Marty:  What clay book or books do you favor?

Mary:  Barbara McGuire's Foundations in Polymer Clay Design and Sue Heaser's Polymer Clay Techniques book.

Marty:   Where do you work?   Studio, kitchen table ?????

Mary:  In the living room, with the TV on and the volume turned down low.  My supplies are organized -- well, that's a kind word for it -- in two 7-drawer storage units upstairs, and I port whatever I'm currently working on around on a Plexiglas project board. 

Marty:  What guilds are you a member of? 

Mary:   I am a member of the Houston Polymer Clay Guild.

Marty:  Have you traveled to any National Conferences?

Mary:  I attended the 1998 and 2000 Ravensdale's (not sure of exact years, the two before the most recent one.)

Marty:  Do you photograph your work?   Professional photos?

Mary:  Not as much as I should.  My dad is a gifted hobbyist, and he's taken some photos that were pretty high quality.  I look forward to the day when I've progressed to the point that I absolutely need professional photos, and I just hope that when that day comes, I can afford them.  

Marty:  Do you do shows?  

Mary:  I have done a few craft shows, but so far with disappointing results. 

Marty:   What has Polymer done for you or your life?

Mary:  Polymer gave me exactly the artistic medium I needed to express my creativity, at a time when I didn't even know what I was looking for.

Marty:  Anything new or upcoming in your Polymer life?

Mary:     Next week I'm going to begin a web design class and will be designing my
first web page to promote my artwork.  Unfortunately, I don't yet have a URL, but hopefully in a few weeks I will have a site up and running; anyone interested can search for "Mary Sophia Novak" and "Halfshell Polymer Clay" and hopefully it will turn up, or email me: ms_novak@hotmail.com.


My biggest news right now is that I've just had a gourd accepted by the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft "CraftHouston 2004" show, which will be on display at different locations for at least the next two years.  It's
the big gourd that looks likes it's covered in patchwork.  I've also begun work for an exhibition of my gourd artwork at the Benz Gallery at Texas A&M next fall.

[This polymer covered gourd will be shown at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft "CraftHouston 2004"]

Marty:  Where do you see yourself in 5 years with Polymer?

Mary:  In five years, I'd like to be an established teacher and writer. I'm eager to teach any of my techniques anywhere to anyone. Have clay, will travel.

Mary can be reached via email at: Mary Sophia Novak.

See more of Mary's Magic Designs on our special Gallery page.

See Mary's tutorial for instructions on how to cut off a gourd’s top evenly.