StudioMojo #545 • Jan 1, 2022

it's a new chapter, a new episode that we're writing beginning today. StudioMojo brings you a little push, a burst of inspiration to set your muse off on the right foot. The new year offers us an advanced lesson in the fine art of making mistakes. Yep, I'm going to fail, make ugly art, bail on 100-day projects. But if I keep trying, my art will keep improving. StudioMojo is here to be your cheering squad. Happy new year! Let's hear it for Episode 1 of a new story.

Sculpture

You don't have to know anything about Tomagotchi or understand a thing about the images in Tina Yu's work, to appreciate the excellence in these polymer sculptures. Don't miss Junmin Bae explaining that she doesn't move for 6 hours at a stretch while applying dots to hollow polymer forms.

Sharon Cariola's mini-sculpts

Her Mrs. Doubtfire doll stands less than six inches tall. Polymer over wire armature
Floral sculpture

FaithEva lowers your blood pressure with this peonie-making tutorial
Go step-by-step through Junmin Bae's process in this short Klimt interview

Once I start to attach the dots, I tend to work on it for 6 to 7 hours without moving. It usually takes 3-4 days to create one work
Tina Yu tracks her 2021 sculptures in a quick video

Up and coming young sculptors
Updated sculpt for tomagotchi

For 90s kids missing their tomagotchi. Polymer sculpt from Tina Yu

Oddities

Lindly put me onto wood artist Amelia Coward. I'm afraid I'm obsessed. Do you suppose anyone has introduced her to polymer? The low-fire enamel work from Nadia Elkina will make you want to try again.

Jane Pellicciotto gets cheeky

What would your typewriter key earrings say?
UK's Amelia Coward brings a polymer eye to painted wood

No one has shown her a Skinner blend but it's in her bones
Layl McDill's unusual canes featured on Insider

Her signature cane reducing hourglass method is possible with the pliable Prism & Pro clay
Nadia Elkina at Inache Gallery

From her “Helicity” series using brass, polymer clay, low-temperature enamel

Tools

Hearts Roller — RoClayCo

Does this roller tug at your heart?
Neon Pigment Powders

Fluorescent pigments from Cool Tools
BeeSPuttY Micro sculpting tool set

Hand-smithed for the discriminating sculptors among mojo readers

Awards

January 14 deadline for IPCA Awards

Exhibit opens January 28, winners announced February 20
Young Artist Award from Art Jewelry Forum

$7,500 unrestricted prize. Apply by January 9. For artists 35 and under

signoff