Filling in while I move...

As of tomorrow, I will be without computer access for a few days, but I do have an iPhone. For the next couple of months, I will be so busy finishing our house, moving and organizing my studio that I probably will be limited with time to create. (Just writing this, makes my heart skip a beat and I get a little anxious as I have rarely been unable to create when I wanted for the past ten years. I am one of those who must create daily.)

So for the interim, I am going to feature one of my artist friends.

First up is Porro Sahlberg of Finland. (Facebook profile) (Web site with her artist friend, Petteri) Petteri and Porro's collaboration on artwork has earned them international recognition.

Porro and I met online on the rec.crafts.polymer-clay discussion group in about 1997. It has been such a rewarding experience. Besides our discussions on polymer clay and other crafts, we had lengthy emails on all kinds of political and social issues. She was young enough to be my daughter, but she came across as so mature and absolutely brilliant that I never believed she could be so young. Porro has visited me in the US a few times and for the past two years we have attended an artists' retreat for a week. It is a real treat when she visits and we are able to travel together and immerse ourselves in art.

One of Porro's best qualities is her sense of humor. She posted this link on Facebook to show Americans why she comes to the US to learn about crafting. I'm sure it was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, as she is certainly able to laugh at herself---and others. (Oh, yes, she is a straight-forward, honest person.) Finland leads the world in many areas of education and technology and just yesterday Finnish students were rated fourth in the world in math, science and language. Language is of no surprise if you know anything about the Finnish language. As soon as I saw the video, I wanted to start a campaign to get Porro on Finnish TV. Finns would finally get the best in crafting and arts as Porro is a great communicator and she can do so many crafts---including knitting, crocheting, beading, spinning, polymer clay...

I am fortunate to have discovered polymer clay in 1989. It was a time when polymer clay was sold (at least in Alaska) mainly for kid's projects. A real interest in polymer clay as an art medium was just beginning. When the internet came along, the techniques and inspiration that were online were instrumental in propelling polymer clay into a serious art material. It was exciting to be able to experiment and I now credit polymer clay with opening my mind to possibilities with other art materials. My communication with Porro fueled my urge to try anything and everything with polymer clay. Although I work little in polymer clay these days, I still cannot manage to give it up and I am sure that there is so much I still could learn from both polymer clay ....and Porro!

Porro has always been able to take a complex technique and make it simple. I remember when she showed me how she made bicone beads with her hands and no piece of plastic as most clayers used---and hers were perfect. And she has her style. It is so easy for me to recognize her work.

So go take a look at her work and send her a note (Contact is on this page.) She knows English and I am sure she will reply.

Note added 2-5-2011 If you wish to know more about Finland, read this article.

Porro, you are a special friend!