Gayle Heinemann

Here’s the scoop on my techniques and materials….I use polymer clay, a synthetic low-fire clay that is remarkably colorful and versatile. One of the techniques I use is “caning”,  which is a technique borrowed from Venetian glassblowers.  Imagine forming cylinders of clay and  bundling them  together, this is referred to as a cane.  The cane,  when viewed from each end, reveals a pre-planned  image of a leaf, flower, etc. Slices can be taken off the cane to make jewelry, vessels, wall pieces, etc.  The polymer clay then cures in an oven.  Pieces are wet sanded through 4 progressively finer grits and polished on a buffing wheel, or hand buffed to a satin finish.