Heartfelt Hands

I started off just making a few thank you gifts for some helpful people. Then I started making variations. Before I knew it, I have amassed a whole collection of little hands, and I want to make more! Each one is sculpted and painted differently than the others. There are countless variation possibilities. Working in a series is a lot of fun.

Heartfelt Hands, each hand is about 3" x 6", Made from paper clay with a paper or felt backing

I started out making one hand, and then casting it so I could make multiples. I use paper clay to make the original and also the cast. Then I use paper clay to make duplicates. I cover how to do this in my book.

I realized that it was most fun to cast a plain hand and then make whatever I wanted to put into the palm. The only problem is that now I want to keep making variations of them and I need to get on with other work. I have to admit, it is really great to have something to work on for those days when I feel unproductive and uninspired.

I will be posting some how-to tutorials on youtube.com this month. I will let you know when that happens!

LITTLE BRUNA, My First Paper Clay Art Piece

Little Bruna, Paper clay/mixed media, 12 x 18, completed in 2004

This is a small portrait I did of my mother, Bruna Marie Riccomini, from a photograph of her as a child. She died after having Alzheimer's Disease for more than 10 years. If you have ever lost anyone from Alzheimer's, you know that it is a very long process of mourning, as you lose a little more of them each day.

To help process my grief, I stayed home from work for a week in isolation and made this portrait of her from paper clay. It was the first time I tried to use it in bas-relief on a flat surface and it worked. So in a way, I feel that this technique I developed was a gift from my mother.

Bruna was first generation Italian and very proud of it. She came from a very long line of hardworking, innovative, industrious Italians. She was very creative and when she did anything, it was done right. Honoring her with this portrait helped me remember all the wonderful things she ever did for our family, and that she was once a young girl with dreams about a wonderful future.

The words at the top of her portrait say "BRUNA, She made things beautiful and she made beautiful things."

Thank you mom.

My mother, Bruna Marie Riccomini, Age 15

Oregon College of Art and Craft Workshop

I am always so appreciative of the kind of people that take my workshops. They are usually fun loving, kind and creative...all of my favorite characteristics. This class was no exception. I love it when laughter reins.

Sadly, the room we were assigned was poorly lit, had buzzing light fixtures and the tables and stools were uncomfortable because you could not put your legs under the tables. But the class suffered through it and did some amazing work. As always, time ran out before people could finish their work. But good art takes time and I am hoping all will finish their pieces and send me jpegs so I can share them here eventually.

You will see clay work from the first day and some of the painted clay work from the second day. Thank you to all my students from this workshop for a great effort and for making it a fun experience for me and for the other students in the class.

Letting Go, Again

I have finished my piece that I was working on while traveling. I made 8 birds while on the road. Then when I returned to my studio, I built the rest of the piece and adhered the dried clay birds onto it and added a few more.

While posting images of the white clay, so many people said they would love to see some of my work remain white. And so I have been working with that idea.

Letting Go18x24Paper clay and acrylic paint on canvas

Letting Go18x24Paper clay and acrylic paint on canvas

I have made this image before. The first one I made for a friend who died from cancer, the second for another friend who died from a brain tumor. And so began a life long tribute to those who have had to let go of life.

The inspiration for this series is this quote by Lao Tsu from the I Ching:

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."

Working on Paper Clay While Traveling

As crazy as it might seem, I like to sculpt paper clay when I travel. Like while I am traveling. In a car, on a bus, on a train or airplane. I take along clay that I have already rolled out and cover it with plastic. Then I take my designs on tracing paper. I take a few tools, a small cup for water and extra plastic to use under the clay while I am working on it.

When I get home I can adhere my clay pieces to a larger work and finish it. This piece is another in my series called Letting Go. To see others in the series, check my gallery under Paper Clay Folk Art and Mixed Media Paintings

I did this while on the Amtrak train from Seattle to Portland. I carry two small boards to sandwich them between so I can keep them flat.

I did this while on the Amtrak train from Seattle to Portland. I carry two small boards to sandwich them between so I can keep them flat.

Paper Clay FUNdamentals Workshop

What a fun workshop we had this weekend! Each person did such a great piece. Below you will see their clay work, along with the black and white, and then their final piece in class (some were not quite finished). What a great group of women. Each with their own style and ideas. Such creativity. I am so proud of their work!

Keep Your Pallet Clean

Here is my trick to keeping my glass pallet clean when using acrylic paint. It's a good way to keep paint from going down the drain and into the water supply. You can just throw it in the trash after it's dry.

Body of Work

Once in a while I get an idea to do something that excites me until I can actually work on it. This piece was one of those pieces. I thought about making a body and adding elements to it that I sculpt separately. I have done it before, but this time I added connecting elements like stems and leaves. This makes it so much easier to work on because I can sit comfortably and sculpt each element, rather than having to stand and bend over a large piece. When I can relax while working, I am more careful and thoughtful about what I am doing.

I planned to paint this black with rich colored flowers and birds. Having the green leaves and stems be the unifying color. But now that I see it in white, I like it as it is. So I kind of have a dilemma.

I got lots of comments on facebook to leave it white or add subtle color.

Stay tuned to see what happens. Even I don't know at this point.

Emerald Art Center Workshop 2016

What a wonderful class we had at Emerald Art Center in Springfield, Oregon! I am always grateful for a group of fun-loving creative people coming together to make art...and this was a really fun group. Everyone had a distinct style and idea of what they wanted to learn and make. 

Below you will see the progression of their work, which for many is still unfinished. But wow...I am amazed at how well everyone did in just a few hours each day. There is never enough time when you are having fun making art. Day One, we did clay work.

My next workshop is in June.

On Day 2 of our workshop, we paint our clay pieces. Transformation happens!


Everyday Saints Workshop, San Miguel de Allende

What a wonderful workshop we had here in San Miguel de Allende! Each person made their own Saint paying homage to something important to them or someone they love. Done with torn paper collage on canvas, it is the perfect art project for Mexico! Thank you to Carol Jackson for putting this together and to Heidi Lavass for opening your beautiful Bed and Breakfast, Casa de Questa for our fun filled workshop. Below are my two demo pieces as well as the class work.

Our Lady of Being Kind to Yourself

Our Lady of Being Kind to Yourself

Our Lady of Wishful Thinking

Our Lady of Wishful Thinking

These were done by the class, and though most are unfinished, you can see how creative and fun loving each person in the workshop was by their piece.

Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine Article!

Check out the November/December issue of the wonderful art magazine Cloth Paper Scissors for my latest paper clay art project! Yep, that's my project on the cover! Can you believe my good fortune? Learn to use paper clay to make holiday tags, gift wrap embellishments and more. Available on news stands now. Send me a picture of your paper clay project and I will post it here on my blog. Happy Holidays! (See below for images that were submitted.)

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Sent in by Lynne Farrow

Sent in by Lynne Farrow

Also sent in by Lynne Farrow, done by her her and her friends at an art making get together.

Also sent in by Lynne Farrow, done by her her and her friends at an art making get together.

Demonstration at the Duck Store!

Come and visit me at this annual event...happening this week! November 11 & 12, Wednesday and Thursday at the corner of 13th Avenue and Alder Street in Eugene. I will be demonstrating paper clay techniques all day, both days. Lots of artists are demonstrating...so come and join the fun!

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Duck Store Demo



I will be at the University of Oregon Bookstore on November 12 & 13 demonstrating paper clay techniques during their Tools of the Trade Show. Get discounts on ALL art supplies, meet artists demonstrating their crafts, and visit with art material suppliers...it's a great annual event.

Paper Clay Workshop at Sitka Center for Art and Ecology

What a wonderful workshop we had this week! Sitka Center is the perfect place to gather with others who like making art and learn a new medium. The natural beauty of the area is so inspirational and invigorating. Everyone worked hard and the results were amazing. Such nice clay work and painting. Most are still in progress, with finishing touches to come...but check out this great class work!

Thank you to each and every student for taking my workshop! What a great bunch of people. And thank you Sitka for inviting me to teach in one of the most beautiful art centers on the west coast.

Clay work before painting...



It's all about the attitude...

Meticulous attention to detail...




Then we add a dark color to the recesses...




And painting begins...





Unfinished potential...

Adding bits of paper...

And blushes of color...


With fanciful ideas...

Or just plain monkey business...

Cedar waxwings begin to migrate...

As autumn begins to fall upon us.