More Pottery Humor and Small Etsy Milestone
This was shared courtesy of the Etsy Mud Team. Somehow, I really relate to Antonia – enjoy!
Meanwhile, I had a small Etsy milestone. The dawn of 2008 brought my 500th ? and my 100th sale. Thank you to everyone!
I know it’s not really a popularity contest – but it just means I have to keep on keepin’ on to continue to build my business. I’m doing something right, albeit slowly. 
After spending all day in the studio yesterday, I have to switch gears today – I’m subbing for the special ed department at school. Although, it’s still a creative endeavor, it doesn’t involve making anything with my hands.
Happy Wednesday,
Cynthia
& Kid’s Ceramic Masks">New Gallery & Kid’s Ceramic Masks
Arthaus66 Gallery
6320 Linn Avenue NE #C
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108
I have some really exciting news! I was contacted by a gallery in Abuquerque, NM about 5-6 weeks ago about placing some of my ceramic jewelry in their newly relocated gallery space with the potential to add some of my other ceramic work in the near future. After emailing back and forth and a phone call, I agreed to send a few pieces of jewelry to Arthaus66 last week for their grand opening reception on Friday, November 23rd from 4:30 – 6:30pm. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it for the opening, but my work will. I sent some of my more experimental pieces and hope it will be the beginning of a nice relationship.
One of my newer porcelain pendants
Celadon glazed porcelain earrings with sterling silver ear wires
It’s a terrific way to head into the holidays and sets the tone for 2008. I am going to be targeting galleries to represent me locally and in a few select areas of the US in the new year. Selling one’s own work is incredibly labor intensive and I’d rather concentrate on making new work and having quality studio time than marketing. In that regard, a gallery is worth every penny in earned commissions. Unfortunately, this will mean a price increase for my work in my Etsy shop where I will keep a presence so that I keep my prices in line with the gallery’s retail price. I’ve been meaning to raise my prices for some time as they are currently set closer to my wholesale set point.
I’m going to get a head start on my New Year’s goal of contacting some galleries in December. We’re taking a long weekend trip to Crested Butte, CO and I’m going to see if any galleries in the ski resort town would be interested in carrying some of my ceramic jewelry.
Clay + Imagination = Art Tueday’s Class Masks, grades 2-5
Meanwhile, my Tuesday clay class finished their ceramic masks and they’re terrific. There were several that I would liked to have kept!
Have a good week everyone and a great Thanksgiving if I don’t catch you before then,
~Cynthia
Podcasts and more…
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,
New Ceramic Platter Designs
On Tuesday, I decided to drop by the Art Student’s League of Denver to check whether or not my ceramic platters had been fired. Perfect timing; when I arrived the studio assistant had just cracked the kiln open and had begun unloading the ware. It’s always a bit like Christmas for me peeking inside the kiln after it’s been freshly fired. I helped the studio assistant unload the kiln – it was either that or I would have annoyed the heck out of her waiting, waiting for my work to reveal itself. Here’s what I realized – I need a bigger kiln! These platters just barely fit in my own kiln, so I can not make larger work in my old Paragon.
I was, however, pleasantly surprised when I saw my platters. I had decided to switch clay bodies for my slab work because I’ve found that the porcelain slumps too frequently despite all my best efforts to dry the work slowly. This is a buff colored stoneware that I happened to have in my studio which has more “grog” than the ultra fine porcelain. Many potters I talk with liken throwing porcelain clay to throwing with cream cheese. That’s how soft porcelain is when it’s wet. So, when I saw my new platters, I was very happy.
I’m firing both my kilns today. I have bisque work in the large kiln destined for Summer Art Market on the 9th and 10th of June. In my small kiln, I have ceramic pendants and earrings firing as well. I would like to have my Etsy Shop stocked with Jewelry by next weekend since I am not allowed to sell jewelry at SAM. The Art Student’s League does not teach jewelry, so it is not allowed sold there. I will be wearing some of my jewelry and will direct interested people to my Etsy Shop if they’re interested in the jewelry. I am going to be applying for space at Art-O-Mart at Capsule Gallery, which has no medium restrictions, in September and December. I will also be firing my kilns most likely through next Friday as I prepare for SAM.
I received both of these magazines in the mail on the same day this past week. I was struck by the similarities in design and color palette that both chose as their cover art. After SAM, I plan to warm up my sewing machine again. I am FINALLY going to finish sewing for my home and am going to pick up my Earth Series again. I have still been thinking of ways to combine the 2 mediums. I also have plans to resume work on the craft of making thrown porcelain cake platters after SAM. I’ll be able to work at a more leisurely pace and will be able to concentrate without distraction.
Till later this week,
