Artisan Center Demonstrates Colorful Jewelry Created from Polymer Clay

– Special to WEKY AM 1340 –

On Saturday, May 13, Diana Smith Thomas and James Rich of BeSpoken Designs will created colorful patterns in polymer clay, shaping it into jewelry. 

With design and color as his forte, Rich translates his drawings and pen and ink studies into colorful polymer clay. Using a variety of colors, he constructs intricate polymer clay “canes”. A “cane” is a rod made up of two or more colors, layered to make a pattern that when cut in a cross-section, reveals a design.  

Smith Thomas, a Berea College graduate, takes the constructed polymer clay “cane” designs made by Rich, and creates unique jewelry and wearable art. She takes sliced sections of the polymer clay and folds, cuts and joins them, to create necklace pendants, earrings and pins.  

“My designs are built upon my lifelong love and collection of jewelry,” said Thomas. “I am intrigued by repeating patterns and multiple part forms.”

Free Guided Gallery Tours at Kentucky Artisan Center  

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea will offer visitors free guided tours through the center’s gallery exhibit, “225: Artists Celebrate Kentucky’s History” and “Reveal: Joyce Garner.”

Kentucky Artisan Center staff who talk about the exhibits, the artists and individual works, give these free, guided exhibit tours. Staff will answer questions about the techniques and various processes used, and the objects featured. Tours are at 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m.