Creativity has been a driving force in my life since third grade, when I won 1st place in an art contest for a watercolor.  As a child, I designed and made cutout clothing for my paper dolls, which led to designing my own clothes from junior high through college.  My mother painstakingly executed these on her trusty Singer, including my original design for my wedding and bridesmaid dresses.  She was an inspiration to me, as she created with her hands from sewing, to painting, to decorating and craft projects of all kinds.  My formal education consists of a BS in Education, with an art minor, from the University of Nebraska.

My life has taken many turns since then, encompassing several careers.  When teaching started competing with my role as a mother, I gave it up and embarked on a degree in Interior Design, working for several design studios and freelancing.  This gave me the flexibility to give the time needed to be a presence in the lives of my daughters and husband.  As a result I have three wonderful, successful, independent daughters.

While working with contractors and clients on house plans and decorating, I found my knowledge of construction very lacking.  This led to an AA in Architectural Design and yet another phase of my life: designing and building houses.

Through each of these transitions, creativity was the energy force that drove me.  My interest in polymer clay began as a troop leader in Girl Scouts.  At that time, it was a doll medium and only in flesh colors.  Years later, my interest was rekindled when the clay was introduced in colors.  With a book on the subject of “caning”, I began playing with the clay, making beads for watch bands.  When orders started coming in from people who had seen the watches, my  jewelry business was launched.

“Caning” is a method used by Italian glass makers where rods of color are embed in tubes of glass.  Polymer canes are made in much the same way, layering shapes in a long rod with an intricate pattern being the result.  The canes are then reduced to bead size, sliced and cured with heat.  The clay can mimic many things such as wood, natural stones, glass and can be combined with many other materials.  The possibilities are endless.

Collage became an interest several years ago when I experimented with texturing sheets of polymer clay.  Combining it with handmade paper and other materials such as wire, beads, dichroic glass and found objects, a series of collage collections resulted.  I had always wanted to try handmade paper since learning how at a “frolics” night at the Rickman Center, my first BOMH ArtSmart Conference.  I dug out the kit I bought and have been adding my own paper to the collage, as well as some I purchase.

Showing my work at juried art fairs, it has won a series of awards, from 1st place to honorable mention, and is also represented in galleries and gift shops around the country.

Collage has opened up a new venue and renewed my creative energy

WaltonArt
Shari Walton
3520-E East Lombard
Springfield, MO 65809
417-227-9248
email WaltonArt

 

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