Anita Winthrop

Artwear by Anita

I have been an artist all my life. I started painting and sculpting with clay as a child, creating a world that became my refuge. I discovered polymer clay while in college in 1984 and eventually it became my preferred medium, almost an obsession. It was a new medium at the time, there were no books, no classes, nothing to give me a frame of reference for this clay. I started experimenting, sculpting and making jewelry for friends and my kids, and soon a business was born. I called it Thumbprints as my fingerprints marked my designs; proof of my singular creations.

Sometime in the 90's I met an artist that introduced me to a new technique with this clay and I ran with it, taking my work to new levels in this emerging art world of polymer clay. I embraced “millifiore” which allowed me to create intricate patterns and pictures by layering colors of clay to build a large log (called a cane). In this way I could combine my painting style with my clay, creating a very detailed picture inside a large cane that is then compressed and pulled down smaller and sliced to make beads for jewelry. These designs can take anywhere from 30-100 hours to create, but make many beads slices that become Limited Editions.

Many years later I went back to my sculpting roots, and created a new line of jewelry I call My Industrial Romance. This jewelry is a unique combination of polymer clay, recycled metals, found objects, and Victorian findings. This process is organic, I never know what I am going to create when I enter my studio. My ideas evolve and morph as I work, one idea feeding into another, creating a story of love, loss, life and imagination. My moods often dictate my themes, wether my art is dark and moody or bright and fun. My stories of fantasy, romance and industry meld with my clay, recycled watches, metal parts, yarn, and glass. My work revolves around different time periods; the alchemy of alternate worlds and the characters of my imagination. Each piece is an original with its own story to tell.

Today my work encompasses all these techniques and styles. Polymer clay as a medium is never boring as it is one of the most versatile art mediums around. I am constantly challenging myself and being inspired by the huge polymer community around me. Come on inside my world and see what is new. I hope I will inspire you too.