Happy New Year!
Happy 2011!
Hello everyone – long time no talk…unless of course you’re on Facebook and then you’ve been subjected to snippets & nonsense that pertains to my life all along. I’ll get to the point of this post:
I’ve been ruminating how best to return to clay while still attending school full time. It’s something that nags at me…but don’t get me wrong – I’m really happy to be in school studying landscape architecture. It feels right and there’s so much potential. Guess what? I’m halfway through the program and have only 3 semesters left until May 2012 – my expected graduation date. Given the current economy, however, I may very well end up toiling (happily) back in the pottery studio upon graduation with a few extra letters behind my name. Let’s face it – I’ve lost momentum in the clay studio after returning to school and now it seems right to start thinking about pottery again since I’m getting better at juggling multiple activities every day. It could also be that I’m currently on winter break and am starting to get bored with 3 weeks remaining till the start of the semester. ;D
The Essential Guide to Mold Making & Slip Casting by Andrew Martin
A couple of days ago, Andrew Martin, author of Mold Making and Slip Casting, “friended” me on Facebook with a note that he had read a past post where I mentioned his book. Nothing really note worthy of clay people befriending clay people – I think 1/2 my friends on FB are fellow potters. But, I had forgotten about the book until the request and have been thinking about the possibility of molds in the past couple of days and how it coincides with a lot of the technology & software applications I’ve been using/learning in school.
Also related – my past hand built work was jumpstarted after taking a workshop with Annie Chrietzberg a couple of summers ago. Annie teaches the use of paper templates to make hand built work – not to mention that her work is fantastic! Lightbulb – ding dong – I have decided to explore the use of technology to try to advance some new work in the clay studio combining molds and templates as the facilitator.
AutoCAD or any cad (computer aided design) software for that matter, is a tool used by those in the architecture/engineer/industrial design field (and more) to “draw” precisely using real time dimensions that can be scaled in paper space. Some days, it’s the bane of my existence in school – it’s dry and unforgiving. But, the software has its place in the world so that people know how to build something – be it a building, a park or a toilet. Potters build stuff too – I’m sure this insight in using a software like AutoCAD in art isn’t revolutionary by any means, but I have never thought about using it as a tool in pottery before.
So…I design something in AutoCAD – then what? I can print out the design on a large format printer (or size appropriate) and then either cut out a template old school using scissors, or could take the design to the laser printer at school and make the template in a more durable material such as chipboard, wood, plastic, etc. Templates are fantastic for making multiples. AutoCAD renders in 2d or 3d making it really valuable to making a 3 dimensional mold. Which leads me to another wonderful opportunity that I have at school – access to the wood working shop for those tasks that a laser printer can’t handle. Though I confess that I’m still skittish around power tools. 
I’m excited about the possibility of combining newer technology with clay, which is such an ancient art, as a means to get back in the studio.
This seems like a bit of kismet in making this revelation the eve before New Year’s Eve – opportunity, possibility, and it feels good! So much better than the doom and gloom in the news every day about the economy, politics, etc. I’m going to forgo a resolution this year in favor of thinking forward instead of something that I need to change about myself.
Hope you do too – Happy New Year everyone!
Cynthia
P.S. Andrew is teaching a workshop at Anderson Ranch this summer if you’re interested in mold making.
Boys…
Nicolas Cage in Wild at Heart
I picked my daughter up at the bus stop today and we started talking about boys. Mainly about boys (or girls) that she may like someday. **awkward pause** I was on a mission, after all to go grocery shopping and find a new coffee maker for the one that had gone on the fritz before finishing my own homework.
“Okay,” I ask, “What are you looking for in a boy?” Daughter, “Well, I was telling K**** that her boyfriend would be smart, tall, a jock, & good-looking.”
Me, “My wish for you is that you find someone smart with a sense of humor, someone who is kind, who is also creative and open minded, someone who has a sense of social justice…someone who will will treat you with respect and love regardless of what he looks like on the outside.”
For some twisted reason and without waiting for a response, my mind snapped to the movie, Wild at Heart directed by David Lynch. I think I know what I want to be for Halloween…you know that scene where (mom) Diane Ladd gets all crazy and smears lipstick all over her face?
Fun stuff and parenting intertwined! Of course, I am only joking….or am I?
Happy July!
Flower Trio by Jasmine
Not so much happening here in Denver the last week except for gardening and my plants class. In that vein, I decided to share a painting my daughter created in early June at the Art Student’s League of Denver. We finally started renovating the exterior of our house – photos to come later. Nothing crazy or anything since we’ve decided to move next year after we’ve completed our 2 year residency stay. I would have like to go crazy and implemented a more water thrifty garden design, but alas I’m working with what I have and have a tight budget. 
Meanwhile, I need to finish my take home Plants midterm right now…only three weeks left till I can enjoy a real summer vacation before the fall semester begins. Hope everyone’s summer is splendid!
Say What?
Ron & I went to Red Rocks last Friday to see Widespread Panic in concert again – Fun Show!
Not much happened in the studio this past week – though I do have an excuse. And no, my dog didn’t eat my car keys preventing me from driving to the CPG or anything…. The real reason? My in-laws were in town and we spent the week catching up, consuming great food & drink and even managed to remodel my daughter’s bedroom complete with new paint job including teenager like accessories. I have to say it looks good if you like gatorade green (you know that sort of effervescent glow in the dark green that looks like it could etch metal?)! What can I say, she picked the colors this time around and she’s infatuated with neon at the moment. To be honest, I rather like the color now that it’s on the wall and think I may use this color in my home somewhere in the future.
I have a huge to-do list that I would like to accomplish before school starts again for me at the end of August. I wish time stood still like it did when I was a kid – endless summer…but alas, time seems to spend faster and faster these days. On my to-do list you ask? (in no particular order)
- Update the Colorado Potters Guild website with new photos from the spring show.
- Putz around with all the new software I learned in the past year including Illustrator, AutoCad, GIS etc so that I’m way more efficient next year.
- Work in the clay studio more.
- Landscape our garden.
- Run more.
- Clean up my website.
- Start a website for my landscape architecture portfolio.
- Read more.
- Start packing so that we can move next summer…. Say what?
Yep, my husband and I moved into our current house (which we had been renting out for the past 10 years) last summer with the goal of selling or staying. We’ve decided to sell because we miss our old hood and all the amenities and I hate taking the #15 bus to school (yes, I take public transportation ‘cuz it’s eco-friendly and a hassle to park downtown, not to mention expensive – more on the adventure filled #15 another day). Will it be a huge pain in the ass? YES! I admit to you here and now – I have been bribed.
Have I told you how much I miss my studio?
