Wall Dolls in Polymer Clay with Laurie Mika
Learn unique and creative ways to work with polymer clay and other materials
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Create Arts Online presents Laurie Mika’s latest course “Wall Dolls” including many of her signature techniques using polymer clay.
Laurie is an award winning artist. She has taught thousands of students over thirty years, and is now bringing this course exclusively to Create Arts Online.
In this course you will learn:
- How to choose and prep the wood blocks
- How to use modeling clay to create texture and design
- How to choose the best Polymer clay and prepare it
- How to transfer an image to the clay
- How to use stamps and gold leaf on the clay
- How to best cut the clay for the specific shapes
- A variety of Laurie’s techniques for painting and altering the surface of the clay
- How to add text details
- How to add “doodads” to enhance the piece
- How to assemble after baking
Laurie also shares some bonus tips that will add even more to each piece you create once you have learned these techniques.
You will watch Laurie work in real time as she starts from the very beginning of this process and takes you step-by-step until the Wall Doll is completed. This course is full of so much information that can be used in multiple ways for future projects. This course is like having Laurie by your side day or night as she teaches and guides you in creating your own “Wall Doll.”
This course is designed for any level student wanting to learn how to work with Polymer clay and create unique one-of-a-kind pieces. These pieces can be created to adorn your walls in your studio and other spaces, or be given as gifts.
This course comes with a PDF for download with a list of suggested tools, materials, and resources.
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
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StartIntro and Personal Interview with Laurie and Tami (6:31)
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StartPDF for download with suggested tools, materials, and resources
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StartIntroduction to Materials (1:40)
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StartThree Wall Doll Options for Planning Your Design (2:39)
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StartIntroduction to Blocks (2:29)
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StartPainting the Wood Blocks (5:05)
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StartModeling Paste and Stencils (3:40)
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StartCompleting the Stencil Application (1:42)
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StartBonus Tip for Cleaning Stencils (1:07)
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StartConditioning the Clay (4:17)
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StartAdding a paper transfer to the clay (11:14)
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StartGlass Dome Image Application (5:15)
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StartCutting the Clay Around Image (2:26)
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StartRolling Out the Clay for Top Portion of Wall Doll (2:34)
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StartIntro to Laurie's Favorite Stamps and Gold Leaf (7:57)
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StartCreating the Crown (6:42)
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StartGlass Dome Layer Option (3:22)
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StartCreating a Skirt Template (8:31)
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StartCreating Words and Gold and Silver Leaf Rows (6:58)
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StartStamping the Rows (7:59)
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StartAdding the Transitional Tile (6:04)
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StartHow to Create A Mold (3:52)
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StartHow to Use a Mold with Polymer Clay (3:57)
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StartGathering the Wall Doll Elements (6:02)
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StartOverview of Working with Raw Clay (1:44)
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StartStarting the Painting Process (6:43)
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StartPainting the Crown (4:36)
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StartSlab Painting Technique (4:39)
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StartLight Touch Finger Painting Technique (4:19)
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StartRub and Buff for Words (4:46)
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StartSkirt Painting Session 1 (8:55)
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StartSkirt Painting Session 2 (5:23)
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StartAdding Details to the Text Elements (5:39)
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StartPainting Detail to the Wood Block (9:51)
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StartMeasuring and Trimming (4:31)
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StartLaurie's Technique for Antiquing Do-Dads (5:23)
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StartAdding Image and Embedding Do-Dads on Top Tile (9:35)
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StartAdding Do-Dads to the Skirt (6:53)
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StartAdding Do-Dads on Transition Piece (5:18)
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StartIntroduction to the Oven and Putting Pieces in the Oven (2:37)
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StartGluing Pieces to the Wood Block (7:39)
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StartApoxie Sculpt Reinforcement (5:34)
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StartWrap Up (0:33)