“Once upon a time each of us was a little kid. Everything was nonsense. We wondered about everything. We wondered what was in the cupboard, the drawers, and boxes. For me making my art helps me keep this magical doorway to wonderment open.”  — Layl McDill, artist

The Austin Area Commission for the Arts is proud to present “Animal Sculptures with Polymer Clay,” a class for ages 8 to adult by sculptor Layl McDill. McDill operates Clay Squared to Infinity with her husband, artist Josh Blanc in Minneapolis.

She has exhibited at the Austin ArtWorks Festival and her work is available for sale at the Austin ArtWorks Center.

McDill’s class will introduce techniques for sculpting polymer clay which can be baked in an ordinary oven to harden. McDill is known for creating millefiore canes from colored clay which is layered and stretched then sliced to reveal tiny images in the clay.

Her canes are also sold as Silly Millies which are unbaked and can be sliced and baked to make beads, buttons and other craft projects. Each cane is made with about 8 to 15 pounds of clay that are reduced down to about a 10-foot cane.

McDill makes about 100 detailed and precise canes a year which she uses to create large sculptural wall pieces.

McDill says her earliest memory is of playing with play dough. If you have fond memories of play dough, her class at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 may be for you.

Because of the wide range of ages served, it is also a great family or grandparent activity. All materials will be provided.

Registration is required at http://www.austinareaarts.org/classes-shop/ or at the Austin ArtWorks Center on Main Street.

Coming soon

Paramount Theatre

•Paramount Jazz: Feb. 12

•Northwestern Singers: March 4 and 5

ArtWorks Center

•ArtRocks Jam Session: 7 p.m., Feb. 17

$5 Kids Studio: Line Paper Art: Feb. 18

Find out more at www.austinareaarts.org