At the end of the 1800's, science and
manufacturing were becoming very good friends indeed, with the
artist coming in for some wonderful new materials as an
afterthought. The plastics that we think of as being very modern
marvels had their industrial beginnings then, with such
entrepreneurial chemists as Robert Bakelund. He was searching for a
laboratory style version of shellac, a very popular finish made
using the body of the laq beetle.
Used for smooth wooden floors (such as bowling alleys the rage
at the time) as well as part of the finish on lightweight
"lacquered" furniture and decorative items, demand for the product
far outweighed the supply. The unexpected results he came up with
hardened as it set up and cooled, and became a product he patented
as "Bakelite".
His work in creating polymers blazed
the way for modern versions of thermally set plastics. When people
make disparaging remarks about the value of "plastics" as a medium,
they are obviously unaware of the sturdy and collectable nature of
Bakelight, whether in the form of billiard balls, classic auto
parts, radios, buttons, jewelry-or BEADS!
Just as modern acrylic paints were once given a suspicious
greeting by the Art world that has now embraced it as a medium for
fine work, so plastics are now truly beginning to come into their
own-after more than a hundred years! Books available through
Amazon.com such as "The
Bakelite Jewelry Book" are a treat to the eyes while also
containing fascinating information about these beads, buttons and
baubles.
Embraced with enthusiasm by jewelry and fashion designers,
Bakelite even had kits available at one time for home use, but this
was discontinued due to the flammable nature of the phenol based
plastics.
Today's versions are no longer flammable due to a different
chemical base, and are certified as nontoxic and safe for use by
children and home artists. Available in a wide array of
intermixable colors, today's polymer clays are an incredible medium
that welcomes the beginning creative experimenter as well as the
proficient professional artist. 
Popular brands
such as FIMO began as a medium for doll and miniature making in
Europe in the 1940's to help replace manufacturing shortages caused
by wartime.
Other brands such as Sculpey, Premo, Cernit, Modello, and Kato
Polyclay are now in the hands of artists all over the world, who
create amazing works of art ranging from the very tiniest of
miniatures and beads to furniture and pieces of much larger
scope.
Using millefiore techniques, colored polymer clays have been
placed to form the patterns that decorate these Geisha styled
beads. Formed and baked around ping pong balls, they require extra
ventilation for safe baking, but make a striking visual impact!
Smaller beads make use of the reduced clay "canes" for the detailed
embellishments.
This mermaid's head, hands
and scales are made of polymer clay. Each scale was cut using a
round Kemper tool and then sliced and affixed in place.
I also used it to create the faux "seashells" and "coral" beads
of her cascading necklace.
Instructions for making fullsize faux seashells and coral are
given in "Create
a Polymer Clay Impression".
New techniques and applications are being
uncovered and shared at a staggering rate by those who find this
very malleable, truly "plastic" medium almost irresistible.
After over twenty years of intensive work using polymer clays, I
am still finding new things that can be done with it all the time.
In upcoming columns that will alternate with the series brought to
you by the very talented Mitchell Sisters, please join me in
exploring the potentials of polymer clay.
With well known and up-and-coming artist interviews, reviews of
products, techniques, and tools as well as projects, we'll take an
on-going look at this astoundingly versatile medium.
Click here to view more wonderful bead
and polymer clay articles online at The Bead Bugle.
