Conversations with Contemporary Clayers: Pam Annesley

Todays Profile: Pam Annesley

I have been painting and sketching from my early childhood and became a high school teacher in the UK. Later, I became involved with textiles and wearable art. I discovered polymer clay and found I could make beads and features in polymer to add to my garments. In 2001 at a polymer clay retreat I was introduced to precious metal clay and was excited that I could make jewellery in silver without all the silversmithing tools and equipment.

I have worked with silver, bronze and copper clays and attended the 2008 Precious Metal Clay Conference near Chicago, US. While in US I took many workshops with artist, Hadar Jacobson. This copper clay pendant that I made is based on a technique I learnt from Hadar where broken egg shells (I used Emu egg shell) are glued to card and used as a texture to press into the copper clay.

However, my favourite clay to work with is polymer. I love how I can mix my own colours just like artists paint to get exactly the shade of clay I want. Polymer is so versatile a medium, it can imitate just about anything from wood or bone to jade or turquoise. It is also very much cheaper than the metal clays, so I can afford to use it every day.

One of my favourite pieces, is a bag combining polymer and textiles. I made it many years ago but it was quite challenging at the time. I had to roll the polymer thin enough without losing the design and then sewing into the polymer with a sewing machine.

I also use copper with my polymer work, thin copper sheet, plus electroformed and etched copper. I feel the copper adds interest when used with polymer clay and the work takes on a completely different look. I have recently made some polymer and copper cuffs using copper sheet sandwiched between layers polymer.

I am always working on ideas for my jewellery.  I get inspiration from the photographs I take of things in nature like rock formations, landscapes, textures and many organic forms. I doodle and draw and the ideas will flow. I do have a compulsion when it comes to creativity and I always have to be working on something.

I encourage my students and all aspiring artists to keep going with their artistic pursuits – never to give but always try out different ideas and keep asking “what if ?’’

As a teacher, I get enormous satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment when my students learn techniques in my classes and then go on to produce some amazing work using their own ideas.

Students coming to the forthcoming Contemporary Craft Retreat in October will learn from some of the best teachers in Australia. They will meet other enthusiastic students and form networks and lifelong friends.

I now have a youtube video channel and have uploaded my first video tutorial where I show how to make texture plates & moulds for metal clay jewellery.

For more on Pam...

http://metalclayartstudio.com.au/

http://www.facebook.com/metalclayartstudio

email: poz7@bigpond.com

Metal Clay Art Studio, 17 Wilson Place, Two Rocks, WA 6037

Mobile: 0427957612