Right here’s my annual evaluation 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 top of the 12 months. No excuses. It simply occurred. I’ve been contemplating shifting my webpages to a unique platform and pondering the worth in making an attempt to relocate weblog posts versus beginning over. Extra on that in a second; however first, a glance again at my artistic journey for the 12 months that was 2021.
In trying over the gathering of creations for the 12 months, I believe I’ll unofficially name 2021 my 12 months 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 possible wouldn’t have tried in any other case.
It’s been sluggish going studying to work with paper clay. It doesn’t have the identical physique as polymer clay, which meant I needed to alter my sculpting strategies. Akin to they got that I’m nonetheless within the steep uphill facet of the training 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 rapidly earlier than the clay hardened. Alternatively, I felt annoyed ready for items to treatment so I might transfer to the portray half. However total, I’d contemplate my experiments up to now successful and I foresee extra paper clay creations within the 12 months forward.
Along with paper clay, I integrated epoxy clay into my artistic repertoire this 12 months. I experimented with it as soon as a pair years in the past, to make a miniature bottle tree. This 12 months, 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 12 months to come back.
Polymer clay made a cameo look in my artistic journey this 12 months 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 unique marriage ceremony reception. I received’t say I utterly nailed the resemblance, however I’m happy to say I received shut sufficient to make my buddy very completely satisfied.
Along with neglecting my weblog towards the top of the 12 months, I additionally uncared for my embroidery provides and solely accomplished two tasks. Once more, I’ve no good excuse. Subsequent 12 months, 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 12 months’s makes, it appears 2021 was a 12 months 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 may name it hoarding. Those that would are clearly not artwork and craft visionaries.
Surprisingly, there wasn’t a lot jewellery designed this 12 months. It appears I used to be preoccupied with sculpting. However I nonetheless managed a pleasant assortment of necklace, bracelet, and earring designs.
After all, there have been some ornaments made this 12 months. 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’ll or might not get round to it subsequent 12 months. There have been additionally just a few paper clay sea turtle ornaments made earlier this 12 months, 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 will not be all the time as carefully linked in time as I would like. I did get just a few extra of the paper clay turtle ornaments minimize out this month, however was nonetheless ready for clay to dry on Christmas eve. I believe I can safely say I’ll get these painted subsequent 12 months.
As I’ve been scripting this submit, I keep in mind how a lot I get pleasure from running a blog. And I really feel badly for neglecting to put in writing posts for the previous a number of months. I’m not resolving to do higher subsequent 12 months. Largely as a result of I don’t make resolutions. And likewise as a result of I’m nonetheless unsure the place my web site it going. It’s at present 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 web site supplier is the fixed concern I’ll screw up putting in some replace or different and crash my web site. 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 right that. So, for my very own peace of thoughts, I’m contemplating shifting my web site to a platform the place the one factor I’ve to handle is content material.
Sadly, it appears that evidently 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 operate. Whereas I don’t have an enormous variety of weblog followers, I do get pleasure from interacting via feedback. I would favor to not make commenting cumbersome. The opposite trade-off is likely to 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 prematurely.
For now, many due to you all for following together with my artistic journey, and for taking time to share your ideas in feedback. I recognize you a lot and I want you all one of the best within the New Yr. I hope to see you right here (or wherever my weblog finally ends up) subsequent 12 months. You can too 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.
