Old Polymer Clay Mistake, But I Love Her Anyway!

Inspired by Cirque du Soleil

I was asked this week about experiences I’ve had while sculpting. I scanned my studio and really looked at things that I haven’t paid much attention to in quite sometime. I found several things that I couldn’t give away to anyone, like most of the things I make then, because of some giant mistake. What I like to call “significant learning experiences”.

I’ve always been entranced by Cirque du Soleil and was trying to create my own character. She doesn’t stand straight up but lays side ways balancing on her tip toes and hands. She can face either way.

She has fabric pants and a green bobble earring on her forehead. A fabric hat with fabulous feathers sits on top of her head. She has glass eyes.

I was really happy with how she was coming along, then I placed her in the oven for the last time, I burnt her face. She was so brown, not a nice brown that I would have been happy with, but a burnt brown. I don’t remember exactly what I did, but there’s no mistaking that she stayed to long in the oven. Like staying to long at the fair…….

I think that might have been when I began to cover everything I did with aluminum foil. Watch my video about baking polymer clay to see what I mean.

Inspired by Cirque du Soleil

I decided that I had invested way too much time and energy in her and I wanted to save her. I painted her face gold and called it a day.  Not the greatest solution, but I’m happy I didn’t pitch her in the trash. I certainly learned a significant lesson that time.

So if you make a mistake, like we all do, remember, it’s significant. And don’t throw them all away, it’s fun to take a look later.