Arabesque Caning 101 Zoom Workshop

Workshop Description and a few things you may want to know before registering….

Workshop Description:

I began working with polymer when I discovered an image of millefiori canework, one that knocked me off my feet at a time when I was searching desperately for a way to express my pent-up creativity.  I couldn’t believe something so beautiful could be created from polymer and I was hooked on it, and specifically millefiori caning, immediately.  I jumped right in and didn’t look back:).  Before long, kaleidoscope caning was my focus and I began to call my style “Arabesque” for the fine white outlining that often surrounds many of my cane’s components (resulting in undulating, continuous, and intertwined lines -arabesque- when the cane is cut into sections and combined to create a kaleidoscope).

In the process of making a beautiful Arabesque cane during this workshop, you will learn the many innovative actions, tricks, tips, and sleights of hand that I’ve developed for caning.  I always want to know the ins and outs of every.little.thing (to the annoyance of some:) which leads me to conduct much R&D on any of my polymer ventures.  When it comes to caning, this R&D is to your benefit as I share innovative information to help you produce beautiful canework. The new skills you will learn include:

 •My often-used statement to ‘be the boss of your clay’ is never more appropriate than when creating a cane.  In this workshop, you will lose any fear you may have had in ‘dominating’ your clay and making it do what you want it to do.  It’s an empowering feeling to know you have complete control over how your clay acts and behaves, and this empowerment will bring freeing confidence to your future polymer work.

•You will learn my favorite skills for accomplishing the caning end goal which is to create precise cane elements – that then lead to a kaleidoscope cane in which its design is uniform through the length of the cane (a necessity if the cane sections are to link up when combined), as efficiently and quickly as possible…and with the least amount of fuss.

•Learn how to design a kaleidoscope cane (including the three most important factors in creating the cane’s design).

•You will learn my innovations for turning one kaleidoscope cane into numerous design variations.

•Learn how clay, specifically different brands, behave when making and reducing a cane and how those different brands may affect the finished appearance of the cane.

•Learn different methods for ‘backfilling’ or ‘caulking’ the various cane elements, ones that make quick, efficient, and precise work of that task.

You will also:

 •Receive numerous comprehensive handout pages with dozens of corresponding, detailed images, which will ‘hold your hand’ and walk you through the entire process of building an Arabesque cane (and, of course, be an invaluable resource in your future caning endeavors).

•Receive a video link to the full Zoom workshop recording (to be sent within a week of the last day of the workshop).

•Have access to the workshop’s Facebook Group Page where we share ideas, ask questions, view and post related images, and so much more! 

•Receive four of my bonus “Jana’s Essentials” videos (over two hours of innovative instruction, free!), each one worth the price of admission alone.  Each video covers a specific (and key) polymer clay topic and provides new ideas and solutions to help you ace that topic – and possibly solve conundrums you’ve dealt with for years.  The topics covered in the videos include:

      ۞How to properly use your pasta machine and make it work for you to produce nicely squared-off sheets of clay

         each and every time.  And, you will learn a nifty trick to keep those pasta machine gears from stripping!  Woot! 

        This one trick will help you to extend the life of your pasta machine – possibly indefinitely!  My old machine has

        been in use for 8 years now, when BNT (Before Nifty Trick :), I used to go through two a year!

     ۞Innovative ways to condition and “bring back” old, hard clay and canes, and how to speed-leach your too-soft clay.

     ۞How to create a successful Skinner blend quickly and easily, every time.  I cover blending concepts we often don’t

         consider and (drumroll) how to easily change or alter the colors of a completed blend…wow!

     ۞Though we won’t be curing anything during the workshop, I am sharing my curing video as it contains new, critical,  

         and in depth information on proper oven usage and unique curing methods, which result in very durable, long lasting

         polymer creations (never worry again that your pieces may break after giving them away or sending them home with

         a happy customer!).  You will learn that curing is the most important and critical step in clay-work!

A few things you may want to know before registering:

•Workshop Skill Level: Curiosity and a desire to learn are as important as skill level when it comes to learning. So, if you have those plus a basic knowledge of polymer clay, Skinner blends and pasta machines, you’ll do just fine. I strive very hard to explain the processes in a manner that is easily digestible for everyone and am happy to answer as many questions as are necessary for all to be comfortable with their workshop tasks. And, to ensure a successful and enjoyable experience, you will also have the exhaustive printed materials I provide, the bonus Jana's Essentials videos, access to help via the Facebook Group Page, the workshop’s Zoom recording, and the ‘no pressure’ atmosphere of my Zoom workshops. Meaning, you’re covered so don’t be afraid to take the plunge!

•Note that the Zoom workshop will be recorded so you won’t miss out if you cannot attend some or all of the workshop. Links to the video recording will be sent out within a week after the workshop (and will be available to you for a minimum of one year (and likely much, much longer!)

•Most materials required for the workshop are typical of those you already likely have among your polymer clay supplies. For purposes of ordering needed clay for the workshop, you will be asked to provide: enough clay for three 3 oz. Skinner blends in three different colors schemes of your choosing; 2-3 oz. black clay; 2-3 oz. white clay; 3 oz.+ cream clay. These clay requirements will be detailed further (and recipes given for specific colors, if needed) on the Materials List.

•You will be given homework to complete prior to the workshop which will include watching the Jana’s Essentials videos you will be given links to, conditioning your clay, and making three Skinner blends (made into bullseye canes and/or accordian ‘loaves’ and mentioned just above) for the workshop . These will be detailed on the Materials List you will receive. I’m here for advice/help if you’re unsure how to create an accordian loaf:)

•Facebook Group Page: If we are not friends on Facebook, you will want to “friend” me so I can send your invitation to the Workshop’s Facebook Group Page (which will appear in your Facebook ‘Notifications’). If you are not on Facebook, I’ll work with you to make sure you receive all pertinent information that is posted on the Group Page.

•I highly recommend Kato Clay for my workshops. Unless Kato is fresh from the factory, it is typically more firm/lesssticky than other brands. Kato is ideal to work with (especially for caning!) because of these factors and also its ‘rubbery’ quality which helps itperform in ways other brands cannot and (yay for us!) makes it very easy to handle and manipulate. Properly cured Kato is hard as stone, removing barriers to creating anything one desires and for me that is typically the impossibly thin and delicate-appearing items I love. Despite all of this, Kato gets a bad “difficult to condition” rap – until you learn my tricks!

Having said all of that, please don’t feel obligated to use Kato - use your preferred brand (but please no FIMO Soft or Sculpey III), making sure to leach prior to the workshop, if needed, whether using Premo, FIMO Professional, another brand of clay or even Kato, if it’s too soft. A simple guide to clay consistency: Polymer Clay is on a continuum from very soft to very firm and you’re striving for a mid-way point: not too soft/sticky, not too firm/cracking. My Jana’s Essentials video on clay conditioning and consistency has wonderful guidence to help as you prepare your clay for the workshop.

•Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel, you may do so up to 3 weeks prior to the workshop and receive a full refund of the workshop cost minus bank/paypal fees. If you cancel within 3 weeks of the workshop, 75% of your fee will be refunded, though there is no refund for cancellation within one week of the workshop. I don't want to be an ogre over cancellations, so please be in touch if you have extenuating circumstances:)

Contact me with any questions - I’d love to hear from you! Thanks much and take care, Jana

janarobertsbenzon@icloud.com or jana@janarobertsbenzon.com