Comments on: 8 Stages of Creativity for Polymer Clay Artists – Can you Relate? http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/8-stages-of-creativity-for-polymer-clay-artists/6779/ "Make What You Love... Love What You Make!" Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:54:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Karonkay http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/8-stages-of-creativity-for-polymer-clay-artists/6779/#comment-48524 Karonkay Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:49:52 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6779#comment-48524 I love this post! I can tell you that I am definately the one you all are writing about. I was determined that I was going to do some metal clay findings for my polymer clay jewelry, that was -let me see- three years ago. still have the unopened packets of metal clay and all the tools in the box. Haven't touched it after just longing for it then getting it. Scared stiff to try it. Still waiting for the right moment... Surely there will come a time. However, I believe that I was meant to find this site first so that all my polymer clay projects were top notch before I used the very expensive... still waiting - silver clay. So thanks again for the wonderful tutorials and extra effort that you give each of us. Encouraging us on our way through all these steps until we can unabashedly reach for number eight! I love this post! I can tell you that I am definately the one you all are writing about.
I was determined that I was going to do some metal clay findings for my polymer clay jewelry, that was -let me see- three years ago. still have the unopened packets of metal clay and all the tools in the box. Haven’t touched it after just longing for it then getting it. Scared stiff to try it. Still waiting for the right moment…
Surely there will come a time.
However, I believe that I was meant to find this site first so that all my polymer clay projects were top notch before I used the very expensive… still waiting – silver clay.
So thanks again for the wonderful tutorials and extra effort that you give each of us. Encouraging us on our way through all these steps until we can unabashedly reach for number eight!

]]> By: Cherie http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/8-stages-of-creativity-for-polymer-clay-artists/6779/#comment-48510 Cherie Wed, 27 Apr 2011 04:33:06 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6779#comment-48510 I don't know how I missed this post. I'm so glad I found it! I am going to check against all the stages and a double check against # 1, 2 and 8. It's good to know it's not just me. I've been through them all with my music,painting jewelry and even cooking. Even though I've won a lot of prizes in drawing and painting as a child and in my teens and had some good sales since I started making jewlery these past two years and people complement me I still get insecure though I'm not so bad now and hopefully getting past that stage. Thanks everyone for sharing.. I don’t know how I missed this post. I’m so glad I found it! I am going to check against all the stages and a double check against # 1, 2 and 8. It’s good to know it’s not just me. I’ve been through them all with my music,painting jewelry and even cooking. Even though I’ve won a lot of prizes in drawing and painting as a child and in my teens and had some good sales since I started making jewlery these past two years and people complement me I still get insecure though I’m not so bad now and hopefully getting past that stage. Thanks everyone for sharing..

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Steampunk Fashion Trends http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/8-stages-of-creativity-for-polymer-clay-artists/6779/#comment-48493 Cindy Lietz@Steampunk Fashion Trends Mon, 25 Apr 2011 23:34:27 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6779#comment-48493 @<a href="#comment-48482">TrudyM</a>: I'm glad you revived this old post! It is something that all creative types go through, whether an old pro, or a complete Newbie. I love hearing your stories of your creative journey. You are so right about, just letting go and letting that inner kid free. It saddens me to see someone take themselves or their art too seriously. My guess is the most pretentious artists are often the most insecure! If you just let your heart go and create, you'll find that the joy is in the process, not so much the result. Sure some stuff will be a complete disaster, but some will be pure genius. Either way, you learned something new and had a complete blast doing it! @<a href="#comment-48488">Linda K.</a>: You'd be surprised what is hidden in this blog, if you dig around for a bit! :-) I am glad you could identify with this post. It seems to be a common thread amongst creative people of all types. You are right about #3 being less of an issue with polymer clay, since any mistake can be re-worked and there are so many amazing things you can do with a chunk of scrap clay. This helps considerably in lessening the fear of ruining your supplies. You are quite perceptive about Willow. She has always had a wisdom about her that goes beyond her years. (Often I think she is more mature than I am!) She is a very quiet and observant person, who is a great listener. Which is probably where she gets a lot of her insight. Unlike her mother who never stops talking long enough to notice what is going on around her! LOL ON ANOTHER NOTE: Just to resurface another old article from the past, I thought is would be fun to see what was posted on this day 3 years ago when we started this blog. It turns out to be an article about a new trend on the market called Steampunk... Turned out to be a pretty popular trend, didn't it?! @TrudyM: I’m glad you revived this old post! It is something that all creative types go through, whether an old pro, or a complete Newbie. I love hearing your stories of your creative journey. You are so right about, just letting go and letting that inner kid free. It saddens me to see someone take themselves or their art too seriously. My guess is the most pretentious artists are often the most insecure!

If you just let your heart go and create, you’ll find that the joy is in the process, not so much the result. Sure some stuff will be a complete disaster, but some will be pure genius. Either way, you learned something new and had a complete blast doing it!

@Linda K.: You’d be surprised what is hidden in this blog, if you dig around for a bit! :-) I am glad you could identify with this post. It seems to be a common thread amongst creative people of all types. You are right about #3 being less of an issue with polymer clay, since any mistake can be re-worked and there are so many amazing things you can do with a chunk of scrap clay. This helps considerably in lessening the fear of ruining your supplies. You are quite perceptive about Willow. She has always had a wisdom about her that goes beyond her years. (Often I think she is more mature than I am!) She is a very quiet and observant person, who is a great listener. Which is probably where she gets a lot of her insight. Unlike her mother who never stops talking long enough to notice what is going on around her! LOL

ON ANOTHER NOTE: Just to resurface another old article from the past, I thought is would be fun to see what was posted on this day 3 years ago when we started this blog. It turns out to be an article about a new trend on the market called Steampunk… Turned out to be a pretty popular trend, didn’t it?!

]]> By: Linda K. http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/8-stages-of-creativity-for-polymer-clay-artists/6779/#comment-48488 Linda K. Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:01:01 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6779#comment-48488 Wow! How did I miss this before? I knew that artists and crafters had a lot in common, but I had no idea that these 8 stages were so universal...and shared by such talented artists as our clay/jewelry goddess, Cindy! I laughed my way through each one and thought...yes, this is exactly what I do with sewing, painting, knitting, jewlery-making, polymer clay, and every other creative obsession I've been seized by over the years. How nice to know that I'm not alone. I'm one of those who hits the wall between at #3. No sooner do I have the lusted-after item thanI get totally overwhelmed with the fear of ruining the project and wasting the supplies. I do finally move on to #4, but sometimes it takes awhile to get there. Not so much with polymer clay, though. One of the best things about Cindy's tutorials is that they get me over the fear hump to the passion stage. Willow's insight on perfectionism is so astute for someone her age! Wow! How did I miss this before? I knew that artists and crafters had a lot in common, but I had no idea that these 8 stages were so universal…and shared by such talented artists as our clay/jewelry goddess, Cindy!

I laughed my way through each one and thought…yes, this is exactly what I do with sewing, painting, knitting, jewlery-making, polymer clay, and every other creative obsession I’ve been seized by over the years. How nice to know that I’m not alone.

I’m one of those who hits the wall between at #3. No sooner do I have the lusted-after item thanI get totally overwhelmed with the fear of ruining the project and wasting the supplies. I do finally move on to #4, but sometimes it takes awhile to get there.

Not so much with polymer clay, though. One of the best things about Cindy’s tutorials is that they get me over the fear hump to the passion stage.

Willow’s insight on perfectionism is so astute for someone her age!

]]> By: TrudyM http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/8-stages-of-creativity-for-polymer-clay-artists/6779/#comment-48482 TrudyM Mon, 25 Apr 2011 02:03:39 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6779#comment-48482 Well, if you feel insecure, than I am finally entitled. Your daughter's comment is a comment on the way we deal with artistic development as a society. How do we dare grade children's art? This is what makes us stifled or aim for perfection. I got together with 2 of my closest friends today and we saw the exhibit - Abstract Expressionist New York: The Big Picture. All of this great Jackson Pollack and lots of others from the '50's abstract movement. Talk about inspiration! I was telling my friends that I felt artistically constipated and my polymer clay work all looks like rocks. Okay looking rocks but rocks. One of my friends said to just understand the process and let it unfold. I want to explode in color. So on the way home I got a giant bath sponge to dip in paint and splatter on clay. I went through the wonderful book "Polymer Clay Surface Design Recipes" by Ellen Marshall, a wonderful let-go and be wild kind of book. And I watched some of your videos, with your wonderful, let-it-be attitude, your giggling when you miss a word, your playfulness. And I remind myself that I have to reach in and pull out my own inner kid and assure her that there are no such things as mistakes, and to explore with joy and abandon. Thank you always for your inspiration and for letting me share this story. Well, if you feel insecure, than I am finally entitled. Your daughter’s comment is a comment on the way we deal with artistic development as a society. How do we dare grade children’s art? This is what makes us stifled or aim for perfection.

I got together with 2 of my closest friends today and we saw the exhibit – Abstract Expressionist New York: The Big Picture. All of this great Jackson Pollack and lots of others from the ’50′s abstract movement. Talk about inspiration! I was telling my friends that I felt artistically constipated and my polymer clay work all looks like rocks. Okay looking rocks but rocks. One of my friends said to just understand the process and let it unfold. I want to explode in color. So on the way home I got a giant bath sponge to dip in paint and splatter on clay. I went through the wonderful book “Polymer Clay Surface Design Recipes” by Ellen Marshall, a wonderful let-go and be wild kind of book. And I watched some of your videos, with your wonderful, let-it-be attitude, your giggling when you miss a word, your playfulness. And I remind myself that I have to reach in and pull out my own inner kid and assure her that there are no such things as mistakes, and to explore with joy and abandon. Thank you always for your inspiration and for letting me share this story.

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Teddy bear Moulds http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/8-stages-of-creativity-for-polymer-clay-artists/6779/#comment-30197 Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Teddy bear Moulds Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:29:17 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6779#comment-30197 Very cute and cuddly :-) Congratulations on getting your teddy bear finished finished. Very cute and cuddly :-) Congratulations on getting your teddy bear finished finished.

]]> By: Nathalie http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/8-stages-of-creativity-for-polymer-clay-artists/6779/#comment-30193 Nathalie Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:49:58 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6779#comment-30193 @<a href="#comment-27853">sarahwww</a>: Wow this was months ago... but I remember mentioning my teddy here... and here it is, finished at last! photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs122.snc3/16938_318027646207_696356207_5124495_1938953_n.jpg I stopped working on it months ago when I couldn't sew the nose right, it just put me off. Then I picked it up again today and finished it, I'm really pleased with it! If I wasn't so busy with uni now, I'd definitely be making more! :) @sarahwww: Wow this was months ago… but I remember mentioning my teddy here… and here it is, finished at last! photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs122.snc3/16938_318027646207_696356207_5124495_1938953_n.jpg
I stopped working on it months ago when I couldn’t sew the nose right, it just put me off. Then I picked it up again today and finished it, I’m really pleased with it! If I wasn’t so busy with uni now, I’d definitely be making more! :)

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Overcoming Creative Blocks http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/8-stages-of-creativity-for-polymer-clay-artists/6779/#comment-28049 Cindy Lietz@Overcoming Creative Blocks Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:32:22 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6779#comment-28049 First of all, let me say I am touched by the comments you all have written. I know now that many of you can relate to these struggles and triumphs and it warms my heart to see you all so open about your feelings. For those of you that have difficulties getting past the fears and the insecurities, I want you to know that you have the strength inside of you to get past them. If you did not, you wouldn't be here, expressing them. You would be cowering alone somewhere. Please remember that the only one actually judging you is yourself. It is the journey of creativity, not the destination that you are learning this all for any way, right? We humans would not have been given the gift of imagination and creativity, if it was meant to be feared and hidden away. So come out... the air is sweet out here in the sunshine! For those of you who have 'Felt the fear and did it any way'... Congratulations! Give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy! Thank you all for sharing this creative journey with me! First of all, let me say I am touched by the comments you all have written. I know now that many of you can relate to these struggles and triumphs and it warms my heart to see you all so open about your feelings.

For those of you that have difficulties getting past the fears and the insecurities, I want you to know that you have the strength inside of you to get past them. If you did not, you wouldn’t be here, expressing them. You would be cowering alone somewhere.

Please remember that the only one actually judging you is yourself. It is the journey of creativity, not the destination that you are learning this all for any way, right?

We humans would not have been given the gift of imagination and creativity, if it was meant to be feared and hidden away. So come out… the air is sweet out here in the sunshine!

For those of you who have ‘Felt the fear and did it any way’… Congratulations! Give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy!

Thank you all for sharing this creative journey with me!

]]> By: Laurel http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/8-stages-of-creativity-for-polymer-clay-artists/6779/#comment-27900 Laurel Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:48:16 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6779#comment-27900 In my years before clay and jewelry making, I considered myself somewhat of a writer. I have actually sold some of my written work and it has been published. I totally ran into these steps when writing, especially looking back over it, thinking it is not good enough and stashing or even throwing it away. What is very weird though, is I hadn't had these same pressures on myself for clay and jewelry when I first started. I had no trouble, diving right in, trying just anything. However, the more serious I get about it, I find I am starting to have these same issues, thoughts and fears. I think we start taking ourselves and the craft far too seriously. If only we could just go back to "it's just plain fun" and not put pressures on ourselves. Thanks Cindy for making us do some introspection on ourselves. I am going to try to focus more on the "fun" of the piece, not just the finished project. In my years before clay and jewelry making, I considered myself somewhat of a writer. I have actually sold some of my written work and it has been published. I totally ran into these steps when writing, especially looking back over it, thinking it is not good enough and stashing or even throwing it away. What is very weird though, is I hadn’t had these same pressures on myself for clay and jewelry when I first started. I had no trouble, diving right in, trying just anything. However, the more serious I get about it, I find I am starting to have these same issues, thoughts and fears. I think we start taking ourselves and the craft far too seriously. If only we could just go back to “it’s just plain fun” and not put pressures on ourselves.

Thanks Cindy for making us do some introspection on ourselves. I am going to try to focus more on the “fun” of the piece, not just the finished project.

]]> By: sarahwww http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/8-stages-of-creativity-for-polymer-clay-artists/6779/#comment-27853 sarahwww Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:27:26 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6779#comment-27853 Nathalie, we want to see the Teddy bear! Finish him up and let's see a picture ( even if it isn't PC) :) Nathalie, we want to see the Teddy bear! Finish him up and let’s see a picture ( even if it isn’t PC) :)

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