OR- SAVE OUR COLORS!
So let me give you the story here. Earlier this fall, Polyform– the company that brings us Sculpey and Premo clay brands- announced that they were adding new colors to their lines. Here’s what I copied from their FB announcement:
-
We are bursting with excitement – new colors with endless possibilities are just around the corner. It’s an unbelievable line-up with colors you requested. Have you ever imagined . . .
• Peacock Pearl –eye-catching in lustrous, confident extravagance
• Magenta Pearl – Glowing romance translated into art
• Sunshine – innocence as sweet as a day running through the sprinkler
• Navy – shades of royalty, commanding an audience
• Pomegranate – juicy, rich and irresistible on the tip of the tongue
• Denim – your favorite pair still fit, go ahead, try them on
• Bronze – statuesque brilliance glimmering in view
• Antique Gold – The classics are hard to ignore
• Bright Green Pearl – dew kissed spring grass glistening in the morning sun
These are only a few of the fabulous line-up of new premo! colors.Watch for our 2011 New Line of premo! Accents
• Magenta Pearl • Purple Pearl
• Bright Green Pearl • Peacock Pearl
• Translucent Blue • Translucent Red
• Translucent Yellow • Translucent Yellow
• Translucent Green • Blue Glitter
• Red glitter • Frost White Glitter
• 18K Gold • Copper – updated color
• Antique Gold • Bronze
• Blue Granite • White Granite
• Gray Granite • White Translucent – replaces FrostNew 2011 premo! Colors
• Denim • Spanish Olive
• Navy Blue • Blush
• Wasabi • Pomegranate
• Candy Pink • Sunshine
• Rhino Gray
The following colors are discontinued: Red Pearl, Green Pearl, Cobalt Blue, Sea Green, Copper, Zinc Yellow, Frost, Fluorescent Green, Fluorescent Yellow, Fluorescent Red and Glow-In-The-Dark – We’ll have recipes for most on our website.Here’s the buzz about new Sculpey colors – fresh and trendy, always a crowd pleaser –
New for 2011 Sculpey III colors
• Pewter • Jewelry Gold
• Copper • Suede Brown
• Fuchsia Pearl • Glow-In-The-Dark
• Plum • Deep Red Pearl
• Candy Pink • Sky Blue
• LemonadeThe following colors are discontinued: Lt. Pink Pearl, Vanilla Crème, Pale Pistachio, Sunshine, Pottery, Stonewash, Tomato Red, Sunset, Ivory, Atomic Orange and Lemon. We’ll have recipes for most on our website.
Now, normally I just gloss over these announcements and think, well, OK. This is what companies do to keep things fresh- out with the old and in with the new. Until I read a tweet from polymer clay artist/teacher Cindy Lietz.
Cindy, who owns BeadsandBeading.com, makes her living filming polymer clay tutorials and shares countless recipes and techniques with her subscribers (read my review of her site and beginning tutorials HERE.) So for her, some of those discontinued colors- cobalt blue, sea green, and zinc yellow- are like removing her basic building blocks. One of the things polymer clay artists LOVE about PC is that the colors are based on an artist’s palette- in other words, colors that would correspond to oil paints or acrylic paints. Those primary colors, then, are mixed and blended with others to create custom colors.
But what happens when you REMOVE some of those primaries from the line? Well, you upset people because they can no longer mix to their heart’s content. You limit artists and crafters. Not cool.
This was taken from Cindy’s blog, with her permission:
Although I am SUPER excited about the new color additions, I am also VERY UPSET about three of the discontinued colors. Namely the removal of the Artist Pigment Based colors – Cobalt Blue, Zinc Yellow and Sea Green.
One of the key reasons I have chosen to work with Premo and introduce it to thousands of my members, is because the color palette is based on the traditional artists color palette. In fact, I have published hundreds of color recipes based on this palette. The removal of three of Primary colors from this palette not only means that many of these color recipes will now be near impossible to mix, but so will a large portion of future colors. In fact I am working on two new palettes right now and this news has me wondering how I’m going to mix the colors I need for it. Can you imagine the outrage if these colors were removed from all oil or acrylic paint palettes? Artists would just flip out!
Polyform has said that they will offer conversion recipes to replace some of the discontinued colors. It may work for some of the recipes, but I have no idea how they are going to do that with the Primaries, since they are base colors from which other colors are made. As well, even if it is possible to create a new mix that looks similar, it definitely won’t mix the same. Therefore, any past recipes containing these colors will become null and void.
And I agree with her on this. These colors should not be removed.
Cindy has started a “virtual petition” at the end of her post, and is hoping to get 1,000 comments to submit to Polyform to prove that these colors are priceless and necessary for artist, and convince them to reconsider and made them a permanent part of their color line.
Also, if you’d like another opinion about the new and discontinued colors, read this article by Angela of Crafty Goat’s Notes. Very informative!
So let’s help out and click on over to Cindy’s petition and save these colors! Thanks!
Oh, and a PS- can we save Glow-in-The-Dark, too?? I really luvs me some GITD clay….!
UPDATE- This was JUST POSTED a few hours ago via FB:
Polyform has reviewed all of your heartfelt comments in reference to Premo Cobalt Blue and Premo Zinc Yellow. In response to your needs we are going to find a way to keep these colors available for you. We will work with distributors and will post the information as soon as we finalize the details. Please see the discussion page for answers to other questions.
Your comments were heard, your loyalty appreciated.
WOW! Now….about that Glow in the Dark clay…. ; )
- Spooky Spider Halloween Bookmark Craft - October 24, 2018
- Review and Demo of LDRS Hybrid Ink Pads - October 15, 2018
- Review and Demo of Nuvo Hybrid Inks - October 1, 2018
- Craft Studio Tour and Organization Ideas - September 20, 2018
- Wax Paper Resist Background Technique - March 20, 2018
- Comparison of Liquid Watercolor Markers/Pens - March 16, 2018
- SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers- Review & Demo - February 23, 2018
- Rinea Metallic Foil Paper & Ghost Ink Review - February 21, 2018
- Jane Davenport debuts at Creativation 2018 & Watercolor Card - February 13, 2018
- Creativation 2018: New Product Showcase - January 20, 2018
Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor says
Thank you so much Jenny for helping to get the word out on this issue! It means the world to me to have support from not only the polymer clay community, but from the crafting community as well!
Sometimes what seems like a small thing (getting rid of a few colors and adding some new ones) can be have a huge ripple effect! These three colors are vital ‘vertebrae in the backbone’ of the color palette. Remove them and you are paralyzed!! But unless we speak up… and loudly… nothing will be changed and we will all be forced to find something else.
To all Jenny’s CraftTestDummy loyal readers, it is very important as crafters for us all to stick together. Even those of you who do not work with polymer clay, will probably recognize the significance of the removal of KEY art supplies as being a detriment to the advancement of the arts. Just picture losing several critical components to your own craft/hobby/art overnight like this. It would leave you reeling with what this means to your art and its future.
I ask that you all please come over and sign the petition too. The Polymer Clay Community needs your voice and support!
Angela M. says
Thanks for linking to my post, Jenny. It looks like Polyform heard our request — they’ve now announced that they’re going to find some way to make Cobalt Blue and Zinc Yellow available. I’m with you on the Glow-in-the-Dark, though. I can see how they might reason that it fits with the kids’ line (Sculpey III), but if only one version is available, I’d rather it be the stronger clay.
Gianna says
Thanks for the info, Jenny! Cindy linked to your post here, and I agree with you on the GITD clay. Angela’s comment makes sense, too — if they’re only going to have one Glow clay, it should be the stronger one, Premo! I am also going to miss Sea Green, and the Pearl colors, too. I’m holding out hope…but if they’re really gone, maybe the new colors will make it all worthwhile!
~Gianna
alice stroppel says
This is such good news….
pattw says
I totally agree ! Glad Polyform responded with good news. But the description of the new colors -gagggggggggggg! Really now, could you be more objective ? Maybe to an outsider, but to purist – we want to know WHAT the color is. Just venting, I guess.
I love your site. You really care – and that’s what is important. Happy claying…..:D
Dotty McMillan says
Thanks so much for helping with this serious situation.
Another color that I use a great deal is copper. And the formula
that I’ve seen that Polyform has suggested to make it . . . doesn’t
make it! Hopefully they will either keep making the copper, or else
figure out a better way to mix a suitable one.