The Party's Over

My original plan was to post the conference in the order of my participation but instead I'm starting at the end and working backwards.

After fifteen years the National PMC Guild is no more.  Last night was the last official guild event and they went out with a bang.  Rio Grande (a major jewelry making supplier) hosted a gala last night for the guild and it's members, complete with drinks, finger foods, a palm reader, a caricaturist, a photo option, prize give aways, and a goodie bag for all the members.   It sure looked like everyone was having a great time.  I know I did.

Our very own Pittsburgh metal clay guild's Donna Penoyer and one of her many alter egos provided entertainment.

Just one of the many balloon hats created by Donna

Our fearless leader, Tim McCreight was treated to a "Here's your life" slide show.

(That's Tim in front wearing one of Donna's hats.)

Even the Mitsubishi scientists cut loose once in awhile.  Dr. M. Morikawa who lead a team of scientists in the creation of metal clay entertains on the dance floor. 

Many of the members signed a large card in a silver pen to present to the Mitsubishi Corporation. 

Thank you Mitsubishi, Rio Grande and the National Guild for getting us hooked on this amazing medium.

No Censorship!

No Fees, no age limit and no censorship is the mantra of Lawrenceville's "Art all Night."

 Katie Levan

Amy Lewandowski

Art all Night was held in an empty (what looks like) a machine shop.  A very large and with the way the weather was last night........ a very cold building.  (Two jackets on and I still couldn't stop shivering.) 

But in spite of the cold, it was a really fun event.  The Western Pa Metal Clay guild set up an area (unfortunately in the children's hands on area) to do metal clay demos and promote the guild.  (A little personal promotion went on too.... of course.)  Carol Scheftic, Debbie Rusonis, Donna Penoyer and I spent several hours sharing our love of metal clay with the art loving public.

Carol and Debbie

The estimate is that the number of artists participating in the the event was somewhere between 1200 and 1500.  The number of people attending the 22 hour event were between 12,000 and 15,000. * (The The artists ranged from one year old to over seventy years old.   There was lots to see (and for me, not enough time to see it all.)  We went back Sunday before the show closed (and when it was warmer, which made viewing the art much more enjoyable.)

Giant made by elementary school children.

Besides a variety of bands playing throughout the night there were large paintings being created.

We left early because it was just way too cold but Suzanne Trenney said it all.

Wish everyone felt that way!

(Sorry, no picture of my work or Carol's.  They were displayed in a dark area and were hard to see.  The pictures didn't turn out.  This seems to be the story of my life.)

*Note..... correction on number of participants and artists.  Small town mentality in a big city environment.  Not use to big numbers!

  

Check it out!

This weekend is "Art all Night" in Lawrenceville, Pa.    Check it out...... http://artallnight.org/

My friends Carol Scheftic and Donna Penoyer have participated in this event for several years now as part of the Western Pa Metal Clay Guild.  I've always wanted to help do the metal clay demos and exhibit a piece of work but every year it just doesn't seem to work out.

Well, this year it does work and I finally get to participate.  Yay!!!!!

I'll take lots of pictures to share and if you have nothing else to do this weekend, stop by and say hello to my friends and I.

(Hope they don't mind me using their logo to advertise the event.)

Tearaway technique

Paper side of tearaway

Paper and polymer piece (detail is in the clay although it's hard to see)

These are used to roll the clay onto to create texture

It's been eight months since I've been to a guild meeting.  I belong to the Western Pa. chapter of the PMC Guild which has meetings whenever we can find a place to host them.

Last Tuesday evening we had a meeting at the Four Directions Jewelry Studio of Barb Kaczor (one of our members.)  The studio is located in Springdale, Pa and is very impressive.  Stop in and check it out if you're down that way.

We usually have show and tell and some type of demo.  Donna Penoyer gave a very informational demo on tearaways.  (Any demo Donna does is great.)  Tearaways are another thing that metal clay artists have adopted from the polymer clay people.  I've used them but never made one (until today.)

A basic description would be that a toner based copy of a black and white line drawing is made on glossy paper.  White polymer clay is conditioned and rolled into a thick sheet and the copied drawing is laid face down on the polymer clay.  Using the palm of the hand, the back of the sheet is rubbed to create heat and friction.  Slight pressure is applied while doing this and the rubbing continues for a specified time period and then allowed to rest and cool.  This rubbing and resting process is completed one more time and then followed by a final rubbing.  After the final rubbing the paper is torn off with a quick pull.

This process creates two plates that can be used to create texture on the metal clay.  The paper picks up polymer clay on the inked lines and the drawing cuts into the polymer clay.  Both pieces are cured in a toaster oven when finished.

The polymer piece can be used indefinitely unless it cracks.  The paper piece can be used multiple times until it wears out.

I tried making one for the first time today.  Rubbing the back was a little warm (and tiring..... I'm such a wimp.)  I was anxiously looking forward to the ripping action and I have to admit it was fun.  (Like ripping off a band-aid.)  My piece turned out perfect.  I was thrilled.