Something exciting about working with mixed media and experimenting with materials is that something will grab you and open up other possibilities.

My current ‘love affair’ with flower clay came about because of my search for a material that would allow me to go finer and more delicate than paper mache. With paper mache I had created quite small and also people-sized pieces, refining techniques as I discovered more of its capeabilities and limitations.

I was using air dry and oven bake clays for teeth and toenails for some of my creations.

I was introduced to ‘cold porcelain’ by a fellow artist and friend. It was a homemade version using cornflour and PVA glue. When it dried it allowed me to make really fine points on teeth and claws without chipping as it remains flexible.

I started to make smaller birds and animals with the paper mache, then wanted to get finer with more detail, so I started playing….

I was using wire for strength in the paper mache works but then figured I could bulk out the shape where I wanted with foil and layer the clay fairly thinly over to get the fine look I was after.

I wanted quite slim legs, going for a kind of ‘creepy elegance’ I suppose.

I also found I can go really thin with it and make fine petals, leaves and twisty bits suggestive of forests and moss.

The body of this one was made from air dry clay, the finer parts flower clay.

This just the start of my adventures with the medium, I have found out that I have to use it with confidence and know exactly what I want to do, as it starts to be unworkable in about 5 minutes, so I’m taking little pieces out at a time and keeping the rest covered. No time for playing with it.