Archive for June, 2007

Effigy Doll

Published
by
Cynthia
on June 29, 2007
in Uncategorized
. 15 Comments

Cynthia Guajardo Porcelain Vooddoo Doll Head

Porcelain Effigy Doll Head - not bisqued

Cynthia Guajardo Porcelain Vooddoo Doll Head
There has been lots of discussion about the frustrating aspects of building a successful art career in cyberspace lately. I almost wonder if there isn’t something in the air, or is it a viral infection much like Rage in the movie 28 Days Later?

A couple of days ago, I made a scheduled stop to one of my favorite artist’s blogs, Jafabrit, and became enamored of a voodoo doll that she and a friend had made for another friend whose husband walked out on her. It was a way to cheer their friend up and for her to vent a little bit. I decided that’s just what I needed! I need my own doll and I decided to set about making one, partly out of clay of course, so that it can serve as a reminder that I’m really okay.

The doll that Jafabrit made is not pretty - it’s rather raw and fitting for the occasion for which it was made. Normally, I make pretty things. I’ll admit it. But, in the case of my effigy doll, I want to craft a crude incarnation - to encase those ugly feelings such as frustration, fear, etc. that I occasionally experience.

Cynthia Guajardo Porcelain Vooddoo Doll Head Sketch

Original Sketch

The image above is my original sketch, not quite Odilon Redon or Goya, but my own version of how I imagine I look inside when I’ve got those ugly feelings bottled up. I still need to make some hands and feet and will add a cloth body to the head - hence the holes in the neck.

Guess what? I feel better already! If anyone else feels like making one, go right ahead. Just make sure you send us a link.

In other news, our house was chosen to be on the 2008 West Washington Park House Tour this fall. Boy, oh boy, do we have a lot of work to do! We live in a popular area of Denver where older homes pre-dominate and when we remodeled, we kept our house small instead of scraping it off as is the style now a days. I guess I’ll finally finish painting, make curtains & slip covers etc. I’m honored and excited to have our home featured this year.

Have a good weekend everyone!
Cynthia Guajardo Ceramic Artist

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Podcasts and more…

Published
by
Cynthia
on June 27, 2007
in Uncategorized
. 12 Comments

Cynthia Guajardo Porcelain Vase
An interesting connection happened recently. A gentleman in Michigan found my Flickr Photostream online and enquired about how he could go about purchasing some of my work. We’ve been emailing back and forth and it turns out that many of the pieces in which he is interested are no longer available. I directed him towards my Etsy Shop and he did choose the piece in the photograph above along with a custom order request. Yesterday he emailed me a photograph of my piece which is now in his possession. It’s interesting, because once the item leaves my home, I never see it again. I often wonder what people do with my work, how is it used, etc. Accompanying this photograph were several photographs of his beautiful garden. I can rest assured that gorgeous flowers will find a home in my vase. I’m honored that people think my work is a perfect compliment to their lives. It makes me very happy!

Meanwhile, I’ve been experiencing a bit of uncertainty in regards to my art career and if you read my last post, know that I applied for a job last week. Fast forward to a podcast that I listened to on Monday morning while I was out for my run and I had an ah-ha moment. Suzanne Falter-Barnes has a podcast on her blog with Andy Wibbels interviewing Seth Godin about his new book The Dip. It must have been a serendipitous moment, because it was exactly what I needed to hear right at that moment. Basically, in a nut shell, when faced with difficulty in your career (though the concept could be applied to about anything), do you know when to quit, or when to lean into “the dip”? Most successful companies know how to emerge from the dips stronger by being creative and basically just working harder. If it were easy, wouldn’t everyone be a millionaire? While the podcast is really geared towards businesses, as an independent artist, I connected to the discussion.

Seth also talks about being the best in your field - but don’t let that get you down. Best in the field is a matter of knowing your market and product - and there’s room for a lot of different businesses to exceed. For example he talks about the iPod. As a consumer, you either own an iPod or one of the other brands. iPod is a name brand like Kleenex or even Word, yet Microsoft’s MP3 player didn’t achieve stellar star status like the iPod - though it might have if it weren’t trying to play catch up with Apple. Anyway if you’re interested in hearing more, the podcast is free if you visit Suzanne’s blog.

Yesterday evening, I was invited, along with a handful of other artist’s, to Alyson Stanfield’s house to brainstorm book design for her soon to be published new book, I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist’s No Excuse Guide to Self Promotion. I think Alyson’s newest book will be easy to read and a valuable reference for creative people trying to craft a successful art career. Lisa Call stopped by on the way over to Alyson’s house and we drove up to Golden together. I really enjoyed the drive with her. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk with another artist about the day to day challenges of being an artist in today’s world.

My in-laws left town this morning and I’m planning on spending some time in my studio this morning. For some reason, the humble pinch pot keeps popping into my head right now.

Until Later,
Cynthia Guajardo Ceramic Artist

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Widespread Panic and EMT Sale

Published
by
Cynthia
on June 25, 2007
in Uncategorized
. 14 Comments

Etsy Mud Team Flyer

(click on image to enlarge)

It’s been busy since my in-laws came into town last Wednesday and I haven’t done too much in the studio. I’m starting to get that nagging feeling like I have to go into the studio to make art NOW. I am enjoying visiting with them and we’ve been doing some much needed projects around the house, such as fixing the leaky spot in the basement, pouring concrete for a new walk, making a new flower bed, installing an arbor…you know little things. My father in law has never been one to sit around the house, and consequently, he really puts the fire under our behinds.

Having my in-laws in town has also enabled me to do a few things that I might not normally get to do. On Saturday evening, my husband and I went to the Widespread Panic concert at Red Rocks. I should probably preface this discussion by saying that I normally avoid all large concerts because I get so very miserable with the throngs of people. I pay gobs of money to see a band, that I can’t hear, can’t see and literally claustrophobia sets in and I want to curl up into the fetal position. The last concert I went to was Dave Matthews Band at the Pepsi Center and I left early even though I LOVE DMB. I much prefer going to City Park Jazz Concerts. However, I make a few exceptions for small venues and out door type venues such as Red Rocks in Morrison, CO. So, a few months ago, my husband who is a huge Panic fan, asked if he should buy a ticket for me. I said yes, and as fate would have it, my inlaws are in town and could babysit for us.

I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I have been feeling a little discouraged after the Summer Art Market, and even applied for a job the other day. Though I remember having this feeling after last year’s SAM as well. It’s exhausting and just the thought of having a 401k, profit sharing, a steady paycheck, health insurance sounded mighty tempting. Flash back to Saturday evening, and I had an outerbody creative inspirational experience. It was like having an artist’s date without trying. The music was excellent, the crowd amiable and there was so much eye candy and people watching, that what can I say? I was thinking about my art and am motivated to give my art career a concerted effort.

It requires some short term goals on my part. What are they?

  1. Write Artist Statement
  2. Organize and cull photos from recent work - edit as needed
  3. Research galleries that I want to contact
  4. Write letter of intent for gallery contacts
  5. Make packet/book to send out to galleries in the US
  6. Continue to make work
  7. Wait for responses to come back

I know that nothing is going to happen unless I make it happen and I need to be proactive - period- end of story! I hope to have my artist’s statment written in rough draft by tomorrow evening.

Meanwhile, as a member of the Etsy Mud Team, we’re having a sale today through Friday, the 29th. 10% off everything in my store and other EMT members. My Etsy Shop.

Have a good week everyone,

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Featuring Mary Cay

Published
by
Cynthia
on June 23, 2007
in Uncategorized
. 8 Comments

Mary Cay

Detail of kiln jewels of Mary Cay’s Porcelain Canvases from her current show

I often write about my friend and ceramic’s mentor, Mary Cay, who is an instructor at the Art Student’s League of Denver and quite a committed ceramic artist. She has given me so much inspiration since I met her 3 years ago and I’ve furthered my education in the technical aspects of making work and glaze science…thank you!!

Mary Cay

Detail of kiln jewels of Mary Cay’s Porcelain Canvases from her current show

Yesterday, I went over to the Fire House Gallery on Santa Fe in Denver to help her photograph her current show. It was so wonderful to see the show again, without the crowds of opening night. I really got a chance to capture the details and to see how the work was hung. Last year, Ceramic’s Monthly featured Mary Cay and her development of glaze kiln jewels in an article by Sumi von Dassow called A Glittering Obsession that’s worth reading.

Mary Cay

Porcelain Wishbone Necklaces

On a side note, she has been making wishbone pendants from bone infused porcelain china that I’ve been trying to get her to sell on Etsy. I have one and they’re so much fun, not to mention unusual!

That’s it from me for today, I don’t have anything new ceramic wise. My in-laws are in town and I’ve been busy doing non art related activities.

Have a good weekend everyone,

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Manhole Cover Art & Bee Lino-cut

Published
by
Cynthia
on June 20, 2007
in Uncategorized
. 11 Comments

Denver Fish Manhole Cover

A few nights ago, I was walking my dog around my neighborhood in Denver, when I happened upon this manhold cover. While I had passed by on this street many a time, I never noticed it. Maybe, I noticed this time because the sun was setting and the last rays of the day highlighted the fishes’ silhouette. I’m not sure, but I did a double take and knew I had to come back with my camera in tow.

I’ve been wondering what a fish is doing on a manhole cover in the city of Denver. When I saw it today, I realized it reads “Drains to Rivers”. I googled images of manhole covers and there’s quite an assortment of eye candy if only we look down.

cynthia guajardo

Drawing of Bee on linoleum

I have decided to add to my lino-cuts. My lone dragonfly needed another insect companion - the bee.
cynthia guajardo- bee relief print on clay
Bee relief print on clay

I have found that the relief prints on clay work better on flat pieces than ones in the round, so I’m playing around with some different clay shapes to print on. I like the idea of a house and once it’s fired I’ll add a wood block to the reverse side so that this will be able to hang on the wall as a small art piece. I think these might look great in small groupings. Mile Hi Ceramics does carry “ceramic ink pads” that I think I’m going to try out. I imagine these would work like regular stamps and ink pads on paper, only the ceramic ink will be fired onto the piece. What I’m curious to find out is whether the ceramic ink is to be applied on top of other glaze like china paint, or if it’s an underglaze.

cynthia guajardo

Ginkgo Cup - need to work on my technique

Printing the relief prints in the round isn’t working out too great. I suppose I could use commercial rubber stamps, but I like the fact that I’m using my own stamps. It might be better to use the ceramic ink pads to apply my images.

cynthia guajardo

Top view, ginkgo cup

For this cup, I tried to make it square after I had thrown it on the wheel, but, I don’t have the right size paddle. Consequently, the cup has all kinds of dings on it. I’ll most likely recycle this cup.

In other news, I joined another Etsy Street Team called Etsy Mud Team or EMT a group that works exclusively with clay. While it might seem counter productive for a ceramic artist do join other ceramic artists in marketing promotion. I actually think it will be beneficial. We all have different styles and use different materials and firing methods. When I did the Summer Art Market, I noticed that when people came into our booth, they either gravitated to my work, Kathleen’s or Mary Cay’s. There didn’t seem to be any cross-over. So I think this is going to be good!

That’s it for today,

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