Polymer Clay 3D Crowned Totem with Laurie Mika
You will spin with mixed media art joy, making your Polymer Clay 3D Crowned Totems!
Enroll in Course
Do you ever look at intricate polymer clay art pieces and wonder how they are created? Imagine learning multiple polymer clay techniques that, when used together, can create a 3D Crowned Totem but can also be used individually to create other mixed-media art projects that reflect your personal style.
We are thrilled to have Laurie Mika, our renowned CAO artist, guide you through this exclusive Create Arts Online course, which promises to elevate your polymer clay work to new heights.
Laurie's distinct approach to altering the surface of polymer clay into art has become her signature style, and in this course, she generously shares a wealth of techniques.
Whether you're a seasoned mixed-media artist or this is your first dive into the world of polymer clay, Laurie's knowledge and talent will empower you to replicate her methods to seamlessly create your own Polymer Clay 3D Crowned Totem or integrate them into your mixed-media art projects.
Here are some of the highlights you will learn throughout this course:
- Laurie’s favorite tools and materials
- Clay conditioning techniques
- Napkin collage
- Stamping on the clay
- Laurie’s signature image transfer technique
- How to create a mold for 3D effect
- Incorporating gold and silver leaf
- 4 different looks for each side of the cube
- How to wrap your altered polymer clay on a 3D heart
- Embellishing with Doo-Dads
- Building a crown with polymer clay
- Bringing it all together to craft a Polymer Clay 3D Crowned Totem
This comprehensive course provides extensive insight into the world of Polymer Clay for Mixed Media Art. Laurie shares countless ideas and techniques, ensuring you acquire all the knowledge and confidence needed to create your unique artistic vision.
This course includes an in-depth list of Laurie’s favorite tools, materials, and resources, which you can download!
Your Instructor
Laurie Mika is an artist, author and instructor. Over the last two and a half decades, Laurie‘s mixed media mosaic and assemblage work using polymer clay has evolved into an original and easily recognizable style. Her unique approach combines handmade polymer clay tiles with beads, jewelry pieces, charms, glass tile, hand cast resin pieces and found objects. She feels very fortunate to be able to combine her love of travel and passion for art through teaching at art retreats. She has taught across the States as well as in France, Israel, Australia and Mexico.
Laurie’s work has been published in countless magazines and books. She is the author of the highly regarded book, Mixed Media Mosaics, that was published by North Light Books in 2007. Laurie has appeared on both HGTV’s, That’s Clever and on DIY’s, Craft Lab. Recently, Laurie was featured on a new PBS series, Make It Artsy.
Laurie’s work has been shown in galleries in San Diego, Laguna Beach and Los Angeles including La Luz de Jesus and the Hive Gallery. She is currently represented by Pop Gallery in Santa Fe. She has also exhibited many times in the prestigious Mosaic Arts International juried exhibition, winning Best in Show at Mesa Contemporary Arts in Arizona. Laurie’s work hangs in private collections here and abroad.
Course Curriculum
-
StartIntro and personal interview with Laurie and Tami (8:52)
-
StartPDF for download. Suggested tools materials and resources
-
StartCrown template and technical guide sheet
-
StartCourse overview (0:35)
-
StartMaterials Tour (4:26)
-
StartTools overview (1:19)
-
StartHow to measure for centering the hole on the cube (0:58)
-
StartDirections for drilling the holes in the cube and the heart (1:43)
-
StartStamping the bottom of the cube (2:04)
-
StartPaint wash on the bottom of the cube (1:08)
-
StartNapkin collage on the cube (5:11)
-
StartColor wash before adding second napkin collage (5:08)
-
StartColor wash over napkin collage (1:08)
-
StartCondition the Polymer Clay before image transfer on to Polymer Clay (9:16)
-
StartStamping with gold leaf (7:51)
-
StartShrine technique (5:14)
-
StartStamp and alter background of shrine (12:04)
-
StartTechniques for antiquing DooDads and embellish the clay (8:20)
-
StartStamp and alter with silver leaf and paints (7:24)
-
StartCustom mold making technique (3:43)
-
StartTwo versions of bird mold techniques (6:53)
-
StartHow to add 3D mold objects to the background panel (5:19)
-
StartIntro to Polymer Clay oven (1:24)
-
StartStamping images with StazOn ink (12:00)
-
StartPainting over the StazOn stamp ink (6:32)
-
StartAltering the 3D bird with paints (8:56)
-
StartGlue panel to the cube (2:41)
-
StartAdd additional layer of sealer on napkin collage (1:00)
-
StartGlue Owl panel to side of cube (1:57)
-
StartNapkin collage on one side of a 3D heart (6:19)
-
StartLaurie's technique for adding altered Polymer Clay to the heart (15:43)
-
StartTrim edge of Polymer Clay and add Rhinestone detail (9:31)
-
StartAltering the heart with paint wash and antiquing (2:33)
-
StartAuditioning the DooDads~Create text in Polymer Clay (7:08)
-
StartMore important tips and tricks working with DooDads (3:46)
-
StartSeal the heart after baking (2:52)
-
StartCrown: Template cut out, stamp with silver leaf, alter with paint (9:48)
-
StartTips for building the crown shape/Embedding DooDads on Crown (7:12)
-
StartCrown support base with hole (3:07)
-
StartThree techniques for altering the totem legs (10:41)
-
StartSpacer beads and ball tops (10:08)
-
StartGluing the legs on (2:22)
-
StartHow to construct your Polymer Clay 3D Crowned Totem (2:52)
-
StartThank you and wrap up! (0:39)