Clay Days

Super excited to have the opportunity to continually evolve with my art. The older I get the more I know what I want and now I am working to get it. Is it taking longer than I would have liked, yes. But worth it.

Not sure if I mentioned this, but I took a traditional ceramic sculpture class in 2019, but ever since art school, I am not good with installation art. I like and want permanence, especially if the art has a face. Most artists do not consider ceramics as installation art, but I do, because there is too much risk that it will break. I have heard stories and seen busted ceramics at art festivals and I just couldn’t.

So I wrote off clay. Then in 2024 I visited Cali for a trip and built a goddess in the sand with nothing but sand and water and it completely rekindled my absolute love for sculpture. Here she is in all her glory on Mission Beach in California 2024.

Once I came home I started brain storming ways that I could create non-ceramic sculpture. So I started with fabric and created lovely soft sculptures (see last post), but soft sculpture was best if working from a pattern (for me) and I really just want to go crazy, no pattern just freedom.

Then I found a beautiful doll-maker who created her work from air-dry clay & fabric clothing and it got me really thinking about clay again. Air dry was a little light for what I was wanting so I started researching polymer clay and that is what I am working with now. I do start by creating a wire armature based on the body dimensions that I want, but then I am free to make each one completely unique, which I love.

The steps are wire armature, bulk inner with aluminum foil to keep it light, then clay and then paint. I am at step two, but will be starting with clay tomorrow.

Wish me luck! xoxo – Brandi