Right here’s my annual assessment of what occurred on my weblog. And a few of what occurred off my weblog, however was shared on social media. I used to be neglectful of my weblog towards the tip of the yr. No excuses. It simply occurred. I’ve been contemplating shifting my webpages to a distinct platform and pondering the worth in attempting to relocate weblog posts versus beginning over. Extra on that in a second; however first, a glance again at my artistic journey for the yr that was 2021.
In trying over the gathering of creations for the yr, I feel I’ll unofficially name 2021 my yr of paper clay creations. In January, I added paper clay to my artwork provides because of a pandemic-related scarcity of polymer clay. Sadly, however not unexpectedly, the coronavirus pandemic was nonetheless with us in 2021 and continued to influence many facets of our lives. I’m lucky that shortages of craft provides and different such minor inconveniences have been the worst results for me and mine. And the scarcity of polymer clay led me to find a brand new artwork medium that I seemingly wouldn’t have tried in any other case.
It’s been gradual going studying to work with paper clay. It doesn’t have the identical physique as polymer clay, which meant I needed to modify my sculpting methods. Reminiscent of they got that I’m nonetheless within the steep uphill facet of the educational curve for sculpting in polymer clay. Essentially the most difficult a part of working with paper clay has been that it’s an air dry clay. On one hand, I felt pressured to work shortly earlier than the clay hardened. However, I felt pissed off ready for items to remedy so I may transfer to the portray half. However total, I’d contemplate my experiments to this point a hit and I foresee extra paper clay creations within the yr forward.
Along with paper clay, I integrated epoxy clay into my artistic repertoire this yr. I experimented with it as soon as a pair years in the past, to make a miniature bottle tree. This yr, I used it at the side of paper clay for a few sculptures (the rainbow lizards and tarantula jars within the collage above). I additionally used epoxy clay (particularly, Apoxie Sculpt) for a handful of micro-mosaic and assemblage designs. As with paper clay, epoxy clay cures with publicity to air. So there was an identical sense of speeding to complete earlier than the clay hardens. Once more, I can foresee utilizing this medium extra within the yr to come back.
Polymer clay made a cameo look in my artistic journey this yr when a buddy commissioned a customized cake topper for a vow-renewal celebration. The cake topper was designed to resemble the armadillo-shaped cake from the couple’s authentic marriage ceremony reception. I gained’t say I fully nailed the resemblance, however I’m happy to say I bought shut sufficient to make my buddy very pleased.
Along with neglecting my weblog towards the tip of the yr, I additionally uncared for my embroidery provides and solely accomplished two initiatives. Once more, I’ve no good excuse. Subsequent yr, I hope to get again into the behavior of sewing one thing each month. However that’s not a proper New Yr’s decision so don’t maintain me to it.
In trying over the yr’s makes, it appears 2021 was a yr for me attempt new issues. Along with the paper clay sculpting, and epoxy clay micro-mosaics, I dabbled in altered bottles for on design problem. I’ve been gathering altered bottle inspirations on Pinterest for years. And I’ve been curating a big assortment of glass bottles and jars. Some would possibly name it hoarding. Those that would are clearly not artwork and craft visionaries.
Surprisingly, there wasn’t a lot jewellery designed this yr. It appears I used to be preoccupied with sculpting. However I nonetheless managed a pleasant assortment of necklace, bracelet, and earring designs.
In fact, there have been some ornaments made this yr. The doves within the title picture had been made this month, from paper clay with gold leaf accents. The gold leafing didn’t go as deliberate so I’ve put it on my listing of issues to attempt once more. That listing of do-overs is sort of lengthy and dates again over a decade, so I could or could not get round to it subsequent yr. There have been additionally just a few paper clay sea turtle ornaments made earlier this yr, for a turtle-themed design problem. I had deliberate to make a bunch extra to supply in my etsy store earlier than the Christmas vacation, however planning and doing aren’t all the time as intently linked in time as I’d like. I did get just a few extra of the paper clay turtle ornaments reduce out this month, however was nonetheless ready for clay to dry on Christmas eve. I feel I can safely say I’ll get these painted subsequent yr.
As I’ve been penning this put up, I bear in mind how a lot I take pleasure in running a blog. And I really feel badly for neglecting to write down posts for the previous a number of months. I’m not resolving to do higher subsequent yr. Largely as a result of I don’t make resolutions. And in addition as a result of I’m nonetheless undecided the place my web site it going. It’s at the moment on a self-hosted WordPress platform. There are issues I like about WordPress. However the one factor I actually dislike about self-hosting on my present website supplier is the fixed worry I’ll screw up putting in some replace or different and crash my website. I’m not terribly savvy about what goes on behind the scenes of an internet site and I don’t plan to make time to appropriate that. So, for my very own peace of thoughts, I’m contemplating shifting my website to a platform the place the one factor I’ve to handle is content material.
Sadly, plainly one trade-off for shifting to a platform the place another person manages all of the behind-the-scenes updates could also be much less freedom within the look of weblog posts and the way feedback perform. Whereas I don’t have an enormous variety of weblog followers, I do take pleasure in interacting by means of feedback. I would like to not make commenting cumbersome. The opposite trade-off could be that I’ve to desert all my previous weblog posts, or worse, lose all my present followers. I’m nonetheless investigating choices. If I do transfer Paisley Lizard, I’ll allow you to all know upfront.
For now, many because of you all for following together with my artistic journey, and for taking time to share your ideas in feedback. I respect you a lot and I want you all the most effective within the New Yr. I hope to see you right here (or wherever my weblog finally ends up) subsequent yr. It’s also possible to comply with me on Instagram and Fb, the place there are fewer phrases about my artistic journey, however nonetheless loads of photos of my creations.
