Dan Cormier & Tracy Holmes

Dan Cormier has been working full-time as an artist, innovator, and teacher in polymer clay since a serendipitous encounter with the medium fifteen years ago. He earned recognition in the North American polymer clay community when he taught his own "perfect fit" vessel construction techniques at the first Ravensdale in 1996. Together with his partner, artist and teacher Tracy Holmes, he's taught at every Ravensdale since.

Most recently, Dan's focus has been surface design, with six years of exploration leading to "The Cutting Edge," a whole new approach to creating patterns using a peeler as a fundamental new tool for polymer clay. Shared to date with more than 300 students in Canada, the US, England, Spain, and France, and featured as a recent PolymerCAFE cover story, Dan and Tracy are thrilled to be returning to Ravensdale again this summer with more from their "Cutting Edge" repertoire.



Matrix Canes - No Reduction, No Distortion, No Kidding!
1 Day Workshop
All Levels
W103, Monday, August 7, 9:00 AM

Matrix Caning is an innovative approach to cane design that will give you a whole new perspective on the potential of polymer. Learn how even a simple stack of clay can be deconstructed and reconstructed into an exponential series of unique but cohesive patterns. No reduction, no distortion, no kidding!

Supply List: Basic kit, notepad and pen, a few sheets of letter size paper, some index cards, a piece of glass, 8" x 10" x 3 ml thick (to use as a work surface), glass cleaner and paper towels (students may want to make arrangements to share these), clay - 2 small blocks FIMO Classic or PREMO black, 2 small blocks FIMO Classic or PREMO white, 4 small blocks FIMO Classic or PREMO in any one feature colour of your choice (a medium value is best, but NO metallic or translucent clays please), 1/4 lb. scrap clay
IMPORTANT: Because this workshop covers a lot, students will be required to come to class with some clay already prepared (conditioned, colours mixed, and sheeted). Please contact Dan directly for your homework assignment, hoco@island.net.
Materials Fee: $10.00 for Cutting Edge peeler kit

  
     
     
Craftsmanship Without Compromise - Finishing Right From the Start
1 Day Workshop
Beginner
W304, Wednesday, August 9, 9:00 AM

Dan Cormier has earned a reputation in the polymer clay community as an artist whose work is always well-crafted and well-finished. His secret is that good finishing starts at the very beginning. Using his own techniques for constructing small hollow forms, he will share his approach to making a piece as good as it can be. Discover simple yet elegant strategies for creating polymer clay forms in any shape, to make challenging decorative choices, and to apply fine finishing techniques.

Supply List: Basic kit, notepad and pen, a few sheets of letter size paper, some index cards, a pencil for drawing (I prefer to use a 2-H), a fine tipped permanent pen, X-acto knife with #11 blade, self healing cutting mat, 1 roll of scotch tape (green one), cyanoacrylate glue (slow formula is best), Liquid Sculpey, 2 fine sponges, 1 piece of drywall abrasive screen (any grit), 1 medium grit sanding sponge, a small piece of glass (4x6 picture frame glass will work), small hand drill (with a small collection of bits in varying sizes), clay, 1/2 pound of scrap clay, some patterned or decorative clay sheets (approx. #5 thickness on Atlas machine or 1/16" thick) to be used as bead veneers. Cane patterns, mokume gane, skinner blends, textures, or Cutting Edge veneers will all work fine. Bring something you like.
Materials Fee: $3.00

  
     
     
Texture Without Texture – The Mica Paradigm Shift
1 Day Workshop
All Levels
W502, Friday, August 11, 9:00 AM

Texture Without Texture challenges the notion that seeing is believing, when bumps, ridges, and recesses are actually an optical illusion, no matter how you look at it. Is it embossed? Stamped? Pushed? Filled? Yes, and no. Using the latest "Cutting Edge" tools and techniques, learn how to peel and reveal virtual 3D patterns with results that are predictable, precise, and unparalleled.

Supply List: Basic kit, notepad and pen, a few sheets of letter size paper, some index cards, knitting needles in various sizes( ie. small, medium, large), various punches and texturing tools (i.e. ball stylus tools, commercial leather punches, screwdriver bits, or anything with interesting or unusual tips) various cutters (i.e. Kemper tools, cookie cutters), a piece of glass, 8" x 10" x 3 ml thick (to use as a work surface), glass cleaner and paper towels (students may want to make arrangements to share these), clay - 1/2 lb. PREMO silver, 3 small blocks PREMO pearl, and 1 small block in the colour of your choice (this can be a custom colour, equal to 1 small block), 1/4 lb. scrap clay
IMPORTANT: It's best if the clay used in this class is firm. Newer clay is often softer so if you are getting your clay onsite or buying it new before leaving for Ravensdale it will most likely require leaching. To leach your clay, sheet it using a medium setting on your pasta machine, put it between two sheets of plain paper, put it under some weight (i.e. a piece of glass or tile, then a few books) and leave for a few hours. Once this is done, remove the clay from the paper and condition the clay to redistribute the plasticizer. Sheet your clay on your largest setting and layer between sheets of wax paper for travel.
Materials Fee: $10.00 for Cutting Edge peeler kit

  
     
     

revised 7/18/06