31 Fri Aug 2012
Posted in My work
Tags
beach, landscape, painting, polymer clay, river, shadow, sisters beach, Tasmania, trees, Virtual Paintout
Despite my best intentions, I have only finished my virtual paintout picture on the last day of the month (again). This month it’s Tasmania.
“Sisters Beach, Tasmania” by Cate van Alphen
Polymer clay, 10cm x 10cm
04 Sat Aug 2012
Posted in My work
I have finally finished my Thailand painting. I was getting really worried that the earlier parts of the painting would crack in the oven as the baked polymer clay “canvas” was arching upwards with the passing days, but there wasn’t a problem. Yay!
“Upwards, Thailand” by Cate van Alphen
Polymer clay, 10cm x 10cm
The original image is from google streetview. I have an earlier post about this painting in progress.
Other good news is that I may be one remake away from finishing an “official” Bead Soup piece. I’ve already completed some but not using the toggle or focal I was sent. So, head down till the big reveal on 11th August!
01 Wed Aug 2012
Posted in My work
Tags
jungle, landscape, painting, path, polymer clay, polymer clay painting, skinner blend, Thailand, trees, Virtual Paintout
This month’s Virtual Paintout location is Thailand. It is a really interesting location and I wish I had more time to explore, but I haven’t even managed to finish the painting I started.
**Edit – I’ve now finished this painting.**
This is actually only the background half of my picture as I’m only just starting to work on the interesting bits (have a look at the original location to see what I mean). Here is a look at the work in progress.
As you can see the painting is pretty tiny – 10cm x 10 cm. I started off with 6 colour mixes (see the tiles to the right of the painting) plus black and white. I made some skinner blends to increase my colour variety as I haven’t managed to get them to mix nicely on the canvas (as I used to do with oils). The flowers are pure carmine from the packet.
I’m working on a thin sheet of pale blue polymer which has been baked, on which I’ve drawn pencil guide lines. I prefer to do the whole painting before curing as I often go back and change earlier bits as I progress but at this point I’m worried the uncured clay will crack if I don’t finish soon.
I still intend to finish this painting so there will be another blog about it eventually. In the mean time have a look at the flickr group to see some other finished polymer clay paintings.
I also need to work on my Bead Soup pieces – due 11 August. At the moment I have actually finished some pieces but they don’t use either the toggle or the focals I received (I received a LOT of beads!).
30 Sat Jun 2012
Posted in My work
Tags
bead, Latvia, painting, polymer clay, road, sunset, trees, Virtual Paintout
One of polymer clay strengths is its ability for two colours to get really close and personal and not mush together. This is why techniques like millefiori caning and mokume gane are possible. Therefore I want to achieve subtle painterly blends and tie-dye water colour effects. Doh!
This month’s Virtual Paintout location is Latvia, and I decided to do my painting using polymer clay. As I’ve only just submitted my image I need to wait and see if polymer clay is considered a “drawing and painting medium” as specified in the challenge requirements. It was fun to do regardless and I’m getting closer towards achieving my idea.
“Last Light, Latvia” by Cate van Alphen
Polymer clay, 10cm x 10cm
The painting is pretty tiny (10cm x 10cm) so it’s smaller than it appears on my computer. Here is the reference location.
Other attempts at this technique include my earlier Art Bead Scene entry, and this swirl bead.
So far it’s super slow and my eyes go squiffy. So why don’t I just paint using PAINT instead of trying to make polymer clay do something it doesn’t want to? I don’t know, does anyone else?
Fulgorine 