Polymer Clay Floral Painting

Materials:

clay dedicated pasta machine
clay dedicated convection oven for curing clay
clay blade for slicing
polymer clay: blue, royal blue, green, light green, yellow, orange, cream
4" x 6" ceramic tile
burnt umber acrylic paint
acrylic wax
craft knife
mica powders
white glue
needle tool
folded paper holder
foil
liquid clay
liner paintbrush
small mixing cup
picture frame
deli paper
uncooked rice
leaves from a flower
spoon

1. Sketch a floral painting to fit the size of the background (figure A).

2. Select two colors of clay and prepare a skinner blend for the background and edges. To make the skinner blend, cut two triangles from each color and place the four pieces of clay together alternating the colors (figure B). With all colors touching the pasta machine, run the clay through. Fold the clay top to bottom and continue running it through the pasta machine about 18 times to blend the colors.

3. Press a sheet of deli paper over the clay. Apply grains of uncooked rice on top of the sheet and press them into the clay to texture it (figure C). Remove the rice and peel away the paper.

4. Blend yellow and orange clay to make a sheet that will be used for the petals and thin it through the pasta machine. Then fold the sheet in an accordion fashion (figure D).

5. Reduce the piece into a small block of clay, which is called a plug (figure E).

6. Slice three cuts into the side of the plug (figure F) and insert thin pieces of cream-colored clay. Begin to reduce the clay to create a cane.

7. Reduce the cane. Cut it, stack and reduce it three times. Shape the cane into the petal style needed (figure G). Then set the cane aside to cool.