Colorado Art Studio

New Porcelain Necklace with Sterling Chain now available in my Etsy Shop.
I have worn the prototype of this necklace for about the last 6 months now, and get a ton of compliments and requests for duplication. I have a problem though, I have a high amount of breakage during the making and firing of the piece since it’s so delicate. Anyway, 2 survived my last firing and I may have figured out the secret to making these successfully.
The original necklace was inspired by this sculpture that I made in college my last semester. I love the organic shape and have been meaning to do more work in this direction but wince when I recall the cracking and baby sitting of this piece during the drying process. I never did glaze it, because I couldn’t decide how to do so - but have some ideas now. I just need to do a little sanding and will most likely glaze it the next time I fire to ^6. I don’t know about any of you other ceramic people out there, but glazing doesn’t come easy for me. Sometimes I need to think about it a few weeks - sometimes years.

Meanwhile, I’m recovering from a nasty cold that struck the state of Colorado and am feeling much better today. I am also not scheduled to sub this week and will most likely turn down all offers. I really want to spend some QT in the garagio this week. Because of my teaching affiliation with Anderson Ranch Arts Center this coming summer, I received an invitation to submit work for possible inclusion in a fall show at their gallery. I need to get cracking - the deadline for application is fast approaching and I’d really like to submit something new.

Have a good week everyone,

~Cynthia

I don’t know about you, but I normally start the New Year off by assessing the previous year and making resolutions for the new one. This year is no different! Some people really think resolutions are useless, but I like to use them as a benchmark of where I am compared to the previous year.

I started keeping a journal this year…everything gets dumped into it, however trivial or earth shattering. I don’t normally re-read what I write, but this year I did note what I accomplished in 2006 and wrote down what I hope 2007 will shape up to be both personally and artistically. Next New Year’s Eve, I will take my journal out and re-read this year’s entry to see how I did.

I am starting this year off on an positive note and am very excited about what I hope to do this year. Artistically, I have been exploring working with fabric, paint and thread. I have learned a lot and am enjoying the process of learning a new medium. I have also been yearning to get muddy again. By mud, I mean I want to work with clay again. Truth be told, I don’t want it to be an either or proposition of working with either a 2-D or 3-D medium. I would like to find a way to incorporate clay, fabric, paint and thread into my art work.

Clay demands a specific work space, preferably away from one’s living quarters due to the toxic nature of some of the materials and let’s face it…I don’t really want my house heating up to an uncomfortable 2300 degrees fahrenheit whenever I fire up the kiln! Actually, the kiln is insulated, but it still gets very warm in whatever room it’s in. So, what’s new this year? My husband and I are going to retro-fit our garage into a studio where I can work with clay, paint and fabric. We hope to begin as soon as weather permits. We need to clear it out, insulate, dry wall, add lighting, windows etc. to make it cozy for all seasons. I plan to commit myself 100% to art and possibly branch out into teaching art. I hope to post photos of the studio building progress in the near future!

The photo I included is a repeat…I made this a few years ago and the reason I show it to you now is this: I have a stat counter on my blog that gives me information on how people find my blog. This photo has brought more people to my blog than any other piece of work I have made this year.

One last note, even though this is about resolutions, I would also like to say a bit of thanks to everyone I have met this past year through blogging! I wish everyone a very creative and prosperous 2007!

P.S. We did get more snow late last week, but only 7″. Denver was spared, but the plains and foot hills weren’t.