Conversations with Contemporary Clayers: Dani Rapinett

Today's Profile: Dani Rapinet

1)Why are you an artist and what drew you to clay?

For as long as I can remember I have loved to ‘create’.

My Mum was always the artistic one in the family and whilst I used to nag her endlessly as a child to try everything she was doing, nothing ever stuck.

2)How long have you been an artist?

I never really found my ‘true calling’ until I discovered polymer clay about 6 or 7 years ago.

I think I was born an artist - I need that creative outlet to survive.  I feel strangely ‘at ease’ when I’m working in my studio – the outside world seems a million miles away. It is a wonderful feeling.

3)What is your favourite clay?

Without a doubt, Polymer Clay - more specifically Premo clay.

It is a magical medium unlike anything else I’ve worked with. There is an air of mystery surrounding it – what can be created with it? How far can it be pushed? I love its versatility.

Polymer clay never ceases to amaze me - there is always something new to learn and boundaries to break.

I also dabble in metal clay - usually silver or bronze - which I like to incorporate into my polymer pieces.

4)What other materials do you like to incorporate in your work and why?

I’m a little boring as I really do love working with polymer in its purest form and don’t use many inclusions.

5)What are you currently working on?

I have just finished working on a sterling silver and polymer bracelet for a friend. Each charm represents a little piece of her personality.

She loved it which was great.

I’m now working on organising my workspace/studio. I have a lot of unfinished projects on the go, a heap of half used MG stacks and a load of canes that need sorting.

I feel like I need to get all that into some sort of order and then I’ll move onto my next major project…..there are bound to be lots of little projects I’ll start in between  - I call it ‘creative procrastination’!!

6)What inspires your work?

My inspiration comes from the world around me. I am heavily influenced by colour and texture.

The majority of my pieces combine my love of colour and texture.

I also love mokume gane. Many of my designs are centred around different variations of mokume gane.

I never tire of it. The patterns and colours just suck me in – nothing is ever the same thing twice.

7)Is there a purpose to your artwork?

Not usually. I create when the urge strikes and most of my pieces are spontaneous and not planned.

If they are planned in any way, they usually end up being nothing like the original plan!!

8)Which of your artwork pieces is your favourite and why?

My favourite piece is a necklace I called  ‘Envy’.

It was the piece that pulled me out of a creative rut last year. It was a lot of work to create the individual components as each contains two polymer clay bails on the back and has been hand sanded and buffed. I enjoyed working on a big piece again. ‘Envy’ also won me 2^nd place in the 2011 Bead Society of Victoria’s Elly Feldman Award.

It’s not every year that polymer clay pieces get recognized within the Bead Society so I was quite proud of this achievement - it was very unexpected.

9)What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

Create what you love, not what you think everyone expects of you. Stay true to who you are as an artist and enjoy the journey.

10) Why do you like to teach?

I love to pass on my knowledge of polymer clay and I feel very lucky that people want to learn from me.

There is nothing like empowering someone with knowledge and watching that knowledge grow as their enthusiasm does.

Many of my students are amazed by what they have been able to achieve in class and leave with such a huge smile on their face and an eagerness to keep creating.

It is a wonderful feeling to know that I’ve helped create that happiness and enthusiasm.

 Dani's website and Facebook page:

www.thewhimsicalbead.com.au

www.facebook.com.au/TheWhimsicalBead

Conversations with Contemporary Clayers: Wilma Simmons

Today's Profile: Wilma Simmons

 

1)Why are you an artist and what drew you to clay?

I am an artist because it makes me happy and gives me an appreciation of feeling free.

“ …. art reminds you that you have a soul.” Stella Adler

Clay is a versatile medium to express oneself.

2)How long have you been an artist?

I think we are all born artists. It just takes some of us time to develop the confidence to share with others. I have been sharing my art since 2005.

3)What is your favourite clay?

I  really enjoy the limitless possibilities of polymer clay, but my favourite is really whatever I am currently working with. 

4)What other materials do you like to incorporate in your work and why?

Textiles -  so fibres and fabric are usually there in my work.

5)What are you currently working on?

I like working with a mix of materials, especially naturally found objects so new works evolving from my message stick art dolls and tree sculptures currently monopolise my time. However, in a recent exhibition, I presented some of my photographic textile art although I am still experimenting with printing photos onto organza and silk and incorporating them and other mixed media elements on canvas.    

6)What inspires your work?

People, places, cultures, literature , art and my heritage.   

7)Is there a purpose to your artwork?

I hope that my work celebrates diversity, with a harmonious mixture of techniques, materials and ideas.

8)Which of your artwork pieces is your favourite?

I think a previous response answers this – whatever I am currently working on …

but I am fond of  “Three Wise Women” and “ White Knight”  and some of this year’s tree sculptures.

9)What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

Do whatever makes you happy – that will show in your work.

10)Why do you like to teach?

I love teaching because it is truly a great privilege to empower another person with new ideas and  new skills  and  to help him/her to rediscover creative freedom.  

11)What would you like people to know about the upcoming Contemporary Craft Retreat in Canberra?

This is a wonderful opportunity to interact with other creative and talented people and to be inspired. It truly is a retreat – you can forget the world of realities and be immersed in and  transformed  by the collective creative energy. Regardless of what you create in the various workshops, the experience will be a catalyst for and confirmation of your creativity.

Artist’s statement : Wilma Simmons

I call my art works “handmade treasures” which are inspired by people, places, heritage and literature, and are influenced by an eclectic range of media and approaches. I can’t boast of a childhood interest in creating art, unless designing paper clothes for paper cut out dolls counts! After University when I married and lived in small isolated country towns, I joined spinning, weaving, macramé and pottery craft groups and sewed, knitted and crocheted clothes for myself and our children. My interest in textiles remained a hobby while I followed a career in English and Drama teaching. Cloth doll making, embroidery and beading alleviated the everyday work stress of being a high school principal, a job which also gave me great joy and satisfaction. Not being a “retiring” type, when I finished work in 2005, I began to teach beading and art doll making, gave birth to Empress Wu Designs, volunteered with a village project in Papua New Guinea and became an accredited Contemporary Clay Instructor (polymer clay and precious metal clay – silver). My current work is a coalescence of both past and newly acquired skills, techniques and ideas.

Wilma Simmons details:

http://empresswu.blogspot.com.au/

http://www.facebook.com/Empress.Wu.Designs