History of polymer clay

Note: this is a work in progress. I have started to do some research on the history of polymer clay techniques and their inventors - of course, starting with the most basic ones, and then continuing to the newer ones. If you think you can help and found any materials, please contact me. 

1990 - Nan Roche invents the mokume gane technique in polymer clay. The first illustration about this appears in "The New Clay" magazine in 1991. She presents both versions of deformation of the stack, both from the above and from below.

1992-1994 - A duo of artists, Steven Ford and David Forlano, working together under the pseudonym of "City Zen Cane" created the first canes.

1993-1996 - Artists Tory Hughes and Lindly Haunani further refine polymer clay mokume gane by adding to the stacks combinations of translucent polymer clay, tinted translucent, combinations of translucent, tinted and metal foil, While Tory Hughest goes more on the path of thin impressions cuts in polymer clay as well as removing grooves and shapes, Lindly Haunani develops techniqes of impressions made from the bottom up. Nan Roche starts using deep etched stamps on the mokume gane stack, with the result being sanded off, as a precursor of the hidden magic technique.

1994 - Artist Donna Kato publishes one of the first instructional books on polymer clay, "Cutting up with Clay". The book is still as useful today as it was then.

1996 - Mathematician Judith Skinner introduces the skinner blend technique to the polymer clay community. Watch her talking about it.

1997 - Artists Pier Voulkos and Dan Peters invent the mica shift technique.


1998 - Artist Maggie Maggio invents the watercolor/torn paper technique. Reference about the date found here.

2002 - Victoria (Tory) Hughest publishes for the first time her techniques on imitating gemstones and other materials in her book "Polymer, the Chameleon Clay". In it she presents how to re-create the look of turquoise, coral, amber, agate, ivory, metal and faience. The book is prefaced with a trove of good tips and advice on how to work with polymer clay.


2003 - first faux ammolite technique developed by Linda Geer published in Polymer Clay Central.

2007 - 27 February. Artist Jennifer Patterson invents the "Hidden Magic" technique sometime before this date. She writes an article about it in the Polymer Cafe magazine. I was not able to find the article but the oldest reference I could find to the article is, here. The blog entry is from Feb 27, 2007 so obviously the article happened before that.



2011  - Artist Alice Stroppel invents the stroppel cane. You can watch her tutorial here