Inspiration | Processes | Resources
About the Artist
Jean has studied, worked and played as a designer working primarily on paper and canvas, with textiles, with clay, and eventually with computer generated graphic design. From her earliest position in the 1970s as a color separation artist, she has relished the many opportunities to work in varied mediums. Each experience has built on the next and her past became part of her present in all her creative pursuits.
In college, Jean indulged in classes that were intended to prepare her for commercial art school but when she took an elective in Heritage Arts, those lofty ambitions were forever corrupted by sidetracking her to a new passion in traditional textiles, specifically spinning and weaving. After college, she became involved as a volunteer with the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. Those responsibilities soon evolved into offers for paid work and she began to work full time in graphic design using computer software to create the Guild’s marketing materials and publications.
As print marketing evolved into web marketing, her focus shifted to website development for clients. During this time, Jean began to see programs on tv featuring a designer who worked in polymer clay and the medium intrigued her. So started her current journey to learn how to work with this versatile and challenging medium. Years of researching, practicing and developing her own techniques and styles has brought her to the present where she creates original art pieces in polymer clay. Her work is inspired by experience, love of pattern, color and design.
There are many people to give credit to for inspiration.
Number one is Donna Kato. Jean's adventures with polymer clay (PC) began years ago when she watched Donna demonstrate and teach on HGTV’s Duvall Carol show. This was in the late 1990s, early 2000s. Donna demonstrated the versatility of the clay and her level of craftsmanship, designs and details were impressive and inspiring. The colors and methods were intriguing and Jean began more research and dreampt of someday having time and resources to work in polymer clay.
Countless tutorials freely available through www.youtube.com added more ideas and introduced Jean to the incredible range of techniques possible. When she retired in 2020, she began fulfilling this dream and started practicing different techniques. Jean became completely immersed in the craft by experimenting and practicing different techniques including making canes, sculpting and carving, color blending and piecing patterned clay into new veneers for jewelry, containers, sculptures and figures.
There are many different techniques and processes Jean uses.
For the current series of cats, jewelry pieces and pens, inspiration begins with the developing of her own color pallettes and sometimes a cane design from a tutorial. Once Jean has a cane, she uses the same colors and create simpler and smaller canes and border designs to complement the pattern.
A variation of a technique referred to as scrapscape has become a favorite. The resulting veneer has a fluid and organic feel to the design and by using leftover cane and coordinating colors for border designs, she puts them together to create a completely unique figure.
Here is a list showing some of the resources for clay, tools, books and tutorials Jean uses.
MaterialsKato PolyClay: After dabbling with several different polymer clay brands, Jean decided to focus on using Kato clay because of its qualities. It is a firmer clay than others and this suits her styles of work. The color range is much smaller than other brands and the idea is that any color can be created by blending from the palette offered.
All about Polymer Clay
The Blue Bottle Tree: One of the primary resources for information about the craft continues to be The Blue Bottle Tree website by Ginger Davis Allman. Ginger has done extensive research and has generously shared her knowledge with the clay community through this website.
Tutorials
There are many great tutorials freely available on youtube. Everything from honing techniques and how-to instructions to detailed and challenging cane building. Some youtube channels of note include:
Donna Kato Donna has such a calm and patient style of teaching. Her skill level is out of this world. Her books are inspiring and her youtube tutorials go in to wonderful detail about her techniques to create professional quality work.
Alice Stroppel Tutorials These online video tutorials are inspirational and full of technique instruction for extrusions and cane mapping. Worth every penny.
Fiona Abel Smith Fiona is a favorite especially for gorgeous cane designs and detailed tutorials.
Seana Bettencourt Scrapscapes This tutorial got Jean started with a method to create the beautifully pattern clay veneers she frequently uses.
Samantha Burroughs Jessama Tutorials Sam's tutorials have been tremendously helpful. She has a series of beginner tutorials and seems to always have new techniques on her channel.
Teresa Pandora Salgado Pandora has a youtube channel and an active presence on facebook. She and her followers have created a wonderfully creative and sharing community.
Deb Hart's Paid tutorials worth every penny.
Peacock Feather Cane One of my favorites!
Polymer Clay Tutor Cindy Lietz offers studio tips, technique demos and test lab product reviews on her youtube channel. Her paid tutorial on polymer clay "burl wood" pens is excellent.
Curious Mondo Offer a wide variety of online courses and often offer free classes live. They have some exceptional instructors.
Ace of Clay Great tutorials for those wanting to learn sculpting techniques.
Prismatic Brush Fiona shares techniques for making wonderful and whimisical creatures.
