Meet Marina Andrei, a passionate Romanian polymer clay artist and a pioneer in innovating techniques. Learn from her experience in overcoming challenges and discovering new applications, such as her signature Faux Stones creations.
The American artist Erin Hanson once said:
"There is freedom waiting for you, In the breezes of the sky, And you ask, ‘What if I fall?’ Oh, but my darling, What if you fly?’”
There are always new and open horizons of possibility for those who venture into the unknown—discoveries within reach only for those who dare to try. How many of us live in our comfort zones without even realizing it? Where are the limits? They aren’t crystal clear. And that’s simply human nature. But it is also natural for us to play, explore, and wander, following one serendipity after another until... the magic happens.
This could be the story of Marina Andrei.
Glass inclusions sparked curiosity among polymer clay artists when they were presented in October last year at our PW event in the Czech Republic. At first, many were simply exploring their possibilities, some were intrigued, others were surprised, and many had no idea how to incorporate them into their work.
These inclusions are made of incredibly fine glass particles, with pigment embedded directly within them. This makes the colors stable and allows the particles to withstand temperatures up to 500°C, making them a perfect addition to polymer clay creations. Innovative artists like Marina have embraced their potential, pushing creative boundaries and crafting incredible pieces.
Marina has been captivated by handmade crafts for as long as she can remember. Balancing a full-time career as a pharmacist, she dedicates her free time to her studio, where working with polymer clay serves as a therapeutic outlet. Her jewelry is celebrated for its playfulness, precision, and vibrant colors, reflecting her deep-seated passion for the art form.
Her professional background is evident in the way she explores various mixed media techniques with polymer clay. With the precision and mastery of an apothecary, she explains her process: “I really like to combine several types of paints, inks, powders, and so on. I have tried embossing powders before […] but not all of them are reliable in terms of color.”
She discovered that while some materials reacted unpredictably during the curing process, glass inclusions remained stable, retaining their color and texture even after multiple bakes.
This breakthrough opened new creative possibilities, allowing her to add depth and sparkle to her designs without compromising their integrity. As she notes, “The white translucent particles are really interesting because they shine in a unique way when placed on darker colors.”
Through experimentation, Marina has developed several methods to incorporate glass inclusions into her work. She summarizes her techniques into four approaches:
Surface Application: Sprinkling fine glass particles onto raw clay and gently burnishing them creates a subtle shimmer.
Translucent Layering: Embedding inclusions within thin sheets of translucent clay adds depth, producing a soft, glowing effect.
Faux Stone Effects: Combining glass inclusions with specific clay blends, such as Fimo Botanical or Cernit Nature, mimics the appearance of natural stones.
Textured Finishes: Applying a patina over textured clay with embedded inclusions and then lightly sanding achieves a vintage, timeworn look.
But no great artist’s journey comes without obstacles. Initially, Marina noticed that sanding pieces with surface-applied inclusions could cause particles to dislodge and scratch the finish. To prevent this, she began embedding the inclusions within thin layers of translucent clay, ensuring they remained securely in place.
She also addressed a common concern among polymer clay artists: potential damage to pasta machine rollers. Marina reassures fellow creators, “For anyone who might be afraid that the glass particles might scratch the rollers of the pasta machine, they won’t. They are very, very tiny, much smaller than the thinnest setting of the pasta machine, so no worries.”
Eventually, Marina found her touchstone. Inspired by her fascination with natural stones, she shares, “I have always liked stones—precious, semi-precious, even common pebbles or rocks.” She used glass inclusions to replicate the intricate patterns and textures found in nature. This technique, Faux Stones, has become a hallmark of her work, allowing her to create pieces that closely resemble genuine stones, each with its own unique character and charm.
As she expresses, “My latest pieces gave me a lot of satisfaction because they look quite real to me, even if they don’t imitate a specific type of stone.”
Marina continues to push the limits by experimenting with various mixed media materials, including acrylics, pastels, alcohol inks, and metal leaf. She is also eager to delve into cane-making, a technique that allows artists to store intricate designs for future use. She explains, “Canes are very useful for people like me who don’t have several days in a row to finish their projects. Veneers dry pretty quickly, and it’s so difficult to store them.”
Artists like Marina exemplify the innovative spirit within the polymer clay community, stepping out of their comfort zones and transforming challenges into opportunities for artistic growth. Her journey with glass inclusions not only enriches her own work but also inspires other artists to explore and embrace new materials and techniques.
What about you, dear reader? Are you afraid to fall, or ready to fly?
Inspiring! I worked with glass enamels on silver years ago and have a drawer filled with enamels from Japan. After reading this article, perhaps they have found a new use in my polymer clay designs!