Torchwood Studio - Polymer Clay Design and Creations

Color Scales for Polymer Clay Artists

Has this ever happaned to you? You get a flash of inspiration one night and you start to work feverishly on a polymer clay work of art. Once it's finished, you can't believe what you created...the colors and the texture came out exactly the way you pictured it in your mind. Now, you find that others love this particular piece and they want you to make one for them....... in the same exact colors. If your creative process is anything like mine, you probably mix your own custom colors. If you started with polymer clay like I did, you never ever wrote down what amounts and what colors made up that one of a kind flashy bluish-purplish tone that you now have to try and re-create.

Well, here comes Maggie Maggio to the rescue. She has provided everyone with a video that explains her process for creating your own colors scales along with a printable handout that diagrams that entire process. I have used her color scale idea and it allows me to re-create the same custom color over and over with no variance. I highly recommend this!

SNAG - Professional Guidelines

While visiting the websites and blogs of people who have left comments here, I ended up at the blog of Alyice Edrich Photography & Art. Her blog has some really great photography tips and I recommend her blog to those of you that are trying to learn how to take excellent photos of your own art. She also is a fellow Etsian and you can find her shop here.

So, while looking through her blog, I came across one of her posts that concerned SNAG, the Society of North American Goldsmiths. SNAG has an invaluable free resource for all artists and crafters worldwide called Professional Guidelines.

According to their website, it is SNAG's goal that "that these documents become a basic tool in implementing improved and equitable business, leading toward standard professional practices."

As Alyice explained, "Basically what that means is that if you’re ready to start selling your art to galleries, at craft shows, in exhibits, or to publications, the information found on this web page will help you make wise, informed decisions. Decisions that actually benefit you, the artist–protecting your art, your finances, and your reputation."

Your going to find information ranging from tips on getting your art into a Juried Exhibition, Inventory Records, Contracts and everything in between. To find this information all in one place and free...well, you can't get any better than that. Take a look at it and be sure to pass this along to your friends within the arts and crafts community.