“There’s a mongrel koi in there. It’s the most dangerous of all goldfish” ~ Deuce Bigalow
My new artist studio is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I live and work alongside my wife Judy—my studio partner, social director, and high school sweetheart. My journey with polymer clay began many years ago after encountering a series of captivating sculptures in a Southwest art gallery. The vivid color, intricate patterning, and fine detail instantly drew me in. That experience sparked a lasting passion, and I’ve been immersed in the medium—particularly Fimo polymer clay—ever since.
As a self-taught artist, I’ve developed a distinct personal style through years of exploration and refinement. My work centers around the millefiori technique—Italian for “a thousand flowers.” Originally a traditional glasswork process, millefiori involves arranging and compressing colored rods into detailed patterns, which are then sliced to create repeating motifs. Polymer clay lends itself beautifully to this method, allowing me to construct richly textured surfaces with a painterly, dimensional quality—like sculpting with color itself.
My inspiration comes primarily from the natural world—its animals, vivid colors, and intricate patterns. Each piece begins as a hand-sculpted form. After curing the base, I apply layers of custom millefiori canes, followed by additional firings as needed. Finally, each sculpture undergoes a meticulous 10–12 step sanding and buffing process—entirely by hand—polished to a high sheen using grits up to 12,000.
This work is both my craft and my lifelong learning journey, evolving with each sculpture I create.
Henry & Judy