Home Page
Statement
Biography
Schedule
Contact

Yellow House Studio

Polymer Clay Products


            Artist's Statement
                       OR
  How and a little bit of why I do the thing I do.

My bowls are made from polymer clay, a man-made, colored, acrylic modeling material. The material was developed in the 1940's as a sculpting material for doll makers. Uses for this clay vary widely and are constantly evolving.

I began using the clay in 1994 and was immediately drawn to using the glass technique of millifiori to create the designs and images that are used in my work. Slices of millifiori cane are combined to form my bowls. The clay is then fired at 300 degrees F to cure the clay.

To produce my images, I build, with different colored clays, a two dimensional image that is about 2 inches in depth. I usually start at the middle of my images and slowly build to the outside until a complete circle or rectangle is formed. My more detailed images are as big as 6" x 4" and take approximately 20 hours to complete. At this point I turn the image on its side and begin to press the sides together. This pressure begins to push the clay lengthwise and eventually a long "cane" or tube of clay results with the image running the length of it, the image being on the cross-section. From changing the shape of the clay thus, I end up with a 15" long cane of the now 1.5" x 1" image. This cane is now ready to slice and use.


Each cane that I produce is limited in length and therefore in the number of slices it contains. Though I can reproduce a design, seldom is the color or pattern a replica of the original. Therefore most of my bowls are unique or are limited editions. Sometimes I feel that the patterns come together and the bowls build themselves. I feel that the colors that I create and the intricate detail I put into my cane designs make my work unique.

My work is greatly influenced by nature and the rural landscape. I live in a beautiful part of the state of Connecticut and spend as much time outdoors as possible. Gardens, and woodland flowers influence many of my color combinations. I find plant structure and landscape patterns also influence my work. The changing seasons outdoors affect the colors I use. I am very much a part of the environment and only regret that I  work in an unnatural material.

My studio has evolved from a basement corner of a prep-school dormitory apartment, to a spare bedroom, to an outbuilding with an extension cord to provide lights and heat, to a small converted barn with a view of the hillside/ mountain that I climb before breakfast each morning with my dog, Elsa.

From conditioning clay, color mixing, image drawing, through all parts of the business operation, I work alone. It is the most satisfying and enjoyable job that I have ever done.
Copyright 2005 Karin Noyes. All rights reserved.