Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Shop Talk



I like to create these faux cameos. I get to mess around with shapes, colors and paints.
When I start on them, I don't always know how they will look when they are finished, what color they will be.
 I create the inserts in polymer clay, to create blanks with a design that fits inside the reproduction optical lens bezel.
 Polymer clay is so versatile, it can reproduce the looks of so many different kinds of vintage items, like ivory, jade or carved bone.
To make them shiny and not matte, I use my Foredom buffer. Sometimes it grabs the little round painted piece and flings it randomly across the studio, if I don't hang onto it very tightly!
That gives them a nice sheen, and a little bit of a worn look, too. And each one is unique. I can get close to reproducing them, but since they're handpainted, each one turns out a little bit differently.

7 comments:

Sandra said...

love the little pieces of art!

SummersStudio said...

Lovely. Reminds me a bit of working with ceramics. In the beginning it's always a blank slate that you add color to with glaze.

Barbara Lewis said...

I love these, Lynn. I agree with LeAnn!

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

Sandra, Thanks! I thought you all might like a little "behind the scenes" peek.

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

LeAnn, you are right about that. One thing that always gave me a thrill when I used to do ceramics was opening the kiln - so unpredictable how things finish out! At least with these little pieces, I can watch them turn colors before my eyes - without waiting for them to cool off!

Thanks so much for the feedback, and the memories of kiln firing!

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

Barbara - it's also a little like firing enamels, don't you think? only not so high-temp, I guess ...

So happy you like them, thanks!

Karen Williams said...

Beautiful! And I'm in serious envy of your buffing wheel! :)