NEW Techniques, Fun NEW Tools & New Lingo

Hello fellow Artists, I hope you have all had a fabulous Christmas & are ready to hit the 'let's create something Awesome' ground running. My move is about 90% complete, & the rest of the boxes can sit another year... I'm ready for fun!

I'm going to be introducing some New techniques for you to add to your dance card. I have more fun than I can put into words with these techniques, but be warned... New techniques are going to require some new lingo. I will use terminologies here that won't apply anywhere else. For example, I will teach you quilting with clay... it's the 'terminology' that makes the most sense for this technique - but has NOTHING in common with the other 'known & familiar' clay quilting which involves stacking extruded pieces to form a cane.

It's silly, when you are doing something new, you have to have a 'name' for it. So, get ready for new... & know that you can call it anything that works for you. But, new techniques are going to involve some changes to my menu & techniques list, & I've got to be able find listed tutorials quickly. After all, this Artist is terribly creative & somewhat disorganized. I will also be adding a few outside interest posts, for example - a few of the recipes I adore. Cooking is also a creative outlet for me, and I have recipes that I love that I want to be able to access even if my PC crashes.

Some of the New tools I will introduce are awesome, because they are perfect go-togethers with polymer clay, but can also be used within other artistic mediums, if you want to expand your horizons. I worked as a 'Professionsl Artist' for 20 years & 1  (of the many) 1st things I learned was Not to be artistic medium exclusive. I did Artglass Windows, which was my passion... but we can all come to a place where we are lacking ideas or direction. If you have several areas of interest, the fires of creativity are always burning bright. So, I also made 3 different types of Kaleidoscopes. No, not Kaleidoscope Canes... actual Kaleidoscopes. I highly recommend although Polymer Clay is your passion, consider adding another artistic medium. I use clay as the foundation for all my creativity... but do integrate a LOT of other mediums with the clay to create unique artwork and have a lot of diversity... never a dull moment.

For example, I don't make jewelry for people, ever. But i Adore gemstones. I have a blast with WireWorking and needed to integrate that without making jewelry. So, I make large animal pieces akin to Jon Stuart Anderson's (except much bigger) & make uber cool 'collars' for them with a large 'gemstone' dangle. I also make 'faux' Raku & Horse Hair vases with coordinating gemstone that hangs from twine around the neck.

I'll share a few new ideas with you, integrate what interests you with the tons of brilliant techniques already perfected & ready for you from the 100's of generous artists that have paved the way for us...
and have an incredible artistic journey!

      Happy Claying!

She's Backkk

Only for 10 minutes... but she IS back!

I sought legal counsel & this blog is Definitely here to stay - Yay!
For those that are students of art, whether it be polymer clay or you enjoy a wide
variety of artistic mediums to express yourself, you will have a place to come for your
favorite tutorials under one roof.

My studio is being moved right now & will be nestled in at it's new home over the next
few weeks. I will come back ready to share the techniques for doing 'Landscapes' &
the most intricate canes ever imagined... all unique concepts. And I have hundreds more
tutorials to post Plus some programs to store here you will be able to access that will
greatly enhance your artistic ability.

So, to all fellow students that believe Every day is another opportunity to learn something
new & exciting, I look forward to the next step in our shared learning experience.

Until I return, Happy Learning and Claying
ClayPlay Liz

Farewell & Happy Claying

Good evening fellow clayers. I hope this note finds you well, having fun gearing up for the holidays.

In the last few days I've received almost 100 messages, all from the same 9 people... with loving messages regarding my burning in hell, 1 wants to burn my home down with me & my family in it... & of course... everyone can't wait to invest their hard earned money to sue the old gal that has neither a pot to tinkle in or a window to throw it out of. I believe they are slightly upset... just a guess  :-)

This site was always my playground, a way to stay organized as a student. I hope it was a blessing to the handful that have joined me. We've come a long way as artists in the 3 years since we began here, it's been an awesome adventure.

I have bought a domain with unlimited storage & am in the process of downloading this blog. I am moving it on Friday & it will be my personal cloud storage space. This lil playground will be no more, so IF there is any info here that you personally will miss, be sure to grab a copy while the getting is good.

I wish you all the very best & joy filled holidays.
As always... Happy Claying  <3 

A Teacher, A Student, an EXPERT & Copyright Laws

    As I sit with an upset tummy, a heavy heart & totally mixed emotions on this topic, I come to you with a dilemma. Giggles, funniest thing is that only a handful visit this site, so I may be babbling thoughts that are lost in outer space without ever reaching a human ear. All the same, this my feeble attempt to address THE most 'touchy' subject within the Polymer Clay community... Legal 'Copyright Laws' & questions of 'moral & ethical' behavior. A Huge conversation because... what is LEGAL & what is ethical is 2 very different things.

Perhaps we should roll back a bit? Here is a comment on my site...

What, if anything, do I personally say about ArchiDee? 

Here's a link to her Page on my site... inc EVERY way to see her on the web:

 http://clayplayliz.blogspot.com/2015/10/genuine-genius-of-all-techniques-master.html

Under several paragraphs applauding her talent, you will see..
She does in person seminars teaching her Very Intriguing Techniques that will astound you. Make certain you grab a front row seat if the opportunity presents itself & be sure to check out ALL her links below.
 
Be sure to 'LIKE' & subscribe to her YouTube Channel...
https://www.youtube.com/user/archideedidiana/


and you can see reviews & clay related info at Archidee Plus https://www.youtube.com/user/dianaarchidee

     

Awesome LOW prices on tutorials & handmade items in her shop
https://www.etsy.com/shop/archidee

Review the entire page, & then hit a link to 1 of her tutorials I had posted here... http://clayplayliz.blogspot.com/2015/10/rombo-soutache-project-archidee-arte-e.html

You will note, The title is the same as on her YouTube site & her name is listed as the author.
There is Also a hot link right below the video to her 'Master Artist' page. 
I have advertised for HER & promoted HER.And, of course... a bit over a year ago she was thanking me.

So, fast forward to the other day & what was I shown?1st, a rant by ArchiDee that I have stolen her work & put my name on it, of course I didn't. That was followed immediately by this...

Seriously ??? Seriously??? OMGosh, some people will say anything, & how quickly everyone jumped onboard. Money from YouTube traffic... really???
Let's see a you tube post.

First, notice - NONE of my posts EVER had a name or title... every 1 had a numerical name, Period!

#2 - I have NEVER put a TAG on a post - EVER! That means absolutely noone sees my posts - EVER! They were there for 1 reason... to have a place online that inc a container (video player) so I can link to them. Why? Very simple - if I went to YouTube & typed in Red Polymer Fimo Flower to reference a video viewed at another time... good luck finding it again.

8/2010 Stat 
YouTube, a popular video streaming site, now streams more than three billion videos per day 

So, I know exactly where the post is, let's take a peak at what ANYONE who went to that page would see. Because I don't / won't use tags... as you can see - playlist at right is all but empty. The video is about a 'jewelry wiring technique' & look at the right... 1 polymer video (probably because it's someone I follow), a 'molding' video (because I follow them) & random silliness that probably all have a number within their tags.

There are content settings that I'm sure can be set to link to accounts or sites that generate money, but it has NOTHING to do with me. Look closely here at my site... NO Advertising - none, nada, zilch... Zero. 
I'm not generating 1 penny, for myself or anyone else. 

The internet is a glut of information... more than I can begin to keep track of. There are sites out there who trample on artists in such blatant fashion, it's frightening! I DON'T fall into that category. I can say with ABSOLUTE certainty that Pinterest has posts which are of tutorials I have paid for, hence I know at some point someone got their mitts on that tut, posted it and then shared their socks off. Although I've purchased literally 100's of tutorials over the years... I've never reposted 1. NOT because of the LAW, but because of a sense of 'Moral Obligation'.

 I'm so sick of the Fanatics bandwagon. Instead of ranting about how I should 'smoke a turd in hell'... YOU should be utilizing my truest talents - as a teacher. Have I published books on the Polymer topics, Nope. Do I travel the world teaching courses? Nope. But, I DO have what many of you are lacking... the key that takes an artist to the next level... Marketing skills & PVA knowledge. 

PVA Knowledge, Really? Marketing knowledge, Really? Take a close, really close peak.   

                                                             

Click the 'WINDOWS' tab at the top of the home page for a lot of my windows or
CLICK Here

                      

Would you like to take 3 guesses at what these windows are made of ? If you guessed Stained Glass, you missed it by a mile. It's custom tinted PVA applied to a glass surface. 1001% PVA. I know a LOT about PVA, & it changes WHAT can be done with our clay. Im now seriously considering NOT telling you about some cool things I was going to share. Liquid metal that air dries that is 100% PVA - thats what I created my lead lines from. The 'fill'.. you'ld faint IF you knew how I did that, & you could too. Hahaa, I saved my secrets for my kids, to pass them my family biz... they aren't artists & have found their own niches, so I was going to pass some of it to you guys. Hmmm, after such sweetness, how can I be rethinking that, huh?

And what of marketing? As far as I can see, the reason so many are so nervous is that they feel threatened. More artists mean less opportunity for them? Perhaps artists that 'have arrived' see all the fresh newer talent as a threat? When you combine talent with a niche' is when you have true success. Yes, I found a cool niche to put my knowledge of PVA to good use... but I also had truly ingenious marketing... or I would never have gone beyond having some really nice windows in my own home.

Last question...  while some are having a stroke over me posting some of there website material here... (yes, just reposting) what of true copyright laws. Everyone does Stroppel Canes... did every one of you get permission from Alice Stroppel before you did a Stroppel cane? We could go on & on going down that bunny trail. Of EVERY tut I've seen, perhaps 6 were genuinely original... the rest was revamping the same ol' thang. Does that mean they aren't of value? Of course not... but true copyright protection regards 'Unique Technique'. 

Copyright in art? Of course, I had to explore that closely, I actually had money to loose back in those days. Lets look at a few other windows. Do these 'artworks' look familiar at all?  Thomas Kinkade didn't invite me to burn in eternal flames. HaHaaaa, maybe perhaps because he doesn't work in polymer?!

I guess I'm a small person because I can't get beyond a hardy 'raspberry' for each of you that see fit to sharpen their teeth on me, and I prefer to bow a knee of thanx & gratitude to a TRUE artist, 1 that is pure at heart & understands the reality of art. I'm going to print her words in full  (I Don't tamper with perfection):

Diana Dailey

12 December at 04:19

Had a question on my message board this morning. This is not the first time in my life I have been ask this.
Why do I share my knowledge so readily?
Aren't I afraid of someone profiting from me or my work?
Aren't I afraid of someone copying me?
They all phrase it a little different but still the same question.
When I went to art shows I was ask wasn't I afraid of others taking my customers?
My answer is...
The universe has enough for everyone, to get you must give.
I know nothing that in some way I haven't learned from others.
Our main job should be to help others no matter how small that help may be.
There is nothing I can teach or share with others that they can't learn from someone else.
You can't steel my customers because I don't own them, if they buy from you it doesn't mean that if not for you they would have bought from me.
The universe will give me what I deserve.
I am in competition with no one except myself, to be better today than yesterday.
You can't copy my work any more than you can copy my signature.
If your works looks like mine and you learned from me then I did a good job teaching what little I know.
If you take my idea and profit from it then I am glad for you, after all I learned it from someone else in some way.
The only thing that really matters in this life is kindnesses.

What a beautiful, eloquent & generous soul Diana has.

Diana, if you see this post, please know...

When I grow up I want to be just like you!

In closing... I Won't quit posting , because I won't quit growing & learning. You may smile at this irony, this site has been here for years & had only a hand full of followers, because I don't promote it... it's for Me. But since all the buzz, ugly as it has been, the site following has increased 25%. I imagine if you chew on me for another month or 2, it will be 'standing room only' for many more students. 

For those content to be students & Not sharpening your teeth on me...

Happy Claying!

FAIR USE STATEMENT
This website article may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This material is being made available for the purpose of education, commentary and criticism, it is being distributed without profit, and is believed to be "fair use" in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.