I’ve had a box of Kato Polyclay that I’ve been meaning to use for more than 8 years (sometimes the to-do list gets long…) as well as a tray full of left over colors kneaded up and ready to go, and a box of floral canes.
I got the clay meaning to do a new batch of Victorian hand beads and a new face cane or two. I wondered if it would still be workable, and it was. So I conditioned my ivory, black and russet color blends of clay, added some gold…
It worked up very well, and since it has been a while since I played with my clay, I started with a started with a cane for a sloe-eyed, flapper type with kohl rimmed eyes and red lips. I am pleased with how she turned out, and have lots of ideas for dressing her up with beads, feathers, silk sari trim ribbon like you see here, and more polymer clay.
I make components for each part, and make one eye that I cut into two, same with a cheek. I made enough lips to make my Geisha cane as well. The white powdered face and rosebud lips of a 1920’s coquette owe a lot to the style of the ladies of the Ukiyo or Floating World. I love the woodblock prints from that period, and the textiles. I so enjoyed the first batch of beads and pins that I made with a caned Geisha style face, that I made another. I did not like it as well though, sadly. I’ve wanted to try again recently–so I did!
I used a different eye, nose and eyebrow cane or her, but the same mouth. I’m quite happy with her and looking forward to dress-up time with my new canes.
I had some eye and mouth cane from the start of first lady left, and some nose from the second, and more mouth. So I combined what was left–2 inches here, 3 inches there, and added a cheek made with a Skinner blend using the red from the lips and the ivory of the skin. Put them together, pack with more ivory skin tone clay. There was enough for a third face cane, and she’s a lovely damsel. She’ll be great with some of my leftover floral and lace canes also. Playtime coming right up!
Much as I have enjoyed learning more about digital art, metal work, wood and painting in the last 6 or 7 years, I do still love working with polymer clay. Stay tuned to see what comes of it in the upcoming months.
