to teach a polymer clay class to the Philadelphia Area Polymer Clay Guild. I was fortunate enough to take the class in micro mosaics and other techniques. What I learned is that you don’t have to be able to cane The Last Supper to be a great polymer clay artist. Cynthia Toops makes simple components, but she assembles them with virtuosity and imagination. And superb craftsmanship.
And she works simply. I took a lampworking class with her husband, Dan Adams, a few years ago. He told us that for the first several years, her only tools were a drinking glass and a single-edged razor blade. Her class materials list was short, but the instruction was intense and personal. I came away with some mediocre work and the realization that I had a long way to go. But I had fun and I am already thinking how to integrate the techniques I learned into my own work.
Detail
Detail
I fooled around with some techniques in these little pins and then I poured clear resin over the elements, leaving some of them poking out.
To see pictures from the class, go to the Philadelphia Area Guild’s blog. Cynthia Tinapple took the class too, and put up some images on Polymer Clay Daily. To see a video with Cynthia Toops explaining her work, press here.
Ornamento 
Hi Martha.
One of the things that I liked best about Cynthia’s class is this: Usually, in a class situation, everybody walks away with something that looks like the instructor’s work. In this class, everybody walked away with pieces that look like their own work….just through the filter of Cynthia’s techniques. Very inspiring.
Oh, and I don’t agree with the assessment that you came away with “mediocre work”, but I can’t wait to see how you continue to incorporate some of these techniques into future pieces.
terri
I agree; everyone’s work was unique. It was a good group of people and a great teacher.
Here is a link to Cindy Silas’ piece which didn’t get onto the guild blog. She had to settle for Polymer Clay Daily. :)http://polymerclaydaily.com/2011/04/19/micromosaics-and-metal-clay/
Thanks for posting this great article!