A Polymer Clay Tutorial: The Yellow Optical Pyramid Version 2

The Optical Pyramid - Version 2
It’s time to clay like an Egyptian! Let’s make an optical pyramid.
Yes, this is version 2. I debated about uploading both because one seemed so much simpler. What I forgot is that as I use Kato - cutting blocks into shapes is quite easy. A very soft clay would be more difficult so I would say Version 2 is ideal for stiff clays that are easy to cleanly slice into.
We’ll also correct some flaws, yup. And, put together a Tumbling Blocks cane, too.
Tools and Materials:
clay: to make this pyramid cane, you’ll need:
2 - 2 ounce packages yellow
1 - white
1 -brown
1 -orange
1 -black
stiff blade
water bottle
hex template: follow this link
www.keepandsha...
Color Formulas:
Yellow Orange (aka American Cheese)
1 part orange
16 parts yellow
Sunflower
1 part Yellow Orange (above)
5 parts yellow
Ecru
1 part yellow
3 parts brown
15 parts white
Chapters
1:36 Mix Our Colors
4:19 The Hex Templates
6:40 Clay Prep and Slab Making
13:27 Cutting Triangles and Cane Assembly
27:25 Just a bit of reduction - you’ve seen this in many tutorials!
30:27 Correction time. A new wrap, Tumbling Blocks and the difference between black and white wraps and slightly translucent colors of clay.
My Amazon Links! Products that I use. Please not, if you use these links, I will be compensated (eventually, that hasn’t happened yet!)
56 Piece Leather Cutter Set: amzn.to/4aXZlXX
Loctite Super Glue Gel Control,... amzn.to/492DG04
Liquitex Iridescent Riche Silver - amzn.to/3yLUcV5
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Mirka Abranet Net Sheets / 2.75 x... amzn.to/3ulbG8S
Micro Mesh Kit - amzn.to/4cG8GEP
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Black Epoxy Sculpt Clay, 1 Pound Self-Hardening AB Epoxy Sculpt Clay for
Sculpting, 2 Part Modeling Compound (A & B), Epoxy Clay Magic Sculpt for Sculpting, Modeling, Filling, Repairing amzn.to/480y2dn
Rectangles Brass Open Bezel Frames: amzn.to/3PoQIgJ
Let’s Resin Kit: amzn.to/4a61r7F
Let’s Resin 200g: amzn.to/3T62r4z
Bymitel 7200 Glass rhinestones - 6 sizes: amzn.to/3xcccqU
MABIS Precision Kelly Forceps... amzn.to/3ud073D
Sewing Clips, 120 Pcs with...
2mm rings: amzn.to/489yiXA
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Recommended by Sally Mikisyo Power Grip carving knife... amzn.to/3UtJBGP
Akira Miki Power Grip Chisel (this is a great V gouge),… amzn.to/3uelAsX
Ateco Petit Four Cutter, Oval www.amazon.com...
500 1 1/2” ball tip head pins (silver plate)
KATO POLYCLAY URLS
Links to Kato Products:
prairiecraft.com
katopolyclay.com
KATO CLASP TEMPLATES: prairiecraft.c...
REPEL GEL prairiecraft.c...
POLYPASTE: prairiecraft.c...
Kato Clear Medium prairiecraft.c...
KPC BIG BLOCKS prairiecraft.c...
KATO MULTI PACKS prairiecraft.c...
KATO 2 OUNCE prairiecraft.c...
CONDITIONING BAR prairiecraft.c...
BLACKOUT prairiecraft.c...
ACRYLIC TEMPLATES prairiecraft.c...
FAVE RULER prairiecraft.c...
SCREW EYE PINS: prairiecraft.c...
#DonnaKatopolymerclay #polymerclayclasses #polymerclayworkshops #easypolymerclayprojects #polymerclaytutorials #polymerclayjewelry #polymerclaybeads #simplepolymerclay #polymerclaybracelets #polymerclaycanes #polymerclaypendants #polymerclaybrooches #polymerclayrings

[@John-I-McLeod]

Days with Donna is my new church. 😅

[@paulagilbert7193]

Awe! Donna Kato lots of memories of you and your clay world. The best of the best.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Hi Paula! I hope you’re well. It has been ages, my friend. We’ve lost some good people, haven’t we? Sad. Take care of yourself, kid. Big hugs, D

[@tanyanastasi243]

Yay! I have been looking forward to this as I do with all Donna Tuts.... I was never a fan of Sunday's. They signify the end of the fun and relaxing weekend, but now I look forward to them because of this classroom. Thank you, Donna ❤❤❤❤❤

[@rebecca_irvin]

Love this! Optical illusions are my favorite.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

love them, too!

[@SelenesCreationsByTheSea]

OMG Thankyou soo much for showing how you did this cane !!! I cannot wait to try this asap

[@John-I-McLeod]

Been waiting for this amazing tutorial. Thanks for all the effort you put into posting regular, awesome tutorials. 😊 I love the geometry of this one and the optical illusion you achieved 👍. Well done! Love the tumbling blocks too... SO IMAGINITIVE! 💜

[@kathleenriley7178]

Perfect! This helps me so much as I’m so bad at reducing hexagonal canes.

[@evesmith2218]

Took three bites of the cherry to take it all in ! Love the unexpected turn! Learnt heaps!

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Haha! Yes, a surprise ending! 😊❤️

[@bettyrobbins5482]

I love your hints and the results.

[@cindyjames3686]

It reminds me of my old sewing days! Now I want to make a "quilt" cane!

[@theresazerrenner6294]

I’m just hooked on your tutorials Donna! ❤😂

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Thank you, Theresa!😊❤️

[@kathleenriley7178]

Ooohh I’ve been waiting for this.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Hi Kathleen! 😊❤️

[@debbeechy]

Loved the yellow. I think I will make a small one.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

hi deb!

[@jennifermarlowe5336]

Yay Donna! Thank you for this gorgeous geometric cane!

[@DonnaKatoArt]

You are so welcome!😊❤️

[@traceyowen6136]

Fabulous 💜 thank you again Donna 💜

[@jennvelope1]

Thanks so much for your amazing tutorials! You’re one of my favorite teachers.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Thank you so much! 😊❤️

[@heyalicia2551]

I can't unsee the American Cheese!🤣

[@RamoArt]

The cane was finished at 30 minutes with 16 left to go. I love that you go above and beyond what is expected! When I make something and it doesn't turn out I tend to just abandon it. Cut my losses and move onto the next thing. I rarely have the determination to push on. And that's why you're an accomplished artist and I am not! I really love the colors you chose. After baking I thought maybe adding some white to the yellow would have looked nice and acted as more of an in-between color between the ecru and the orange. Just a thought. I do have a neat idea that I could use a cane like this for. The color especially is very inspiring to me. Thank you!

[@Esoteric_Designs]

Great tutorial! Thank you! Love that you took the black off. I couldn’t see the difference in the two yellows with the black outline. I think the ghosting of the black is because the yellow is made with so much translucent.

[@cherylmckenzie7138]

Tumbling blocks or beautiful stars, or pinwheels...love this cane ❤❤❤ Thank you Donna!

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Anytime, Cheryl! 😊❤️

[@justbeadit3874]

This! I needed! Thank you!

[@cindyjames3686]

Donna, you could also make a rectangle out of each color that is 3 to four ratio (such as 3/4 inch high by 1 inch (4/4 inch) wide. Now cut the rectangle down the diagonal. Take each half and put the 3/4 inch sides back-to-back for a 120-degree triangle. I learned this in quilt-making. 😊

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Thank you, Cindy! 😊❤️🎉

[@franca10ts]

Wowww Donna l love this design❤❤❤Thank you so much 😍

[@DonnaKatoArt]

You are so welcome! There is another version, too so watch it. I think both work but one is better for stiff clay and one is better for soft! Hugs, D

[@nancyleesol207]

Awww I’m so excited for this one!!! Thank you Donna!!

[@willsshepherd2976]

Thank you.

[@mayabeading]

Thank you!❤

[@claudine8032]

Magnifique, 🤩

[@clare9637]

Thank you Donna, I'm looking forward to adding these to my stash. You have put, hex template: follow this link but the link appears to be missing or it could be me missing something!!!!

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Oh, let me do that!!!😊

[@clare9637]

@@DonnaKatoArt Thank you 😆

[@sharonkeef0522]

Thanks!

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Thank you, Sharon! 😊❤️

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Link in the comments, kids! Here, too! www.keepandshare.com/doc2/123669/img-6668-jpeg-130k?da=y

[@clare9637]

Fabulous!!

[@fantasyboxbyzivart]

❤

[@John-I-McLeod]

I think you forgot to add the hex template link? There isn't a clickable link at the end of hex template: follow this link phrase. Or am I missing something? Thanks Donna.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

I need to do it! Vernon does the link for me…😔

[@John-I-McLeod]

@@DonnaKatoArt ok - thanks donna. I will remove the post in FB too

[@John-I-McLeod]

@@DonnaKatoArt Thank you for adding the hex link Donna (Vernon)👍

[@soothsayer4988]

Hi everyone...I hope you've all had a lovely weekend. I live in the UK and Kato clay isn't easily available. Can I use Fimo Professional instead? I'm really very new to claying so I appreciate any and all help from you knowledgeable guys. :)

[@debbeechy]

Yes I think you can.

[@soothsayer4988]

Thanks so much Deb. :)

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Hi! I wish I knew what Fimo Pro is like. Is it very sticky or is it easy to cut? The other version (that I didn’t release is definitively a way to make the cane with softer clay….maybe I should release it, too (with an explanation as to why there are two versions!) 😊❤️

[@soothsayer4988]

@Donna Kato - A Life In Polymer Clay Thanks for getting back to me Donna. :) Fimo has Professional which is quite hard. They also have soft which I think is quite sticky. I'll wing it and see what comes...living on the edge...HA. :)

[@lilaalabed2527]

I think someone should create a "miter box" for polymer clay. Hint, hint.😜

[@John-I-McLeod]

Hello Donna ❤😊

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Good morning! Happy Sunday!😊❤️

[@John-I-McLeod]

@@DonnaKatoArt - Same to you donna!

[@sandrajones4656]

Hi guys, I can’t find the tut for the black, gray version of this cane. Can someone please direct me to it? Thanks

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Hi Sandra, I didn’t upload it because it just seemed so much harder than the yellow one. I can upload it and I think it could help those who use a clay that is more difficult to cut. Let me think about this - need to shoot a new intro if I do! 😊❤️

[@sandrajones4656]

@@DonnaKatoArt thanks. thought i was blind or deaf 😁