Carol Blackburn
I encourage students to experiment and discover how to turn chance effects into personal and unique designs.
What will students gain if they come on one of your courses?They will acquire new manual skills and confidence in the design and making of polymer clay jewellery.
Are there any particular techniques/processes you use in your teaching?I teach a wide range of techniques for transforming polymer clay into wearable art. I take basic techniques and help and encourage students to push them a little further.
What inspires your own work?I work intuitively with the material and making process always seeking surprising forms and conjunctions of shape and colour.
Where can students see examples of your work?My website and my book 'How to Make Polymer Clay Beads'.
Where did you gain your training/experience?I graduated with a master's degree from the Royal College of Art and have an art teachers qualification (ATD) from Hornsey. That was a long time ago so most of my experience has been as a freelance designer of knitted fabrics. More recently I have extended my knowledge of polymer clay by participating in workshops, and ensuring that I keep up to date through the internet, polymer clay books, magazines and artists DVDs.
What teaching experience have you had?I have taught short courses at other AE institutions and polymer clay workshops in the USA and UK.
Is your work in any public or private collections?Yes, private collections inthe USA, UK and Spain.
Have you written any books/had articles published?Yes, 'How to Make Polymer Clay Beads' – consistently the best selling Polymer clay book since publication in 2007 – now translated into French and Italian.
Do you belong to any professional groups/societies?Yes, London Polymer Clay Group, National Polymer Clay Guild-USA, British Polymer Clay Guild.