Getting Ready to Teach

I am getting ready for a class I will be teaching at Fandango, a polymer clay retreat in central Florida (www.oapcguild.com). The class will cover the mica shift technique in a 4-hour pre-retreat class.

The mica shift technique utilizes the mica particles in the polymer clay to create patterns or an image in the clay with the surface of the clay remaining smooth. The patterns or image have a real depth to them and everyone reaches out to touch it, assuming it is textured . . . . . but its not!

This is NOT a new technique. It has been used, written about and tutorialized for years. So how do you make it your own and not just a review of what everyone else is doing . . . . and not stepping on anyone’s toes professionally speaking.  And how do you pack enough information into a 4-hour window.

Well you work on it. You make notes and ask questions and find the answers! And in the case of polymer clay, you make samples . . . . lots of samples.

Does the mica shift technique work with the metallic clays (gold, silver, copper, etc.) as well as the pearlized clays (green, white, purple, magenta, etc.)? Can I mix my own color and still get the mica shift? What is the limit of opaque clay can you mix with the metallic and still get the mice shift? Does the color of the opaque clay matter (darker versus lighter colors)?

I am working on it! And when I do my homework and get prepare . . . . . I always learn lots too!

If you are at all interested in Fandango (May 4 to 7), check out the Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild’s website (www.oapcguild.com) and download a registration form where you will find most of the information you need. If you are joining us at Fandango and want to sign up for my 4-hour class, e-mail me directly!