Artist’s Statement and Introduction

 

I have enjoyed creating artwork my entire life.  I paint in most every medium and have sculpted and carved since I was ten years old.  In my adult years, I have always rendered my subjects, especially portraiture and wildlife, in a realistic manner.  However, recently my sculptures have taken a more stylized and idealized direction.  Even though I’ve sculpted in many types of clays, I like the possibilities and workability of polymer clay.  My sculptures are inspired by my love of nature, both flora and fauna. Each piece displays intricate artwork within the more obvious shape of the intended subject, inviting the viewer to take a close, careful examination. Some of the work is so finely detailed it is best appreciated with a magnifying lens. All images and designs are individually created with polymer clay. There is no paint used in the creation of my sculptures. I borrow from jewelry making techniques, the Venetian glass process, and Japanese metal working methods, just to name a few.  These techniques are translated into clay and made into images that cover each sculpture. Some pieces may have metal leaf or fine micas in addition to the polymer clay to add variety, light, and texture. Once all the small images have been carefully applied to the base sculpture in the desired pattern, and every seam smoothed, it is hardened by heat, cooled, and then wet sanded with a progressively finer grit to make it as polished as possible.  Finally, it is sealed or varnished. Every sculpture involves many hours of work and only a few can be created each month. All subject themes are limited to a series of four pieces only.  Each sculpture is small, intimate, and features brilliant colors and fine details.   I hope you enjoy viewing the artwork in this website.  Welcome!

 

                                                      Starr Blanton