Day 1 - Standing Tribal Figure - The faces and/or masks will look like old ivory (we will make faux ivory from clay) with carved tribal designs. The hollow standing torsos will be wrapped in beautiful Venetian Millefiore designs. This is the ancient Venetian glass bead making technique adapted to polymer clay. This design will reflect tribal cloth and has endless variations. Head pieces can incorporate textiles, fibers, wirework, natural materials and beads. The figure also has a pair of removable earrings (for you to wear!) that you will create. Our tribal figures can range in size from 6 inches to 14 inches. This class will give you fresh visions and open new possibilities for your own work! 

Please bring:

• Work Surface - a piece of acrylic or a cutting mat or flexible vegetable cutting board
• To roll out the clay - acrylic rolling rod or acrylic rolling pin or a brayer or a glass jar or bottle
• Pasta machine if you have one
• Polymer clay cutting blade
• Needle tool or long needle - available in the pottery aisle of your craft store
• Xacto knife
• Small pack of babywipes for cleanup
• Needlenose and/or roundnose pliers- I will have a pair to share
• Small bits of wire, textile scraps, fibers, beads, charms, little personal doodads
• Polymer Clay - 2 oz blocks, 1 block each: White; Tan (called Sahara in FIMO Soft or Ecru in Premo); Black; plus 3-6 colors of your choice

Day 2 - Sculptural Books, Triptychs and Standing Screens - Using polymer clay, papers, fabric, and personal treasures, we’ll create and layer images and text to tell a story, evoke a mood, or simply create something beautiful. Polymer clay techniques will include transfers, layering and collaging with translucent clays, several surface techniques and the successful integration of mixed media with polymer clay. We will bind the sculptural books with a text block of unusual papers. Triptychs and screens will be hinged and can be used as luminescent candle screens, wall pieces or standing sculptures. Leave the workshop with fresh ideas and techniques to incorporate into your personal style.

Please bring:

• Work Surface - a piece of acrylic or a cutting mat or flexible vegetable cutting board
• To roll out the clay - acrylic rolling rod or acrylic rolling pin or a brayer or a glass jar or bottle
• Pasta machine if you have one
• Polymer clay cutting blade
• Needle tool or long needle - available in the pottery aisle of your craft store
• Xacto knife
• Favorite small black/white photocopy imagery - use a machine with carbon toner, not inkjet - I will have some to share
• Objects for impressions and molds- old and new jewelry, buttons, rubber stamps, brass charms, found objects, etc.
• Small pack of babywipes for cleanup
• Small bits of wire, textile scraps, fibers, beads, charms, little personal doodads
• Polymer Clay - 2 ounce blocks, 1 block each: White; Tan (called Sahara in FIMO Soft or Ecru in Premo); Translucent (#14 in FIMO soft); plus 3-6 colors of your choice

Most of these supplies should be available at your local craft or art store. Polymer clay is available there also or from www.polymerclayexpress.com.

Dayle Doroshow is a mixed media/polymer clay artist and owner of the design studio Zingaro, Stamp of Distinction in California. She trained in traditional ceramics at the Riverside Bell Tower Pottery program and the Columbia University Extension program in New York City and sold her pottery in Greenwich Village shops.

Dale's jewelry, home decor, ethnic figures and handcrafted books can be seen at art shows and galleries on the West Coast. She enjoys teaching and sharing her techniques in workshops across the United States and in France.

Visit Dayle's website to learn more about her and to see more examples of her work.