A New Studio, A New Artist Co-Op, and New Clay Classes!

Three Eye Studio has a some new digs!! At long last, I've "graduated" from working at my poor dining room table and have moved my little empire of polymer clay to Marketplace Austin WestGate! I'm getting a bit long in the tooth to be schlepping around to outdoor markets. Our blistering summer made it brutal to set up and tear down in 103-degree weather. Can't work clay in that kind of heat, and some of the delicate mandalas didn't care for the constant packing and unpacking. Alas, the universe presented me with an opportunity to join a wonderful group of artists and craftspeople and the result is a whole new Three Eye Studio!

The South Austin Artist Co-Op

What a great groups of folk! The Co-Op, brainchild of artists Kirk Long, Rachel McClure & Thierry Amisse and Perry Doherty, has come to fruition in South ATX! The SAAC, a Texas nonprofit, is dedicated to providing an energetic and agreeable indoor venue for local artists to showcase their work. Additionally, the Co-Op has commenced construction on a local gallery and education/studio area which will allow artists and educators to provide local art instruction, lectures and community events.

The Co-Op has hosted two successful exhibits since its inception in August, and has just announced a Holiday Art Bazaar designed to support local art during the Christmas season.


Polymer Clay Classes

Yours truly is hosting a series of Polymer Clay classes! Introduction to Polymer Class classes cost only $10 (all materials provided) and cover the basics of buying, conditioning, shaping, curing and finishing. Intermediate classes include bead-making, sheeting, simple caning, working with metallics, covering vessels and Kids Classes! Turnout has been great thusfar, and I'm looking forward to more new students in the coming weeks. I adore teaching the kiddos how to make "stuffboxes" covered with leftover cane slices! Check out some of my students an their great work!
Drop by the new Three Eye digs at Marketplace Austin Westgate - 6800 Westgate Blvd. at the corner of William Cannon and Westgate in the old Albertson's groc. store! Happy Holidays

Welcome to the Blog!

It's about time I began blogging my adventures in Polymer Clay, Arts, Mandalas, and more -- so here goes!

Genetic Predisposition, I Suppose....

Artists and crafters adorn the branches of my maternal family tree. My great-great grandfather, Achille Corbari, was a Vatican-trained painter who immigrated to the US in the late 1800's. He worked on the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, created many beautiful family and religious portraits, and is rumored to have painted several of the "Fatima-like" saloon portraits that hung behind many early California watering holes!

Madonna & Child - Achille Corbari

My grandmother inherited the art gene, and was known to paint on anything that would hold still long enough. Rocks, wood, furniture -- Grandma was a functional artist who delighted in transforming mundane items with ample amounts of gold spray paint and some strategically-placed seashells!

My Mother's artistic skills are amazing. She has gained exceptional talent as a ceramacist, seamstress, oil painter, and compulsive cross-stitcher. She can knit, crochet & quilt like an expert - and has created a gallery of oil paintings that are as diverse as they are amazing.

Bucking Bronco - Joyce Evans

I'm the obsessive-compulsive crafter of the family. Since I can remember, my closets have been chock-full of whatever new fad project has caught on. Beadwork, watercolors, quilling, Christmas Ornaments, fabric painting.. ad nauseum. My dining room table has always been home to "a project" (or two, or three.) My artistic expressions have always leaned toward the colorful and esoteric, but I hadn't found a medium that really fit my style.

Until I discovered Polymer Clay!


It's All Roky Erickson's Fault!

I love early American Psychedelic music, art and expression. When one of my all-time favorite musicians, Roky Erickson, appeared at a local "Earth Day" concert and art fair, I had to attend!

Among the talented artists with a local gentleman who goes by the name "Terry Tunes." Terry creates polymer clay/mixed media dioramas inspired by Roky's music and life, and I had to have one! Conversation with the artist ensued, and I learned that polymer clay was much more than a kids' version of Play-Doh on steriods!

The die was cast and thus began many trips to the craft-o-rama stores for clay, clay supplies, more clay, clay tools, more clay..... At one point, my husband actually "grounded" me from visiting Michael's! As I learned new techniques and practiced through trial and error, I found my "hand" in polymer clay, and began to use it's myriad possibilities to express my love of symmetry, balance, color and light refraction. I had found my medium!