Book Review: Mixed Media Mosaics
What’s Up Wednesday
Mixed Media Mosaics
by Laurie Mika
Using very few tools and not even too many materials, Laurie Mika shows us how to make polymer clay tile mosaics which are simply a feast for the eyes. Well, “simply” is the wrong word. Although these are not difficult to make, the finished effect is dazzling. You would think, to look at her work, that you’d be having to keep dozens of clay colors in stock, but Laurie works with primarily only black and white, using paints, beads, mica powders, and other media to add color to her tiny treasures.
I am not a polymer clay person. It’s never really grabbed me the way it has some of my art friends. I’m not quite sure why, because I really wanted to like it and to work with it at one point. This delightful book may make me change my mind. It’s full of techniques, all of them easy for clay-dummies like me. And Laurie’s got a whole bunch of sample projects in here too, including jewelry, my key weakness! The possibilities are endless, and it really has me thinking…
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Tags: Assemblage, book-review, Mixed Media, mosaicsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Assemblage, Book & Magazine Reviews, Mixed Media
11 opinions for Book Review: Mixed Media Mosaics
christy grant
Feb 27, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I am the same boat as you. I like seeing polymer clay projects and want to like it too. If this doesn’t require a bazillion colors, I could get into it, too, perhaps. I like the idea of black and white and adding color in other ways. Very nice! A great endorsement of the book, too!
Cyndi
Feb 27, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Just black and white, Christy! Even you and I could handle that LOL!!
freebird(Timaree)
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:33 am
I’m the same. I really want to like it. Is it the texture? I seem to go back to paper after trying something in polyclay and I really haven’t done anything but a few basic beads. I really liked this book and hope it changes my mind.
Cyndi
Feb 28, 2008 at 9:25 am
I’m wondering how paperclay would work with some of these techniques…
freebird(Timaree)
Feb 28, 2008 at 10:41 am
I haven’t tried paperclay at all. Do you prefer the texture of it over polyclay? Is it as strong?
Cyndi
Feb 28, 2008 at 11:45 am
It’s totally different. Much lighter and doesn’t have anywhere near the strength. It also sucks up paint like crazy :-) I just think it might be fun to experiment with.
Angela M.
Feb 28, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I AM a polymer clay person — & I have to agree that this is a wonderful book. It’s one of the first polymer clay books in a while that I’ve read all the way through as soon as I got it home!
It’s interesting that you mention the texture thing. I have recently found a couple of brands of polymer clay that I really like the texture of (Ultralight Sculpey, available only in big blocks of white, & the brand new Studio by Sculpey). Both have a softer feel, more like paper or suede, that I like so much better than the plastic feel of some other clay brands. You might give one a try…
Cyndi
Feb 28, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Great suggestion! One of my jewelry-making girlfriends uses the ultralight and just loves it :-)
freebird(Timaree)
Feb 28, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Sounds like we’ve got the product to try. I know my WalMart sells the ultra light so everyone should be able to get it.
Angela M.
Feb 29, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Let me warn you that the UltraLight takes some getting used to, at least if you’ve tried other polymer clays. It’s soft & kind of marshmallow-y. I personally like mixing it with a firmer clay brand like Premo — that way I still get the texture benefits, but it’s a little easier to work with.
Good luck!
Cyndi
Feb 29, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Thanks! I heard from my other girlfriend that it doesn’t take a sharp stamped image well…that would explain it :-)
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