Behind every artist there is a story, this is mine, how I made my way, after experimenting with different materials and how I found polymer clay and where am I going from here, what other forms of art I would like to explore and why?
I was never a good student, I lost trust and I disliked the system from first grade.
When I was in primary school the only class I loved was art and crafts. My art and crafts teacher was a very impressive lady; a strong voice, short curly hair and a big smile, at least that's how I remember her. Most important of all, she allowed me to be different, which was something that was very rare in the education system I was admitted to.
When our lessons started, my teacher would show us the technique we would be experimenting with, and give us one or two options of items we were going to create with this technique. At that point my imagination used to go for a very long walk in "possibilities land". I never thought of taking the easy way out, I was there to impress. I would come to my teacher with the wildest ideas of what I can create with the technique she demonstrated to us, and she never said no, she used to say "ok, we'll try it". Sometimes it worked and I came out with some very clever items for my age, and sometimes the idea in my head didn't quite go to plan, but it was ok. I'm sorry I don't have these items, or photos of them anymore.
Later in the years I understood what my teacher was trying to show me. She was the first one to show me that art is all about experimenting, trying, and learning. It's about having fun in the process, and playing with endless possibilities. That some materials will feel better than others and that we won't know till we try. Although, the most important lesson is that sometimes failing is just as great as succeeding, as it helps you learn and become better.
And so my journey begins... colouring, paper mache, weaving, pillow making, natural clay, beading, macrame, enamel, baking, photography, painting, mosaic jewelry making...and at last polymer clay.
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