I am taking a few days of leave (Friday and Monday) and have spent most of it so far at my jeweler's bench playing. Bliss.
I've had this idea floating around in my mind for developing forms. Some time ago I saw a Japanese artist making small figurines which were in themselves very charming. What impressed me the most was the economy of motion that she used to achieve them. Roll out a little clay, a pinch here, a prod there and voila, a form that was fresh and spontaneous. Like a superb athlete, she made it look easy. I know it took many hours of practice to achieve it.
I sat down with dark blue poly-clay (restricting myself to one colour helps me concentrate on form) and really explored the properties of the material. The way it stretches and moulds, pushing it to it's limits. Developing a repertoire of motions that will produce the forms that I want in a few manoeuvres.
After a couple of days I've perfected several shell-like forms that I am delighted with and will share the pics once they are developed. I set out initially to come up with forms that I can cast. However, I think that there is further potential in the poly-clay forms as well. They're a nice extension of the silver repoussed mollusks that I already make. They'll give me an opportunity to introduce colour as well.
This formula is one I was taught at art school and it still works for me. Strip away all other distractions, and focus on what it is I'm trying to achieve, in this case, new forms.