Beginning with a simple black clay base, you’ll carve, scratch, and layer colour to develop bold, abstract surfaces. I’ve condensed decades of working with clay into a clear methods you can build upon. 
We'll start by preparing the wood blanks with clay and baking them.

Beyond your basic polymer clay toolkit (tile, blades, baking setup, etc.), you’ll need:

• Wood blanks (central to this workshop format)
• Black polymer clay (Premo recommended)
• Liquid clay (to adhere clay to wood)
• Acrylic paint (Pan Pastels or other powders are also useful)
• A lino cutter (strongly recommended)
• Simple scratching tools — wire brushes, needle tools, or similar
• A pasta machine (helpful for rolling)

How long is the workshop?
Approximately 90 minutes, divided into sections you can pause and replay. Watch as often as you want to. 

Do I need experience with polymer clay?
Basic familiarity is recommended. This workshop focuses on surface design rather than clay fundamentals.

Is this a jewelry-making class?
No. The focus is surface development. Assembly is shown briefly for context.

Can I sell what I make?
Absolutely.

Wendy Weaver Orlowski is a Canadian jewelry artist with over two decades of experience and the owner of Shades of Clay.

Her studio practice focuses on jewelry and surface development, working across materials.