Join Lindly Haunani, a nationally recognized colorist for a fun and illuminating weekend workshop. While you may know just what colors you like, exactly how to mix them (or not), using them in harmonious combinations can be challenging. Learn how to add impact to your work with increased color confidence while learning several valuable skills for working with polymer clay.
You will learn strategies for designing and mixing cohesive color schemes, including how to choose a level of saturation within your comfort zone. You will learn the secret to making successful “skinny” Skinner stripe blends that will be used to make nine different laminated textile patterns including the popular Log Cabin Quilt design, Spirals, Seminole Patchwork, Bargello and a variation of Nine Patch. In addition to having fun, you will leave with a series of wearable color samples/brooches. You will increase your awareness of how appropriate color choices and contrasts can add impact to your work.
See how the three properties of color: value, hue and saturation dazzle and change when proportion, juxtaposition and surface are consciously adjusted. Ask questions, be ready to laugh and increase your color confidence.
Note: This workshop is ideally suited for a group that has a broad range of polymer clay experience- that includes beginners and experienced polymer clay artists. Participants leave with several finished wearable color samples- while learning an extremely versatile technique. The color lessons presented pivot around becoming more confident in making color choices when combining colors. As designed, the workshop includes eight different textile patterns- seven as flat/brooch pieces and one as a bead- this can be adjusted to include more beads if that is the primary interest of your group.
Dancing with the Rainbow- two day Workshop
Learn how to create blazing, simmering or evocative color schemes. This multi-sensory approach makes learning about color fun! Define your color preferences, learn how to recipe/replicate colors and increase your color confidence. This workshop is ideal for anyone desiring to enhance the color impact in their work- whether you work with watercolors, colored pencils, collage, fibers or polymer clay.
Understanding how to utilize the three properties of color: hue, value and saturation, to your advantage add cohesion and impact to your work. Learn why the “rules” as they are outlined in many color reference books, rarely provide satisfactory results. We will begin with exploring your color likes and dislikes and de-mystifying the vocabulary of color design. During the afternoon session we will explore custom mixing pigment primaries using polymer clay and how to mix to match colors. The second day will include exercises to explore color harmonies and how proportion and simultaneity can magically change the look of your color schemes as you construct a series of colorful polymer clay fabrics to be fashioned into a “crazy-quilt” mirror frame. Come with an open heart and mind and prepare to be amazed.
Supply fee: TBA /person includes frame, color handout and polymer clay
Note: This workshop centers around developing a personalized palette and is best suited for experienced polymer clay artists- as the emphasis is on “seeing” color rather than learning new polymer clay techniques.
Synchronicity in Action /Polymer Clay Sampler Necklace- two day workshop
Make a sampler of thirty different polymer clay beads that will be combined into a stunning sampler necklace with a custom covered clasp. Join Lindly Haunani, who has over 18 years of experience teaching polymer clay workshops, for an exciting, fun and fast paced weekend.
You will learn how to make a “perfect” Skinner blend that will be fashioned into four “mother” canes- stripes, spirals, rounds and a stacked slab. You will then explore the possibilities of the more complex canes- lace, leaves, flowers and zippers”. Strategies for combining canes and tweaking their profiles will be presented.
Expand your repertoire of bead shapes to include bi-cones, pillows, rounds, twists and tubes while learning exactly how to make these shapes successfully using polymer clay. Explore, hands on, molds, extrusions and bead rollers as means to making multiples. Learn how eccentric bead shapes can enhance or establish exciting stringing rhythms while experimenting with scale, proportion and emphasis.
Come with your two magical hands and your sense of humor: be prepared to be amazed and leave with an enhanced sense of your artistic sense and a beautiful sampler necklace. This workshop is appropriate for a beginner or as a refresher/expansion course for the more experienced polymer clay artist..
Note: This workshop is designed for all levels of polymer clay experience from complete novice to more experienced. The emphasis is beads and bead shapes.
Mokume Gane Survey Workshop- Mokume X Five –two day workshop
Some say that Mokume Gane rhymes with “play with clay all day” and that is exactly what we will be doing for two days in this fun, fast paced survey of this excitingly versatile technique. You will learn valuable tricks and tips while making four different brooch styles that feature-Haunani-gane, Roche-gane, Amt-gane, Wavy-gravy gane (unfortunately NOT a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor) and ‘end-of-the day gane”.
Haunani Gane =Glistening, gossamer, intriguing layers of polymer clay characterize this version of Mokume Gane.which is an adaptation of an ancient layered metalworking technique. You will learn the keys to color selection, how to tint translucent clay, make a mokume block and useful strategies for multi-layered construction. Discover what works best for beads, sculptural surfaces and flat pieces that have the illusion of real depth. Explore ways to manipulate the surface finish to accentuate the beautiful designs you have created.
Roche-gane= High contrast opaque layers manipulated from above with the matrix used to make rubber stamps. With this version of mokume gane, invented by Nan Roche, you will be exploring a southwestern palette to create stunning predictable, unpredictability and the importance of value contrasts.
Amt-gane is a version on mokume gane pioneered by Kathleen Amt where the billet is cut into and stretched to reveal ghost-like spreads of color. You will learn how to fashion a pendant or pair of earrings with this fall inspired palette.
Wavy-gravy gane, while not edible, is an exciting way to use a French fry cutter developed by Marie Segal to capture the magic of a simple jelly roll cane with pearly clay. You will choose from a pastel delight or metallic palette to explore this technique.
End-of –the day gane is proof in the recipe, that sometimes too much planning ahead can nip serendipity in the bud….
Plan on attending with Your two magical hands, suspension of doubt and an awareness of the true Magic inherent in polymer clay- and leave with several completed projects, an increased confidence with working with color, hands-on understanding of valuable bench tricks and an enhanced understanding of Your artistic self.
Note: This workshop is designed for all skill levels. The emphasis is to experience survey/overview of several different variations of mokume gane
Fantastic Fish…. Three day workshop
“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.”
Chinese Proverb
Most likely you have heard this proverb quoted before. Here is another way to interpret this wisdom.
“Give an artist a comfortable project to do and she will be nourished for the day. Teach an artist how to fish for ideas and they will enjoy a lifetime of creative abundance.”
During this workshop you will create a fish sculpture from polymer clay and found objects: that can be mounted on the wall, hung from the ceiling or become part of a table-scape in your studio. Whether your metaphorical fish is inspired by an existing fish species or is pure fantasy is totally up to you.
I will walk you through each stage of the decision making process from choosing a body shape to fine tweaking the tail fin. Group brainstorming, auditioning alternatives and relying on your intuition are all important parts of this process. The emphasis in this workshop is on developing your personal idea fishing skills rather than making a “perfect” fish sculpture.
Along the way to your completed piece, you will experience and explore six different approaches to fishing for artistic ideas including:
.The catch of the day
.The deep dark and “ugly”
.The joyous celebrations
.Creative sparks- detours, enrichments, challenges
.Creating an inspirational idea library as a resource to draw upon
. Swimming upstream by incorporating the un-expected
Frequent demonstrations throughout the weekend will be directed towards expressive alternatives using polymer clay, addressing construction challenges and helping to make your fish fantastic.
“Desire for an idea is like bait. When you’re fishing, you have to have patience. You bait your hook, and then you wait. The desire is the bait that pulls those fish in–those ideas.”
Ideas are like fish.
If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you’ve got to go deeper.
Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure. They’re huge and abstract. And they’re very beautiful.” David Lynch
Diving deep, examining your creative process, honing your skills and trying new approaches…perhaps kinda scary? Not so much, especially when you are learning essential and bountiful idea fishing skills.
Art from the Heart Shrine Three day workshop
The design and construction of a small portable artist’s shrine is an intensely personal, illuminating and enjoyable process. While building your shrine you will explore the transformative power of telling your story as an artist and be encouraged to ask the question,
“As an artist, what does make my heart sing”?
Assisted by a series of guided visualizations and group discussions you will explore heartfelt communication via color, texture and form using polymer clay. Design ideas for evocative textures, attaching and integrating found objects and valuable tips for honoring yourself as an artist will be presented.
You will learn strategies for designing and mixing cohesive color schemes, including how to choose a level of saturation within your comfort zone. You will learn the secret to making successful “skinny” skinners that will be used to make several different laminated textile patterns including the popular Log Cabin Quilt design, Seminole Patchwork and a variation of Nine Patch. In addition to having fun, you will increase your awareness of how appropriate color choices and contrasts can add impact to your work.
While this workshop is designed as a personal artistic healing journey, we will discuss how these concepts could be translated or adapted to a group situation or ongoing personal study.
Rainbow Totems Three day workshop
In building a personal rainbow totem we will explore the transformative power of color. The seven colors of a chakra based energy system each reflect different aspects of our lives. For example, the root chakra, which is associated with the color red, represents family and grounded ness. We will consider each of the seven major chakras and their associated color using guided visualizations and group discussions as we build our totems from the ground/red up. Strategies for mixing colors using polymer clay, design ideas for evocative textures and valuable tips for working with polymer clay will be presented. We will also examine the different ways a person can invite any of the colors of the rainbow into their life.
While this workshop is designed as a personal artistic healing journey, we will discuss how these concepts could be translated or adapted to a therapeutic practice or group situation. In addition to being an accomplished artist, Lindly has spent the past seven years in intensive study and practice of energetic healing modalities and is a CHTP (Certified Healing Touch Practitioner).
Note: My passion as a polymer clay artist is working with color and teaching others to do so- every worshop that I teach contains an important piece about working with color.
I have been teaching color workshops using polymer clay, music, collage and movement to enhance the participants understanding and joy or working with color for the past ten years. In a conference situation where there are dozens of technique driven classes offered, often a FUNdamental color class is overlooked as a first choice because: a) the artist took a dry academic class years ago and was frustrated by all the rules and rubber cement b) the juicy tantalizing prospect of leaving the workshop with a completed beautiful piece is too tempting c) the artist is concentrating on skills that are applicable to the product line they are developing or d) a color workshop sounds scary . In my mind nothing could be further from the truth- my color classes are gentle, fun and explain why one should “break all the rules”. Aside from impeccable craftsmanship and originality nothing else defines, enhances and makes a piece(s) sing as intensely as appropriate color choices will. It is easier to concentrate on exploring and perfecting new techniques and design challenges when one experiences a sense of ease and “rightness” in color selections.
Here is what some of my students have said after taking one of my color workshops-
“Incredible! This workshop has changed my life, I see the world with a deeper appreciation of the richness and breadth of color around me AND I know how to mix those colors” Elizabeth R. Minn.
“I’ve struggled with making color choices for years. I wish I had taken this workshop as my first polymer clay class. Looking back I now understand why many of the safer color combinations I was using weren’t optimal and just didn’t work…” Mary B. CA
“I have always admired the polymer clay work of Cynthia Toops, Maggia Maggio, Laura Liska and Pier Voulkos. I never thought I would be able to create my own beautiful color combinations. “Pat K. WA
“During college I took four color courses and read dozens of books, so when my friend Heather asked me to take this workshop with her I was reluctant to spend a whole weekend on color. Was I wrong! I am so glad I came. Lindly was both knowledgeable, funny and wise.” Keith S. FLA
“This was a great workshop. I am an engineer and was worried that everyone else would be experienced colorists. Lindly was patient with my beginner questions, very organized and addressed all levels of skills throughout the week.” Susan V. NY
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