Interview with sarah-chan

Yeah, we know it's been a while since the last interview. We're trying to arrange ones more often


You've probably noticed her work before or even her hilarious avatar, depicting a granny and thunderpants that matches her website/etsy name.
You might even have snooped around her gallery to find a real variety of tutorials. If you have always wanted an opportunity to learn more about the artist behind the work, read on!


Hello! My name is Didgey (real name is Sarah, but I've had the nickname Didgey for yeeears). I'm currently 23 years old and I've been working with polymer clay for a bit over a year now. I'm a friendly, happy person and I really love the idea that something I've made can put a smile on someone's face. I've been into arts and crafts my whole life, and I've spent the past three years working on a degree in the arts. I was a painting and illustration student, but now my focus is sculpting! I really love polymer clay because it's so easy to use and bake and it's so easy to find and (usually) inexpensive. I love miniature food items because I've always enjoyed dollhouses and cute, tiny things. I think it's amazing how you can make a whole scene so small it can fit in the palm of your hand.


I don't consider myself a miniatures artist or a clay food artist or even a figure maker... I like to make EVERYTHING. And I mean it too, no idea is too weird to me, I just really love working with my hands and to date I've never turned down a challenge someone has given me as a commission. I like to just think I'm a clay artist with an open mind.



Presently I would say it's My Little Pony. Not just Friendship is Magic, just the toys I had when I was a little girl. I recently started getting into customizing ponies and I'm waiting for some bait ponies to arrive so I can paint and re-hair them. Like I said, I really love trying new things, ahaha.



A few years ago I got into polymer clay and made little pandas with just circles then didn't touch the stuff for years. Last August I saw someone with a rainbow pretzel necklace on TV. And I thought "I totally want that! I bet I could make one!" So I dug out the old polymer clay and made some brown pretzels for myself and put some (real) salt on them. I had some old glaze around so I used that and thought they were pretty cool. Then I started to watch polymer clay videos on youtube and immediately attempted an orange cane. Well it looked terrible but I used it on an orange cake that I think is my first official real creation since I made it as a proper charm. It's been my symbol of progress since then, and can actually be seen here:



Usually I just sit down and get to work, but when I don't have any ideas but I have the urge to make something, I like to dig around in my inspiration folder. When I find something that stands out I'll sit and study it then play around with some scrap clay to figure it out then once I've got something in mind I get to work. I don't usually sketch out something ahead of time unless it's a unique commission that I need to understand better. I tend to be sort of a jump right in and go person for most things. I think experimenting right away is the best tactic. Sure you might waste some clay, but it's easier just to do it than to think about it for twenty minutes.



I'll usually watch something in the background. I like to leave up shows with a lot of episodes like X-Files, Walking Dead, Falling Skies, or even Ponies. xD I also have a secret love for the Real Housewives series and stupid TLC shows like Toddlers&Tiaras, or things on Bravo like Top Chef. Just some nice background noise that I can tune into while mixing colors. I tend to do a lot of things at once while making goodies, feels more productive that way.
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No preference! O: I honestly just buy whatever is on sale or whatever is in stock in the color I need. I know some people swear by a particular brand but I'm not picky at all. I suppose I would say what I buy the most is the Sculpey Premo Accents, because I looove to use pearlized clay in my work.

       

I have a whole room dedicated to my artsy-fartsy endeavors! I keep my clay work dedicated to one table, then I have all my painting supplies and canvases, then I have a shelf where I take my photos for products. I keep it all neat and tidy with the art of organized chaos, ahaha.

Here's the table I usually work at:
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(I cleaned it up just for this photo. and added my super llama! it gives inspiration. )

And where I assemble everything:
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Store it:
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And my lovely assistant who thinks everything looks good with her fur in it:
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(she's dusty because she's been napping in the storage closet again!)


The one that has the highest amount of favs in my gallery is the Nyan Cat Necklace, which I made about the time the meme really took off and the necklace just exploded in unexpected popularity. But the one I like the most from my gallery is probably a dragon necklace I did via commission.

I can see a lot of things I'd like to change if I were to remake it, but at the time it was just completely different than anything else I was doing, so it was super refreshing just to change the pace.

Recently though, I've been super into making these rock candy necklaces:

They just make me happy.



I can name a bunch of older works that make me cringe to look back on. I think a lot of my works could be improved upon, even when I just finish making something I see a way I could make it better. I don't believe in resting on your laurels and making the same thing a hundred times just because people like it. Which is why I love commissions, because often times people challenge me to make something I'd never think to do on my own. So there's no one piece I look at and think "wow I could have done that better," because I always feel like something can be improved.


I take inspiration from many things and many people. Sometimes I just browse through the artisan craft galleries for hours and look for things that catch my attention. I keep a big folder of images and characters and other products that make me think about potential creations, and when I feel tapped of ideas or after a bunch of commissions I like to go through it to get the creative energies flowing. I would suggest to everybody that you always keep a folder of things that inspire you. I learned this trick from painting classes at my university when we had to keep inspiration folders of any image we found to be inspirational or unique.



I like to use a bubble tea straw (really big for the boba pearls) to cut circles out sometimes. And regular drinking straws for circles as well! But I think the most uncommon thing is I like to use clear as nails caulk gel mixed with food coloring to create a realistic gooey jam center. It's bouncy and soft when it dries and is totally clear instead of translucent that is just mostly clear, so it allows more color to shine through like natural jam. Like this:



Leave a comment below or note us with suggestions of who you like to read about next time.

The semi-sweeties staff