• About Cate van Alphen
  • Challenges and Blog Hops
    • Art Bead Scene Studio
    • Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge
    • 2016 Art Vessel
    • 2015 Spectrum Year
    • 2015 Virtual Retreat
    • Virtual Paintout
  • Free Tutorials
    • New Tutorials
    • Old Tutorials
  • Mailing List
  • Shop

Fulgorine

~ My adventures with polymer clay

Fulgorine

Tag Archives: spectrum

Polymer clay challenge – week 34

28 Sun Aug 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, jewellery

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2016PCchallenge, earrings, polymer clay bead, spectrum

This week I have a pair of earrings to show you for week 34 of 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge. I am working on other things too, but I can’t show you yet.

Earrings by Cate van Alphen

I used a pair of spectrum beads and matched them with the brightest bead combination I could find.

Earrings by Cate van Alphen

Advertisement

Happy New Year

01 Fri Jan 2016

Posted by fulgorine in 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge, 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge, Art Vessel, beads, My work

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

2015PCchallenge, 2016PCchallenge, ArtVessel, handmade bead, polymer clay, spectrum

I’m starting the New Year with a look back at the old year. I took part in Katie Oskin’s 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge which I combined with my idea of dividing the year into blocks focussing on each colour of the spectrum. Each week I made bead components*. Look at the pretty gradient that they make!

2015 Spectrum Year

Some of the components need reworking, but I’m pleased to say that I managed to make something every week (despite moving house in the middle). I think perhaps this exercise needs another iteration since one of my objectives was to develop a more homogenous body of work. Maybe I should choose my favourite component from each block and make a version in each colour palette? But that’s not my challenge for 2016…

For 2016 I plan to make a vessel each week. I’ll probably start with covering my collection of glass jars, but I’m also hoping to make items of jewellery like inros.  I’ve made a group on Flickr if you’d like to join in (it’s not limited to polymer clay since although that’s what I work with, I love to be inspired by other media too).

I hope my year, and yours, will be filled with beautiful things!


* I have a page dedicated to the Spectrum Year project where you can click on the thumbnails and find my colour recipes. I am working on adding some of these beads, and jewellery made using the colour palettes, to my Folksy shop.

Bead habitat

23 Wed Sep 2015

Posted by fulgorine in My work, painting

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

abstract, bead embroidery, handmade bead, polymer clay, spectrum, textile painting

I’ve been a little bit distracted the past couple of weeks by a new tangent. I’m fascinated by the discovery of gut flora and the concept that our bodies are more of an eco system than a single organism (since there are more microorganisms in a human body than human cells). Sometimes the wonky polymer clay beads I make have some personality, so I think of them as “creature beads”. I put the ideas together to make a bead habitat where my creature beads could live.

Bead habitat by Cate van Alphen

Bead habitat by Cate van Alphen

I suppose it can be described as an abstract 3D textile painting. I tried to make something lush and varied like a rich ecosystem (something like a garden or rock pool). I used scraps of fleece fabric that I had to hand, but I think it would have benefited from having another layer of more decorative fabric over the top. The fleece gives a nice dimensional structure, but I found the solid blocks of colour a bit of a challenge visually.

Bead habitat detail by Cate van Alphen

Bead habitat detail by Cate van Alphen

It also includes some of my handmade polymer clay beads, glass seed beads and silk covered wire spirals.

Bead habitat detail by Cate van Alphen

Bead habitat detail by Cate van Alphen

I actually finished it last week (at least I think it’s finished), but then I discovered another, slightly related, rabbit hole which I’ll tell you about soon. Don’t worry, I still have some polymer clay beads ready for tomorrow.

Hello world

10 Mon Aug 2015

Posted by fulgorine in My work, painting

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

abstract, colour mixing, genesis heat set paint, painting, spectrum, sunshine

Last night I finally got to try out my new Genesis heat set paints. I haven’t dared try to paint recently, since with little children I know as soon as I’ve mixed up some colours I’ll get called away and they will be left to dry out on my palette. Because the Genesis paints remain usable until heat set, I thought they’d be a safer option. I decided to buy them with my birthday money, but I wanted to wait until after we’d moved. My birthday is in February so there has been some antici… … pation!

Hello world by Cate van Alphen

Hello World by Cate van Alphen

So here’s my first little painting. It’s really just a little doodle for me to test out the spectrum of colours. I think I need to get a magenta to pep up the purple since the one I mixed from red and blue was not bright enough for me (I think the red is too warm). The yellow is pretty warm too so I couldn’t get a cool green. I think I’ve gotten used to mixing with 5 primary colours (from using the Fimo Professional True Colours range).

Spectrum Necklace

31 Tue Mar 2015

Posted by fulgorine in My work

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bead necklace, Cate van Alphen, handmade beads, polymer clay, rainbow, spectrum

I made these polymer clay beads a while back when I was making spectrum beads.

Spectrum bead necklace by Cate van Alphen

Spectrum bead necklace by Cate van Alphen

I’ve just got round to making them into a necklace.

Spectrum bead necklace by Cate van Alphen

Spectrum bead necklace by Cate van Alphen

And it’s mine, all MINE 🙂

2015 Palette Preparation

28 Sun Dec 2014

Posted by fulgorine in 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge, Inspiration

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2015PCchallenge, colour palettes, palette, polymer clay, spectrum

In preparation for the 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge I have created a page with details of what I intend to do, and some colour palettes to get me started.

Spectrum palettes

I’m starting with orange, because a) it’s the most difficult colour for me b) I want to work on warm colours when the weather is cold c) I want to work on yellow in the Spring (I’m thinking daffodils :)).

2015 Spectrum Challenge

08 Mon Dec 2014

Posted by fulgorine in 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge, Challenge

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

2015 Polymer Clay Challenge, Cate van Alphen, polymer clay, spectrum, virtual retreat

I tend to flit between projects, so nothing forms a series of work. While I was having fun making my spectrum beads, it occurred to me to divide the year up into 7 and focus on each colour of the rainbow in turn.

Spectrum beads by Cate van Alphen

Spectrum beads by Cate van Alphen

2015 Polymer Clay Challenge
It was a vague idea until Katie Oskin from Kater’s Acres invited me to join her 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge. This helped me focus on what I wanted to make featuring the colours…

As I have been populating my new Etsy store with jewellery components, I keep thinking it would be good to have beads that co-ordinate with each other to form sets. So I figure if I spend each week making beads or components featuring one main colour they should co-ordinate with each other at the end of the block.

So my plan is to cycle each week between focals, toggles and accent beads with a review and colour change every 7.4 weeks (a year divided into 7).

Focal
Pendant, cabochon or large bead (1″ or larger).
Toggle
Toggle, button or other closure method.
Bead
Spacer beads or accent beads up to 1″ diameter.

I have also signed up for the Polymer Clay Adventure Virtual Retreat so I hope I find the time to do it all :).

More spectrum beads

30 Sat Aug 2014

Posted by fulgorine in My work

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Fimo, focal bead, handmade bead, polymer clay, spectrum

Following my previous post I have been continuing to make spectrum coloured beads. Here are a few…

Spectrum beads by Cate van Alphen

Different sizes…

Spectrum coloured beads by Cate van Alphen

different pattern…

Spectrum beads by Cate van Alphen

different texture.

This fatty was made with the scraps.

Spectrum wobble bead by Cate van Alphen

Spectrum wobble, focal bead by Cate van Alphen

And there is another batch cooling in the oven 😉

Fimo Professional

16 Sat Aug 2014

Posted by fulgorine in My work

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

beads, colour, Fimo, fimo professional, polymer clay, spectrum, True Colours

A little while ago I tried the new Fimo Professional clay. I got the True Colours pack which included a great colour mixing chart which I imagine is going to end up dog-eared with use.

Spectrum beads by Cate van Alphen

Wow! The colours are fantastic!

The clay was wonderfully easy to condition, although I did wonder if it would be a bit mushy for cane work. We were enjoying some amazingly* warm weather at the time. Or perhaps it was because the clay was fresher? Either way it didn’t particularly matter for these beads as I was going for a blended tie-dye effect.  And I loved the colours so much I decided I didn’t really care.

I didn’t manage to figure out the reusable packaging and ended up with the same torn, flappy mess as before. However I have since found a video which should help 😉

Spectrum beads by Cate van Alphen

Did I mention I really loved the colours?


* This is English summer after all.

Flickr Photos

Dreadlock BeadsDreadlock BeadsDreadlock Beads
More Photos

Recent Posts

  • Recycled Polymer Clay
  • Wraptious Design Competition
  • Video Tutorial – Dreadlock Beads
  • What’s a wishpot?
  • Tutorial Video – Sheep Components

Archives

Categories

  • Art Charm Swap
    • 2014 Art Charm Swap
    • 2016 Art Charm Swap
  • Challenge
    • 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge
    • 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge
    • 24oz Polymer Clay
    • Art Bead Scene
    • Art Jewelry Elements
    • Art Vessel
    • BSBP
      • 6th BSBP
      • 8th BSBP
    • Earrings Everyday
  • Giveaway
  • Inspiration
  • My work
    • beads
    • fabric
    • jewellery
    • painting
    • WIP
  • Tutorial
    • Doh!
    • How to
    • Tips
  • Uncategorized
  • Virtual Retreat

RSS Link

  • RSS - Posts

Find Me Online

Deviant Art
Flickr
Instagram
Pinterest
Shop
Twitter

Facebook

Facebook

Twitter

  • RT @gingerbugsandco: A bit late to the party but Happy #ChineseNewYear2023 from Gingerbugs & Co! #ChineseLunarNewyear2023 #RabbitYear2023 #… 1 week ago
  • So much texture 😍 twitter.com/rozdowen/statu… 1 week ago
  • Beautiful paintings. I can see why they’d be a challenge to photograph though. twitter.com/SamCannonArt/s… 4 weeks ago
Follow @fulgorine
Fulgor, n.
Dazzling brightness; splendor.
Fulgorine, n.
One who creates that which dazzles.

Find me

Deviant Art
Flickr
Instagram
Patreon
Pinterest
Shop
Twitter

RSS Links

RSS Feed RSS - Posts

RSS Feed RSS - Comments

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 815 other subscribers.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Fulgorine
    • Join 261 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Fulgorine
    • Customise
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...