Spring on the Farm

Gazing out on several feet of slowly-melting snow from my studio window, it's hard to imagine that Spring will ever be here. But the signs are there-- robins hunting for worms in the muddy ground, the steam coming from sugarhouses all over my neighborhood, smelling like the world's best maple syrup, our chickens laying more eggs, allowing me to make my absolutely favorite treat in the world-- tangy lemon squares.

After such a long winter and months of light-deprived days, our minds are seeking a re-awakening, something to tease our senses and creativity into new and exciting territory. For polymer clay artists, our medium is gaining enthusiasts, among them my own students from the Art on the Farm workshop last year. When your students continue to grow and develop their own ways of working, and even organize times to work and share together -- a teacher can't ask for better than that!

Here are a few photos of work done by students in my class last Fall. Both these ladies were completely new to working with polymer clay.

Sharon Nodelman

Sharon Nodelman

Mary Harding

Stories They Tell & Christine Damm announce

   Art on the Farm: A 3-Day Polymer Clay

Intensive Workshop

New Ways with Construction, Texture & Color

   Bonnybrook Farm – Braintree, VT

May    27-29, 2014

This course was created to teach my signature techniques but also to provide insight into my method of working, with an emphasis on nurturing each participant's exploration of their own artistic expression and development of an individual creative voice. We all want to make art that is meaningful, emotional and that tells a story. My intention for this course is to facilitate that ability. I emphasize the teaching of ideas, not just techniques.

We'll begin this 3-day intensive class using my multi-stage method of working with polymer clay. Starting with a discussion of form, we'll use layering and other construction techniques to make our jewelry elements, then introduce texture, utilizing molds and everyday objects in unique ways as tools for impressing designs onto polymer.

Color will be considered using a wide variety of surface-coloring techniques, demonstrated on the completed polymer forms using oil and acrylic paints, chalk, texturing media, pencils and inks. In addition to studio time devoted to instruction and demonstrations, students will have ample time to apply the coloring techniques to their own pieces.

Then we'll explore innovative ways to use wire and other metal findings to create integral connections and explore different stringing techniques and designs.

In consultations with individual students we'll discuss personal style and how the techniques taught can enhance and broaden their work.

This intensive is suitable for beginners in polymer clay, as well as advanced polymer users, as the technique I teach involves a completely different approach from traditional color blending-based polymer applications such as cane-making and mokume gane. Artists from any discipline may benefit from this class-- mixed media and collage, painting and watercolor, stoneware clay and jewelry arts, to name a few. All that's required is curiosity and a well-developed artist's or crafting skill-set. Class size will be limited to 8 students.

Participants will have access to all my personal coloring supplies and my extensive collection of handmade silicone molds. Basic supplies-- clay, blades, scalpels, heavy medium, heat-set oil paint for antiquing, sanding pads and molding putty-- will be available for purchase. Upon receipt of class fees a list of useful tools and items needed for the class will be sent.

For more information about tuition, registration and all the other fine print, e-mail me at cdamm1@myfairpoint.net. The class size is capped at 8 students so that everyone will receive the maximum of personal attention and instruction. I'm very excited to invite you all into my studio. I think we can do great things together.