Comments on: Keeping it Simple with Base Metal Clay

By: All Things Metal Clay » Blog Archive » Blog Year in Review 2010

All Things Metal Clay » Blog Archive » Blog Year in Review 2010 — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:49:03 +0000

[...] 2010 was a head-spinning year for metal clay — new clays, new guilds, all over the world! I wrote about some of that in Keeping it Simple with Base Metal Clays. [...]

By: Elaine

Elaine — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 16:46:45 +0000

Professor Bartel, referenced above, has a book out now:

http://www.bartelart.com/arted/book/Drawingbookorder.html

on learning to draw. I don’t have a copy yet, but I’m sure it’s wonderful!

By: Melody Pierson

Melody Pierson — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 21:53:50 +0000

I am totally intrigued by Hadar’s work and after trying her clay, I just love it.

The only tough part is that I will have to get a kiln eventually. In the meantime I can use a friend’s.

I love all her colors and ideas…very organic. I started out with Art Clay Silver and I liked it very much. Turned out to be very expensive!

Nice to meet you; congrats on the cover and your work is just beautiful.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 03:43:27 +0000

Wow! Thanks everyone for the wonderful responses!

Thanks for taking the time to post a comment. I’m so happy to have struck a cord with all of you!

By: Carmen

Carmen — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:20:45 +0000

It was thrilling to read this article because it is along the lines of my thinking regarding base metal clay along with some other good information.

I have been working in silver metal clay for years, and there are many, many techniques to try and to conquer with just that. The adding of the 24kt gold and even gold leaf is a great addition.

While taking a bronze clay class, I decided right then that the firing times were not desirable for me as well as the iffy results after firing.

I ended up with a couple of really great pieces and then a few strange things that did not lend themselves well to repair at leather hard as does silver. Too much hulabaloo for me but I have seen some people that work primarily in bronze clay and make some really beautiful pieces.

I have used bronze wire fired in my silver clay and have gotten some interesting effects that are keeping me happy with bronze right now!

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:51:25 +0000

I love that you took such a stand! I love trying new things so when Bronze and Copper clays arrived my immediate response was “oooh I have to try that”. But once I read more about them I realized that I got into using Silver Clay because I like the Silver. I like the shiny! So I chose not to try all the new ones coming out. I can’t possibly make all the designs I come up with as it is so you are absolutely right. Setting limits or parameters is actually freeing. But I did feel like I was somehow being left behind. Thanks for helping me realize I made the right choice for me and I can feel good about it!

By: Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:48:25 +0000

Great article, I totally agree. Two years ago when BronzClay was introduced, I felt unhip, old fashioned and stuck in my ways as I didn’t really get into it. I tried it twice, fired it once and I was over it. All the hip people seemed very excited about it. They shared all of the nuances and lessons learned while I watched on the sidelines, with my silver clay. Over the last year, I have kept an eye on the other clays as they were introduced. I even I ventured out and tried Art Clay Copper to prepare for a demo. So far, it hasn’t changed my mind. I will probably only use it for demos when I need a cheaper alternative. Otherwise, I am sticking with silver clay. It is the medium that makes me want to make beautiful things. It keeps my thoughts lingering in a creative space when I am in a boring meeting or on a long drive. Base metal clays don’t inspire me. Maybe, without realizing it, I was following your advice all along – keep it simple.

By: Cherylyn

Cherylyn — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:33:45 +0000

Absolutely perfect post — I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed myself. And I also have limited time. To experiment and create, then have it turn to dust is so disheartening. I really appreciate that I’m not alone. that’s for speaking up — I’m a bit of the same — staying with what I know — silver and select BronzClay.
Thanks for the post!

By: L

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:39:13 +0000

“Too many options can lead to doing nothing”. Don’t I know that! I get overwhelmed before I even start. The other thing that really turns me off is the certification process. There are 3 classes for Art Clay and 3 for PMC. Each costs $350-$400. Then there is a “crossover” certification. Only certain organizations like Rio & PMC Connection are considered “legitimate” programs. I would like to teach PMC or Art Clay classes eventually so this is a quandary for me. Maybe I’ll go “rogue” as one person called my current PMC instructor, who’s fabulous, by the way.

By: Ginger-Lou

Ginger-Lou — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:18:23 +0000

This is a great article! Upon reading it, I felt a sense of new freedom … freedom to be me, to pursue my own interests, freedom NOT to try products and processes just because they exist and someone somewhere thought they were a good idea. I have only worked in fine silver clays, but I am an artist and work in a number of other mediums. I find that there are simply not enough hours in a day to do everything I need and want to get accomplished. With life clicking by at warp speed, I am inspired to regularly refine and streamline my “bucket list.” I feel my artistic jewelry time is better spent working in fine silver clays rather than in base metals.