Category Archives: Faces

canes, extruded, Faces, Found Object Characters, Online Workshops, Sebring, Florida, Uncategorized, Women, Workshops

Lucy and COVID19 Isolation

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I found this fabulous head on Facebook Market place about 6 weeks ago. When I saw her I wasn’t sure she would fit in the oven but I knew I needed to buy her.

When I got her to the studio the first time I did was make sure she fit in the oven. She’s 20″ long from the tip of her nose the the last curl on her head. Luckily I have a two regular kitchen ovens that are clay dedicated . One here at home and one at my studio in downtown Sebring.

I didn’t have time to work her right away so she just chilled out in my studio. Then Covid19 hit and I’ve been home with my husband for the last five weeks. Is that all it’s been???

She came home with me and I’ve been working on her covering her with polymer canes that I have been making over the years. Every time I have a workshop in my studio I make canes, every time I film a video for my online workshops, I make canes.

So I have a cane inventory that you couldn’t believe and what better way to use it than on this lady? I am here to tell you she took a bunch of canes. I think I only use the same one once or maybe twice.

Here she is finished. Or at least finished for now. there are a few things I’d like to fix, but I’m ready to stop working on her for awhile.

Below I’ll show you as she progressed.

Oh and I’ve named her Lucy… like in the Sky with Diamonds… *g*
I may have to add a few sparkles, but that will have to wait.

This is how she was when I first started covering her with canes.

I decided that I didn’t like the random canes and decided to follow the waves.

I just kept on adding canes because I have a large inventory. If you have ever taken a workshop with me you’ll know I am always encouraging everyone to build your cane inventory so you can just sit down and create.

I was able to begin and finish her with out ever having to make a new cane. If I would have had to make a new cane for every wave I might not have finished her.

Obviously you won’t have as many canes as I do but as you build your cane inventory or as I like to call it, your stash, you’ll be surprised how many projects you can finish in a day.
I worked on both sides for days.


I’d finished a few rows and then I’d bake her. That way I didn’t mess up the rows I’d finished as I worked on the next.

Then finally the day came when I could finally put her in the oven for the last time. Was I glad? You bet. I’m used to large projects but this one seemed like it took forever.


She just fits on an angle. I baked her one last time for 30 minutes andI’m a happy, happy, woman.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. If you want to build your cane inventory or just make a couple of fun projects from my online workshops.

-polymer paintings, Faces, Polymer clay portraits, Uncategorized

Polymer string portraits


I’ve been working on polymer string portraits and I have to say they are really fun. 

I’ve admired the continuous black line drawings for some time now and have always wanted to do my own take on the look. 

Years ago I joined a Kickstarter campaign for a 3d pen that used plastic stings. It’s now sold in Michaels and other places I guess.  I suppose I could have mastered it I I’d spent more time with it, I still have it and might take another look at it now. 

Don’t judge now, I was just playing.

But what I really know is polymer clay. I’ve had pc in my hands almost everyday for the last 25 years and I know how it behaves and what I need to do to make it work for me. 

So finally I took the time to give it a try. I posted my first two on Instagram and Facebook with a great deal of support from other people which made me very happy. I was delighted to have one of the portraits featured on Polymer Clay Daily.

Even though I will always be experimenting, trying, failing, succeeding, both acknowledgements are always a great conformation that I’m pushing polymer.

The first and second faces were pencil drawings by me and they worked very well. I place them under a piece of glass and begin. The next one is from a picture of my friend Syndee Holt.

Syndee Holt

I wanted to make a portrait of someone I knew and Syndee always wears great hats and this picture fit the bill. I even liked the sunglasses. 

Syndee Holt


I still have work to do on this, Syndee always has a smile, I have to fix that.

I sent a photo of the portrait to Syndee for her approval and she recognized herself right away. Whew. She even said I could share it. Thanks Syndee.

Back to fixing the smile and looking for other interesting photos.

Faces, Workshops

Two Dates for my Santa Ornament Workshops.

 

Download workshop application here

Santa Ornaments Workshop


one day workshops
Nov. 10, 2017

$85
10am – 4:30pm

Nov. 11, 2017

$85
10am – 4:30pm

Everything included
Make one or two

Come make your own Santa ornaments using the easy molds from Maureen Carlson. You’ll love how they turn out. I’ll have everything you need, just bring your lunch and your smile.

We’ll have enough time to make two ornaments.

canes, Faces, Uncategorized, Workshops

Ornament Workshops at Studio 215

 

Download workshop application here.

Ornaments

Use canes from my stash

Polymer clay ornaments - Alice Stroppel

$85
10am – 4:30pm
Saturday – Nov. 5, 2016
Everything included
Make one or two

This is the first time I have offered a workshop using canes from my inventory. I’ve been teaching so much and making canes for each workshop so I have an overflow. I decided it would be great fun to see what you might do with slices from them .

I’ll have some ornaments, but if you want to being your own you can. Any color and a medium to small size or one large.

Bring your lunch and your sense of humor.

Santa Ornaments

Santa - Alice Stroppel - Maureen CarlsonSanta - Alice Stroppel - Maureen Carlson

$80
10am – 4:30pm
Nov. 12, 2016
Everything included
Make one or two

Come make your  own Santa ornaments using the easy molds from Maureen Carlson. You’ll love how they turn out. I’ll have everything you need, just bring your lunch and your smile.

Faces, Polymer Clay Daily, Uncategorized, Weed Pots, Workshops

Featured on Polymer Clay Daily

I’m  just as happy now as I was when this picture was taken by Cynthia Tinapple while we were at a retreat. Cynthia featured me and my polymer painting on Polymer Clay Daily this morning.

I blogged about the painting, here.

I was delighted and always honored to be a small part of this exciting time in the history of polymer clay.

photo - Cynthia Tinapple
photo – Cynthia Tinapple

I like to experiment with pc and this line of polymer faces is something I want to expand on. Maybe not just faces, maybe push that comfort zone a bit too.

Polymer Painting, Alice Stroppel

Faces, Retreats, Uncategorized, Weed Pots

There and Back Again

I’ve been away on a Polymer Clay retreat and as always it was great fun,  I enjoyed my fellow artists, I learned new things and I now I’m ready to jump back into my studio and get to work.

Weed Pots Alice Stroppel

While I was on retreat I continued along with my bird theme. Oh… you didn’t realize I had a bird theme? I posted about it on my other blog, Polymer Clay etc.

I made bird bowls for an exchange with the other retreaters and a large bird for the wall. Here’s the Link.

These guys above are prototypes. I’ve always wanted to make wall pockets since my friend started collecting vintage wall pockets years ago, but I never got around to it.  A short while ago artist Marie EvB Gibbons had a sale in her Denver Studio and online. She was selling  these wonderful “Weed Pots” and I bought three of her darling baby pots.

I asked her if she minded if I “borrowed” the name for my, oh so much different than hers, weed pots. She graciously said yes. So I just started play and since birds were on my mind…

These, obviously, are not wall pockets.  I’m working toward the wall, and these do hold weeds, so the name applies.  Stay tuned.

I also had to make something for the annual auction at the retreat and I made one of my P C painted faces.

Alice Stroppel Face 8-15

I’ve also been experimenting with Canva a free app. that allows you to make cool graphics in the perfect sizes for all your social media needs. It’s very cool and a great way to add your name to those items you want to upload to Pinterest or Instragram.

They even have templates for Facebook graphics.

Meanwhile, I’m having a great group into Studio 215 on Saturday for a Profile Face Cane Class, so look for pictures.

I’m teaching at the Houston Polymer Clay Guild’s LoneStar retreat later this month and I’m excited to be meeting new people and string my Cane Mapping technique. I’ll only be gone a couple of days, so look for new classes coming soon at Studio 215.