Mastering The Syringe – It’s Not Just for Drugs Anymore

With an expression that recalled Nurse Ratchet, Tes Shea began the demonstration of Art Clay™ Syringe at the August 6 meeting of the Metal Clay Alchemists Society of San Diego.

“The first thing you have to do, is hold it like you’re really, really angry,” she said, thrusting her syringe-filled fist forward to show us.

No kidding; I wouldn’t want to meet her in a dark alley with that thing in her hand. However, here, she seemed far less threatening – inviting, even, as she encouraged me to come to the front of the group that had gathered around her, and try to work the syringe myself.

“It’s not like cake decorating,” someone in back of me cautioned, reading my mind. I had hoped it was, since I had long ago mastered a metal-tipped bag filled with frosting, as is evidenced by my thighs. There was no licking the leavings on this thing, but I was able to manipulate it using her method.

I took the syringe from Tes’ hand and drew some curly lines with relative ease. She explained that one could draw, texture or embellish with the syringe on another formed clay piece or just alone on a non-stick surface -- even your name. “You let it dry, and then fire it as any other silver clay.”

Just as I was considering changing my first initial to a big “L”, I heard another admonition:

“You’ll never be able to do it that easily with PMC™.”.

My neighbor and I were clueless PMC refugees (read: guests) at an Art Clay-loyal meeting, but since nobody screamed, “UNCLEAN!” when we entered the meeting room, we figured it would be OK. We were a bit disappointed that there was no secret handshake, given the name of the organization, but we hadn’t made the brand connection when planning to come. Upon arrival, however, we were told that PMC users were welcome. We really have no particular allegiance to the PMC brand, but it’s all we’ve ever tried.

Marissa had already used some PMC3 Syringe on some of her projects, but mine was … well, stashed away in my closet, like any other self-respecting junkie would keep theirs. I had yet to unwrap mine, let alone use it – that would be too much like facing the dependency.

Oh, sure, we all stood around and joked about how much we resembled drug addicts – Tes related about how at one particular gathering where she brought and distributed the clay, attendees were calling out how many grams they wanted to buy from her. Grams and syringes are just the cliché – the real habit comes in direct conflict with our unemployment checks, the shredding of receipts, the closet that, if opened, identifies us -- but we cannot stop.

Tes held up a little cellophane package containing a fine silver ring form and told us how easy it is to make original clay rings by using the syringe on them, and then firing. I asked, “Isn’t that cheating?” but was reminded that the PMC ring I wore had an imperfect lining itself. This indeed had possibilities worth exploring; although later I was only able to find them in whole sizes online.

Back home, another neighbor had special-ordered a ring with some skulls on it, and so I decided to adorn it with the syringe. It was time to face the possibility that I would never reach the ease of use with my PMC3 syringe that I had with the Art Clay version, but the silvery, bony texture I wanted came out just right. And, I was now much braver, having tried it in the meeting.

And so, thank you, Tes and Society. You have made it easier to become comfortable with our newest accouterments to the obsession while leaning over our cluttered work surfaces. Marissa and I now share not only the used tips, but the glazed-over look of well-sated clay junkies.