser, Bead Making Workshop, Suffolk, UK, Apr.1

Carol Simmons, Intricate Kaleidoscope Canes, Dahlonega, GA, Apr. 2-8

For morelistings, visit the IPCA  events page 
Volume 6, Issue 1
January 2012
 Introducing New IPCA Officers
 for 2012-13

 

Election results for International Polymer Clay Association officers have now been tabulated:

  • Corliss Rose of Anaheim, California, is the new Vice President for Membership;
  • Mechelle Fox of  Chesapeake, Virginia,  is the Member-at-Large from Virginia 

 

Corliss and Mechelle will serve two-year terms, beginning this month.

 

Corliss Rose bracelet
Torrid Jungle Bracelet, from 2 Roses Studio

Corliss is part of 2 Roses, an artistic collaboration with her partner in life, John Rose. The studio is driven by the principles of exploration and experimentation. 2 Roses have made their mark on American Art Jewelry with a individualistic style that has combined a dizzying array of highly unorthodox materials and techniques ranging from the medieval to the space-age.

 

First Experience With Clay:  I wanted to incorporate color into my work without the heavy equipment of enameling. The possibilities with polymer are endless and I'm finding that this cross-pollination develops a much broader expanse of creativity.

Ivester 5-petal necklaceMichelle is the owner of Polymer Clay Eclectic.  She writes, "A series of serendipitous events involving an exchange challenge by the Spindlers Yahoo group, a thrift store, rubber stamps and spotting a book on stamping in polymer clay led me to my current interest (obsession ;-) ) in the medium. That was in 2002 and I am still at it. My first projects were spindles made from polymer and wood. I have experimented with many techniques and end products and am currently mainly focused on sculptural art jewelry. I am also constantly taking something I learned in working with one medium or craft and using it in another, sometimes completely different, direction while working with another medium. That building of ideas and techniques is part of why I choose to call my work eclectic. I don't want to be stuck in a narrow channel of creativity. I intend to follow my muse wherever it takes me."

 

Photography:
Basic Digital Photo Editing
by Susan Symonds O'Neill

What follows is a description of my personal workflow for processing photos for Etsy and various competition sites. I am not a professional photographer or affiliated with Adobe in any way, just an enthusiast who has "played" with digital photo imaging for over a decade and attended several workshops. I've learned most of these processes from the Pros, and my own trial and (many) errors.

This procedure is pretty "quick and dirty," but Photoshop Elements (PSE) can do SO much more. Almost every tool/filter has multiple settings and I'm not even touching Layers, which is probably THE most powerful feature. This tutorial is solely intended to get you better photos from camera to Etsy or other site listings with minimal steps.
It may initially seem complicated, but with practice you'll speed up dramatically.

Members may download the full tutorial here
Photography:
Budget-Friendly Light Boxes
by Cat Therien


 There are many advantages to using a light box for taking pictures of your polymer clay projects.  The main advantage is that you can take your shots day or night, regardless of the weather. 

There are numerous commercial light boxes on the market and their prices vary widely.  There are also a number of do-it-yourself light box projects that you can build yourself, like the one shown here that my daughter-in-law, Heather, built for me.  It fits inside a tiny utility closet in a corner of my basement studio, and stays set up so that I can take photos at a moment's notice.

In my article on the IPCA website, you'll find details on how to build this light box, as well as links to other DIY light boxes.   
Photography:

Sizing Photos for CaFE:CallforEntry
and Zapp

 

by Suzanne Ivester

 

During the last few days of submissions for Progress & Possibilities, I received questions from several members who were having trouble sizing their photos. In fact, I later heard that a few people didn't enter the exhibition because of these issues. This is such a shame! We don't want our members to miss opportunities to participate in juried shows that accept calls through CaFE, Zapp, and other similar sites because of image-sizing problems!

 

Here are step-by-step instructions for sizing your photos for CaFE:Call for Entry or Zapp. It's not a difficult process once you've played with it a bit. It's best to practice and master the technique when you're relaxed and not facing an application deadline. Before long it'll seem very simple and you'll do it automatically.

 

I'm using a Macintosh with Mac OS X, version 10.6.8. If you're using a PC and/or PhotoShop Elements, the process should be very similar.

 

Cafe logoRead more 

Managing a Scarce Resource: Time

At this time of year, most of us set good intentions to enhance our lives. If your resolutions include reducing stress, improving time management, or making more time for your art, these tips from Canadian textile artist and creativity coach Mary Holdgrafer may help. Mary is a friend of IPCA, having served as a judge for Progress & Possibilities 2010.  In her most recent essay of the month, she offers five rules for overcoming her own tendency toward procrastination, one of the most common time-management problems. She writes: 

 

1. I  work at regular times. For me early in the morning is the best time to work. . . . It is when I am most creative and focussed.

 

2.   I establish a specific work schedule. If I am working on a big project I know that I will be working every day at certain times. Everything else has to be fit around my work schedule.

 

3.   I organize my materials. When I finish for the day I organize the materials I will need for the next session. This may be the single most important tool I have. When I go to work I don't need to spend time figuring out where to start.

 

4.   I tell myself that I have all the resources to resolve any problems that may arise. Experience tells me this is so. Occasionally I need to ask for help. In the past it was hard for me to admit I needed help but now that I am older and wiser this is less of a problem.


5.   I do not whine. Sometimes I want to whine but I don't really find it helpful. Rather I breathe and repeat positive aphorisms (I can do this; I am able to solve my problems; I have the resources I need; etc.).

 

No matter what your resolutions are, or even if you don't have any, IPCA wishes you a healthy, joyful, busy, and creative 2012. 


Polymer in Print: What's New

 

New Books

Books Coming Soon  

 Magazines  

  • Polymer Cafe, February 2011:  "Julie Picarello," by Trina Williams;
    "Heart Pendant," by Julie Picarello;
    "Dangle Bangles," by Helen Wyland-Malchow; "Bradley Cat Pin & Earrings," by Debbie Halliday; "    An Introduction to Millefiori ," by Eve Leder; "Simply Sorbet," by Karen and Ann Mitchell; "Introducing The Polymer Chef," by Suzanne Ivester
  • The Polymer Arts, Winter 2011: "Filling Up Your Well of Creativity," Christi Friesen; "Sharing Our Polymer Passion," Barbara McGuire; "How to Create and Teach a Polymer Clay Workshop"; Mentors' Galleries, Emerging Artist Galleries, and Inspiration Challenge Gallery. 
  • Art Doll Quarterly, Winter 2011, "Little Blessings," Gloria Rone  
  • From Polymer to Art, The next issue will be Purple, available now for preorder. The contents page is available on the magazine website.
  • Belle Armoire Jewelry, Winter 2011, "Polymer Clay Basics," featured artist Sherilyn Miller.  
Member Appreciation Award
Each quarter, IPCA randomly draws the name of one member who has joined or renewed his or her IPCA membership during that quarter. 

The winner for Fall 2011 is Susan Fleischer. She will receive a $50 Polymer Clay Express gift card generously donated by Wilma and Rob Yost.  Congratulations, Susan!