Polymer clay sculptures by Gavy Swan all photos and text are copyright 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 by Gavy Swan. Artist’s Statement: Gavy Swan creates polymer clay sculptures with a playful sense of fairy-tale humour. Fantastical creatures and surrealist science feature prominently in her work, which explores issues of containment. “Our typical response to anything “other” is to contain it and to study it outside of its natural habitat. We do this in science with test tubes and particle colliders, and we do it in art with glass cases and ‘do not touch’ signs,” says Gavy. “I want to raise questions about whether containment and classification are the best way to examine the world around us. I think they are…but there are questions of ethics and methods that we need to explore.”Tumblr (3.0; @gawainart)http://gawainart.tumblr.com/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/0737b7b2b628c158d7decf482e0c67bd/tumblr_mmhm45nbPg1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/f2749dd9a2d04429e11f381cdbfc751f/tumblr_mmhm45nbPg1qdx3ooo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/d09823b4eee35c4dc1c08eded2c912eb/tumblr_mmhm45nbPg1qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/fbe46bb68e76732cc26b3b083c45c6f6/tumblr_mmhm45nbPg1qdx3ooo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><strong>Western chorus frog</strong> <em>pseudacris triseriata</em></p> <p>Gavy Swan</p> <p>polymer clay & mixed media in mason jar</p> <p>$250 CDN</p> <p>Currently on display at Quest Art Gallery, Midland, Ontario as part of Run Off: Art Celebrating the Water Cycle, by Simcoe Watershed Art Project and Quest Art Gallery. May 8 – June 8</p> <p>This piece is my first piece of science art. It was inspired by displays at the Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Ontario, and by my childhood fondness for catching tadpoles and watching them become frogs.</p> <p>North of Toronto, the Western chorus frog dwells in woodlands and lays its eggs in vernal pools—temporary pools of water created by spring runoff and which dry up as summer progresses. In the Simcoe Watershed, the Western chorus frog is listed as “at risk” due to a combination of habitat loss and pollutants in the runoff that forms the vernal pools so essential for its life cycle.</p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/49939207681http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/49939207681Wed, 08 May 2013 12:09:00 -0400science artscienceartsculpturepolymer clay<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/47dc1e13834b22e60bd6446aa9d66638/tumblr_mmgcqsMUbI1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/dbec298fd906c1559b89d669d2f2cc49/tumblr_mmgcqsMUbI1qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><strong>Run Off: Art Celebrating the Water Cycle</strong></p> <p><strong><br/></strong>Presented by Simcoe Watershed Art Project & Quest Art Gallery</p> <p>May 8-June 8, 2013. Reception May 10th, 6-9 pm.</p> <p>My piece Western chorus frog is part of this show at Quest Art Gallery in Midland, Ontario.</p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/49891336762http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/49891336762Tue, 07 May 2013 19:51:00 -0400artsciencescience artpolymer claySimcoe CountySimcoe Watershed Art ProjectQuest Art Gallery<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c30d22ef38c2d79ceff62e9046d981f9/tumblr_mmgb7ppD7J1qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c9ea48ce421bb25eea6a957972839d76/tumblr_mmgb7ppD7J1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/050dba32d8353a2da724c9440e87a0bc/tumblr_mmgb7ppD7J1qdx3ooo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/4d9c37fc900acd75aa87b603d10c5a42/tumblr_mmgb7ppD7J1qdx3ooo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><strong>Birds</strong></p> <p>It’s getting warm out, and that means birds are everywhere! <br/>Perched on ornamental spoons or versatile clips, these hand-sculpted bird ornaments are an artsy way to make your plants stand out this spring. <br/><br/></p> <p>Polymer clay and found objects. Not recommended for outdoor use.</p> <p>$30 CDN each</p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/49889401626http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/49889401626Tue, 07 May 2013 19:26:00 -0400birdartspringpolymer claysculptureooak<iframe src="//www.tumblr.com/video/gawainart/46218955146/400" id="tumblr_video_iframe_46218955146" class="tumblr_video_iframe" width="400" height="711" style="display:block;background-color:transparent;overflow:hidden;" allowTransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><br/><br/><p>Duckling marionette, Gavy Swan 2013. Polymer clay and mixed media. </p> <p>This little guy is tons of fun!</p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/46218955146http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/46218955146Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:24:31 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/dc18bab79d3ad64cec094aa231957e14/tumblr_mjcxykDae81qdx3ooo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/61ce4edf2fc2074bedb553e53eb0f1ea/tumblr_mjcxykDae81qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/dcf3d00a3ef87b5713a5cec556c022c6/tumblr_mjcxykDae81qdx3ooo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><div><strong>Apothecary:<br/><br/></strong></div> <div>NEW RESEARCH has come to light that demonstrates the important medicinal properties of the COMMON GARDEN FAIRY.</div> <div>Adding a small amount of FAIRY to your daily diet can help with weight loss and can help cure many health issues such as high blood pressure, IBS, arthritis, cancer, autoimmune problems, low sex drive, and depression. </div> <div>Increasing your intake of fairy is easy: Sprinkle a teaspoon of fairy fingers on your favourite salad, or add powdered fairy wings to your bottled water. It will protect against disease and adds tasty flavour!</div> <div>Studies show that the AVERAGE PERSON doesn’t consume nearly enough fairy to help ward off disease. The good news is, you can catch your own fairies in your garden. Just 1-2 PER MONTH should be enough. <br/><br/></div> <div>*This is a parody. Don’t try eating fairy to cure anything. They are not real, and eating polymer clay fairies will probably make you very ill. <br/><br/></div> <div>Polymer clay & mixed media in apothecary jar. Gavy Swan, 2013.<br/><br/></div> <div><strong>$140 CDN</strong></div></p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/45122999084http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/45122999084Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:47:48 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/d72643431e08ecec4193074063cee962/tumblr_mjcxrvZodL1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/d93888f97bb3de86d6af852c76ff9011/tumblr_mjcxrvZodL1qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/9a5a593d3a26cdf1e371a17c2e823141/tumblr_mjcxrvZodL1qdx3ooo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/4815e8c1603fed8fd7e1b02e571144bf/tumblr_mjcxrvZodL1qdx3ooo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><strong>Seedling:</strong><br/><br/>An early thaw uncovered a few delicate shoots in the garden this week. I was crouching down to examine them when a tiny hand shot up from the soil, and soon an entire fairy had emerged. It was covered in mud and I think it must have been disoriented, since it stumbled right into my hands. I brought it inside and scrubbed it clean with a toothbrush. For the time being I’m keeping it in a jar. Perhaps when spring arrives in earnest I’ll release it back into the garden. <br/><br/>Polymer clay and mixed media in jar. Gavy Swan, 2013.<br/><br/><strong>$130 CDN</strong></p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/44876708323http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/44876708323Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:51:41 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/334558b54fad0f0eb422ed842dabeeb1/tumblr_mj9pjqvoSD1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/9ee9fda69f9dd75f5a9d2a1cb567683d/tumblr_mj9pjqvoSD1qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/d5aa1e968e02b5863eb31c6c33be15f2/tumblr_mj9pjqvoSD1qdx3ooo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><strong>Feeling Cheeky</strong><br/><br/></p> <p>I caught this impish creature mooning around among the newly sown vegetable patch on a spring morning. I scooped her up in a jar and have tried to coax her into conversation (I mean to have a confession from her as to what her business was in the vegetables) but she has been rather rude.</p> <p>Polymer clay and mixed media in apothecary jar. <strong>$150 CDN.</strong></p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/44806506294http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/44806506294Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:29:00 -0500Gawain ArtGavy Swanpolymer claysculpturefairyooakone-of-a-kind<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/0c2ae2ad545b468886137be77b354052/tumblr_mi4aicYFD01qdx3ooo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/fdfa21854e33a9e547338a63966bd4fb/tumblr_mi4aicYFD01qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2a59fbc57846eb8c808accbd1502a23a/tumblr_mi4aicYFD01qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><strong>La Vie En Rose</strong></p> <p><br/>I was at the florist’s the other day when I heard a sort of smooching sound among the roses. When I leaned down to investigate, I suddenly found myself face-to-face (lip-to-lip, in fact!) with this flirty fairy. <br/>She’s been winking and blowing kisses at everyone ever since I trapped her. <br/>Will you be her Valentine?</p> <p>Polymer clay & mixed media. Gavy Swan, 2013.</p> <p><strong>$150</strong></p> <p>Currently on display at <a href="http://www.gallery111.ca/" title="Gallery 111" target="_blank">Gallery 111</a> in Barrie, Ontario, Canada.</p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/42932239543http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/42932239543Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:13:24 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/feed4e4b331e0bf88c1817482135a187/tumblr_mhz4odcyu11qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/c9f85589d7b9dbea0e9702f03c7b0fe5/tumblr_mhz4odcyu11qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/f8f7d175006d23f83c86e00297c40777/tumblr_mhz4odcyu11qdx3ooo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><strong>Cameleon</strong></p> <p><br/>Oh, you know. Just a cameleon [sic] hanging out on my bedside table. </p> <p>Yeah. Most of the time he just chills out and changes colour. The cats are careful not to get within spitting-distance of him. </p> <p>Polymer clay on driftwood and rock. Gavy Swan, 2012.</p> <p><strong>$130</strong></p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/42698411251http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/42698411251Sat, 09 Feb 2013 17:19:25 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/f1b25148d956dc4b7d7563298052bed7/tumblr_mhwzd35vOL1qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/8cd864748927784f0e7e27fb03850e5a/tumblr_mhwzd35vOL1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Valentine’s day is coming up….here’s my take on it.</p> <p><strong>Words of Luv</strong></p> <p>Polymer clay and acrylic on paper. Gavy Swan, 2013.</p> <p><strong>$160</strong></p> <p>Currently on display at <a href="http://www.gallery111.ca/" title="Gallery 111" target="_blank">Gallery 111</a> in Barrie, ON. </p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/42594408115http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/42594408115Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:29:27 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/9ec6c69f3f27b129010d8c0178e54d84/tumblr_mhtptiDmiW1qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/7dd6f060fc77156a27a7cd3d85d77201/tumblr_mhtptiDmiW1qdx3ooo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/9ba3dd7c823398dd5839ed9641c92bd6/tumblr_mhtptiDmiW1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/4f554e21f439dfcf5358f11be3d1929a/tumblr_mhtptiDmiW1qdx3ooo4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><strong>Conversation Piece</strong></p> <p>Gavy Swan, 2013</p> <p>polymer clay on silver platter</p> <p><strong>$280</strong></p> <p><strong><br/></strong>Currently on display at <a href="http://www.gallery111.ca/" title="Gallery 111" target="_blank">Gallery 111</a> in Barrie, ON.</p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/42463602307http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/42463602307Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:10:30 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/407eea1a5bad42c539d57921da03673e/tumblr_mghbuftTPj1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/849456b1fca0efd95e482aaa01fccc90/tumblr_mghbuftTPj1qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><strong>None of Your Beeswax</strong></p> <p>Gavy Swan, polymer clay and wax, 2012.</p> <p>$280</p> <p>Currently on display at <a href="http://www.gallery111.ca/" title="Gallery 111" target="_blank">Gallery 111</a>, in Barrie, ON.</p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/40276435739http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/40276435739Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:05:02 -0500sculpturepolymer clayooakone-of-a-kindartGallery 111Gawain ArtGavy Swan<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me5ufe0wXe1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> Snuggles. Polymer clay and mixed media. Gavy Swan, 2012.<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me5ufe0wXe1qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> Curlytoes the Sad. Polymer clay and mixed media. Gavy Swan, 2012.<br/><br/> <p><strong>Two Elves:</strong></p> <p>These two wee ones are on their way to Lovers Creek Art Gallery in Barrie to take part in the Lovers Creek Holiday Art and Antique Show this weekend!</p> <p>I think they’re feeling a tad nervous.</p> <p><strong>Snuggles: $105 CDN</strong></p> <p><strong>Curlytoes the Sad: $100 CDN</strong></p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/36677515434http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/36677515434Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:07:40 -0500holidayChristmassculptureooakartpolymer clayelfGawain ArtGavy Swan<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdfzq6Cu5P1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Holi-dandy 5 is almost here!</p> <p>This will be my first time participating in this great holiday art sale. Come on out to find that great hand-made gift that is truly one-of-a-kind!</p> <p>Saturday December 8th 10am-6pm at the Lakeshore Mews in Barrie, Ontario.</p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/36677508364http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/36677508364Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:07:33 -0500Holi-dandyarthandmadelocal artLakeshore Mews<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdg052sKUc1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I’ll be at this show with lots of new holiday-themed sculptures!</p> <p>Come on out to the opening on Saturday November 30th from 7-10pm to meet the artists and mingle…or come to the show on December 1st and 2nd and find some wonderful art by a talented group of local artists.</p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/35650563604http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/35650563604Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:13:43 -0500Lovers Creek Galleryart showooakone-of-a-kindholiday art showBarrie<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdfzbwSP4p1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdfzbwSP4p1qdx3ooo2_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdfzbwSP4p1qdx3ooo3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdfzbwSP4p1qdx3ooo4_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>It’s that time of year again! The time of year when grinches like myself go into hiding and start to grumble about Christmas music and cold weather.</p> <p>And yet I find myself kind of excited for gingerbread and hot chocolate and those delicious shortbread cookies my Mum makes.</p> <p>I also find myself creating a huge batch of X’stmas mice…and delighting in their candycaned tails and cute little jingle bells.</p> <p>So here they are, X’stmas Mice ready to hang out on your tree. Hand-sculpted in polymer clay and carefully decorated, each mouse is unique. They make perfect one-of-a-kind gifts!</p> <p><strong>$25 CDN each</strong></p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/35649710554http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/35649710554Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:59:20 -0500ChristmasX'stmasone-of-a-kindooaksculptureartpolymer claymousemiceGawain ArtGavy Swan<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcvm3ojszp1qdx3ooo1_r3_500.jpg"/><br/> wedding cake topper<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcvm3ojszp1qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> the happy couple<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcvm3ojszp1qdx3ooo3_500.jpg"/><br/> cake topper: cake by Marie Plastre<br/><br/> <p><strong>Cake topper: Andree and Chris</strong></p> <p>This cake topper is a portrait of the happy couple (see middle picture for comparison). It is completely customized, from the pose right down to the clothing and hair.</p> <p>Wedding cake designed and created by Marie Plastre; cake topper by Gavy Swan.</p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/34847014688http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/34847014688Fri, 02 Nov 2012 16:06:16 -0400cake topperportraitcustomized artsculpturepolymer clayooakone-of-a-kindGavy SwanGawain Art<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcvljfVsts1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>Paper Crane Candle Holder</strong></p> <p>This cake topper was commissioned by a friend for her daughter’s 1st birthday party. It’s entirely sculpted in polymer clay over a wire armature.</p> <p>To read the touching story behind the crane, visit my friend’s blog, <a href="http://thethingsifindontheway.blogspot.ca/2011/11/senbazuru-for-hudson.html" title="Senbazuru" target="_blank">The things I find on the way</a>.</p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/34846756731http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/34846756731Fri, 02 Nov 2012 16:02:04 -0400paper cranepolymer claysculptureooakone-of-a-kindcake topperGawain ArtGavy Swan<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mccvqzR4yt1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mccvqzR4yt1qdx3ooo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p><strong>Shmush!</strong></p> <p>This poor fairy didn’t fare too well on the playground. Children can be so cruel.</p> <p>Sculpted in polymer clay over a wire armature.</p> <p><strong>$65 CAD</strong></p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/34171318759http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/34171318759Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:12:26 -0400fairysquashed fairypolymer claysculptureooakone-of-a-kindartGawain ArtGavy Swan<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc47b4BI3W1qdx3ooo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><strong>Out of Time</strong></p> <p><strong><br/></strong>I found this little fey inside a mechanical alarm clock while I was going through some old things for a rummage sale. The clock still works so I didn’t throw it out, even though the fairy is a bit of an inconvenience—she keeps rattling around and makes the alarm go off at the most annoying times!</p> <p>Sculpted in polymer clay over a wire armature inside still-functioning mechanical alarm clock.</p> <p>Currently at the <a href="http://www.madandnoisy.com/" title="Mad and Noisy Gallery" target="_blank">Mad and Noisy Gallery</a> in Creemore, Ontario, Canada. </p>http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/33983897723http://gawainart.tumblr.com/post/33983897723Sat, 20 Oct 2012 17:47:16 -0400fairyalarm clockclockmechanical clockfeyooakone-of-a-kindMad and Noisy Gallerysculptureartpolyer clayGawain ArtGavy Swan