Signature Chop Part 2 & Kid’s Chops
Third attempt yields a keeper
After my third attempt at making a satisfactory signature chop, I’m pretty happy with the image, print, and size. It’s a keeper. Though, I am going to make a reverse impression as well – one that will leave an imprinted and not a raised mark. Just in case you missed it, here’s part 1 of this post.
As you can see, it’s much closer to my original design than my 1st and 2nd attempts (see below):
Original Lotus Chop with Initials drawn on my Wacom Tablet
My 2nd-attempt
My 1st-chop
The problem with the first 2 chops is that I wasn’t able to comfortably squeeze my initials into the design area. Working small scale is harder than I thought. I don’t know how those people who paint full scale images on a single grain of rice do it!!
Take a look at the chops the kids in my after school clay class made:
Meanwhile, I’ve been a bit out of sorts the past couple of months – not psychologically or anything, just well, I’m not sure I can pin point it. Sort of like I have all this energy, but no outlet. My solution? I started running again last Monday. I pretty much sprinted the whole way around the park Monday morning with the dogs while listening to The Flobots (my new favorite local Denver band). The dogs were happy to run and I felt a whole lot better! Needless to say, while I haven’t been inactive during my last 6 month hiatus from running – I now know that walking and running use different muscles. No sprinting on Tuesday morning because soreness had set in. By Wednesday, I was like an old lady hobbling around the house moaning every time I had to stand up from a sitting position. Today is Friday – and miracle of miracles, the soreness is gone.
Motivating myself to run isn’t always easy, but I feel so darn good after I do it – plus it’s like meditation to me. My mind feels clearer afterwards and hopefully, it’ll do my body some good too. A couple of years ago, I ran a 1/2 marathon – I’m not sure I want to do that again, but the thought briefly flittered through my mind yesterday. Running any distance over 6 miles, however, is such a big commitment.
Have a great weekend,
~Cynthia
Brian
February 6, 2009 at 8:46 am //
Nice chop!
I made mine a ‘reverse’ so it leaves an impression. I made it with polymer clay years ago, something I saw recently on Ceramic Arts Daily. http://www.ceramicartsdaily.org/feature/featuredetail/2008-06/polymerclaystamps.aspx
It’s really great if you’re prone to dropping things… Guess I was just ahead of my time.
Cynthia
February 6, 2009 at 8:55 am //
You were ahead of your time, Brian!! I remember seeing that article and still have it some where. I have some poly clay – maybe I should make a reverse with that instead of clay.
Ben Stark
February 6, 2009 at 9:40 am //
Running any distance over 100 yards is a big commitment to me! I am horribly out of shape! I really like the chop, and it is a great idea to make it both ways too! Some pieces will fit with one and some with the other–at least that is what I think
Cynthia
February 6, 2009 at 10:52 am //
Ah – you could do it, Ben!! (Run 100 yards that is…) Believe me, I’m not an image of athleticism when I’m running – lots of huffing and puffing. How is it that it takes forever to get in shape and it’s lost within weeks if a person doesn’t do anything?
Meredith
February 6, 2009 at 10:43 am //
it’s a keeper!
Looks really great- we have been casting plaster this week with 3 keepers and three- not keepers- such is life.
I am a walker- who has not walked since the fire- I have to get back to it. My head is full of negitive cobwebs some days—–
Cynthia
February 6, 2009 at 10:53 am //
I have a full bag of plaster that I need to do something with – my hubby knocked the bag over and it ripped. I’ve been walking around it now for weeks…. Exercise definitely helps the cobwebs!
Jerry
February 6, 2009 at 11:01 am //
That polymer clay idea sounds like a winner. I’ll have to see if any friends have some spare lying around. I also like the idea of making stamps in both reliefs, maybe I’ll re-vamp mine.
Hopefully your post will motivate me to run. I have a 1/2 marathon coming up in May and I haven’t run in months (gulp!). But, it’s really cold now and that makes it tough. Plus, the town where I now live is really hilly. OK, I’ll stop whining now.
Mary T.
February 6, 2009 at 2:55 pm //
Good for you, Cynthia,
I always feel better (unless it is a fresh bug of something) after I exercise and have been much better about it this week. I’ve also been using my step counter all week and seeing just how much I’m not moving on some days. Bad! Of me to do that. Not healthy at all.
I love the whole chop concept, now I just have to think of my own!
ang
February 6, 2009 at 5:41 pm //
nicely finished C, i like the round to square feel it also gives you a little more visual space to work with…. mmm running i’m missing it, I’m fine in winter i’ll even go out in the rain but summer can it! i swim instead but its not the same energy eh?….. as for 6 miles i make it about 6km’s with my asthma lungs, did a 12km city to bay last year took a few weeks to recover and fund raised $200ish for autism sa so that was worth it……let you know if i consider that crazy run again this year!…….
Cynthia
February 7, 2009 at 7:19 am //
I remember when you ran the race last year! When I ran a 1/2 a couple of years ago, it took me awhile to recover and I don’t even have asthma – I think it’s because we’ve asked our bodies to do more than normal…and of course, we go faster than we normally would in training because of the adrenaline. I have a good friend in Maine who has asthma and she runs the pants off of me! Me toodling along between 10-11 mph, and she runs comfortably at 8 mph in training.
andrea
February 6, 2009 at 6:07 pm //
The chop is great! Unique, pretty, and distinctive. I’ve seen artists sign their canvases the same way, using a self-designed symbol with their intitials or name worked in and have considered doing it myself. In the name of simplicity and indecision (more the latter!), a plain signature in block letters is all I’ve ever done. By the way, I was working up to a 10K before Christmas (I always hurt myself if I train for something longer like a half) and injured myself anyway (I’m getting old…) so just started running again this week and suddenly I’m feeling SO much better in every way. It really is worth the motivation hurdles to get that feeling back.
Cynthia
February 7, 2009 at 7:15 am //
I think that would be cool, Andrea! I remember reading that artists around the turn of the 19th century using some kind of Asian inspired signature stamp on their work – most famously the Art Nouveau?? I’m a little sketchy right now on my art history….
Oh bummer about hurting yourself…a 10K is a great goal. I enjoy participating in the Boulder Bolder in May every so often. It’s a huge race, but a ton of fun because the community really comes out to support the event. There are bands along the way, belly dancers, actors, art – just crazy stuff. Best is, you end up in Folsom Field (home of the CU Buffs – and finish a lap around the track so you feel like a super star!
Judy Rolevink
February 6, 2009 at 8:18 pm //
Hi The stamp looks good. I made mine back a while .Good for you going running, i havn’t ran since December as it’s so hot here 41 degrees c. Judy
Cynthia
February 7, 2009 at 7:11 am //
I stopped running last July because we were having a record heat wave with temps above 90 degrees for almost 30 days straight – many of those days were well above 100 too. I tried running at 5am before it got too hot, but didn’t have it in me to keep it up. Even at 5, it was still in the 70′s. I read with interest people who train for the Death Valley Marathon – they train their bodies to run in extreme heat, but I could never do it. Some run in winter gear in the summer, or set up their treadmills in a sauna – crazy stuff.
Lisa Call
February 7, 2009 at 3:46 pm //
Really like your final chop. And yay for you for getting out there and running again. I might follow you once the construction is done. One more month – yay!
Let me know if you want my old fridge still – not sure when I’ll get the new one – might wait for the refinish of the hardwood floors to be over – but it’ll be within the next 3-6 weeks. I suspect we can talk Jim or one of his guys to bring it to you.
Cynthia
February 10, 2009 at 7:08 am //
Oh, fridge…I think I would like it – I would have to think about where I can shoe horn it into my studio. Remodeling pretty much sucks a lot of time – but it’s going to be so worth it when it’s all said and done!!
Linda Starr
February 7, 2009 at 9:44 pm //
I like the more pointed petals of the lotus flower, very nice. What a great project for your students, they are so creative under your encouragment. I did a lot of pruning; used some muscles I didn’t know I had. Finally decided on a chop, working on it now, thanks to your reminder posts. Perhaps I should do a polymer one too. We shall see.
Cynthia
February 10, 2009 at 7:07 am //
I look forward to seeing it, Linda!!
LB
February 8, 2009 at 9:35 am //
When I first saw these, I thought they were buttons in the making! They would make the coolest buttons!
Cynthia
February 10, 2009 at 7:07 am //
You’re right! I never thought about making button molds, LB -
denise
February 8, 2009 at 1:47 pm //
I really love your lotus chop. It’s a great design and this stamp has come out really well. You’ve reminded me I need to sort out signing my pieces.
Cynthia
February 10, 2009 at 7:05 am //
Thanks Denise – yeah, I too have a few signatures floating around the universe….
Undaunted
February 12, 2009 at 10:03 am //
The final chop came out really well! (I must say, it’s comforting for me when I see that other people’s pieces don’t always come out right first time!)
I cut my initials (ages ago) into lino the right way round, so that when I stamp the clay it will be the wrong way round, and then I can use that to imprint clay and it will be the right way round again! I like the idea of having a little image too though. And the chops that your class made are wonderful!!
As for the running – well done, but it makes me feel tired just thinking about it!