FEATURED PRESENTER: KIM SNOWDEN

KIM’S PRESENTATION:

BUILDING AND HANDLING LARGE COMPLEX CANES

I will cover the process I use for design, construction, and use of large complex polymer clay canes. This will include tips on getting details into canes, and I will show how I go from an idea to an image and then how I go about building it in polymer clay.

I’ll show examples of canes I made in the past, showing the progression of my work over time, and talk about the successes and challenges of different subjects.

I hope that attendees will see that complex canes are possible, and give them the knowledge to approach complex or large cane construction.

ABOUT Kim

I’m a New Zealand based polymer clay cane artist. I’m also a scientist, and many of my cane subjects reflect my scientific background, where I have made canes of things like cells, and different plant cross sections.

I like working out puzzles, which is why cane construction appeals to me. I have been working with polymer clay since 2017, when I first spotted a cute Christmas decoration online, and thought maybe I could make one myself. I watched a large number of you-tube tutorials subsequent to making that decoration, and I owe a huge amount to the people who share their talents and skills online.

Polymer clay appeals to me because of the colours and the ability to get a lot of detail into my work. I’m inspired by science as already mentioned, but also nature (I’ve made a number of NZ bird and plant canes), and art of many kinds. I also really enjoy making complex kaleidoscope canes, as there is something really satisfying about making patterns.