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
Looking for Clay Harp Tool, Mapping Out Schedule and Kid’s Art
Clay harp cutting tool
While I love to use the potter’s wheel to make work, I have found an equal affinity and enjoyment for hand building in the last 6 months. I once had the opportunity to try a clay tool called a “harp” that a potter had purchased in the U.K. and I have been looking for the tool locally as well as online from US outlets every since. It’s pretty cool and makes precise cuts on either pugged clay or pre-bagged commercial clay. I found the tool online from a ceramic supplier in the U.K. and at this point, I might have to go ahead and bite the bullet and pay to have it shipped across the pond that divides the two countries. The clay harp is notched on the sides and has a tension wire that adjusts up the notches or down as clay is cut. I could probably rig something similar, but would really like to find this tool for my handbuilding work. I apologize for the low res photo; it’s the only one I found on the internet. So if you know of any U.S. store that carries something similar, please let me know – I’d be much obliged.
Love these colors – just threw this one in for fun
Meanwhile, the Colorado Potter’s Guild is hosting our annual Fall sale November 6, 7 and 8th – exactly 32 days from now. After taking a bit of a studio hiatus, I need a plan to crank out some work in the next month to have a decent showing. We’re allowed to bring a maximum of 105 pots, 10 of which can be sets of any size or kind. I have about 10 pieces bisque fired so far, and have a lot of work to make in the next couple of weeks!
This morning, I pulled out my calendar in an attempt to figure out how I can make the remaining 95 pots in the next 15 days of working with wet clay in order to allow enough time to bisque and glaze the pieces. This works out to roughly 6.33 pots a day if I don’t make any sets. That sounds doable don’t you think? I’ve allowed myself roughly 6 hours a day in the studio Monday – Friday for the next 2 weeks which will break down to about 9.5 pots a day if I don’t work on weekends. I am making a list of basic forms that I’d like to include such as mugs, tumblers, bowls, platters, vases, covered boxes etc. and will try to come up with some reasonable numbers of each that I’d like to make for the sale in the next couple of days. Given our current economy, I tend to think that smaller items will be bigger sellers than larger ones. What do you think?
Earthenware bird by Carter 2nd grade
Meanwhile, my after school clay classes are coming along terrifically. I opened the kiln Sunday and just love this piece. I wish I could keep it! Carter made this by making hollow sections out of pinch pots for the body and head – the other bits are solid. The bird stands about 7 – 8 inches tall.
That’s it for today. Have a great week,
~Cynthia
Teaching, Website, and DNC Update
Yesterday, I finally nailed down a schedule for my after school clay class that I have decided to teach again this year. If you’ve read any of the past month’s posts, you’ll know I have been on the fence about it – so it’s a relief for me to finally make a decision. Instead of teaching twice a week like I did last school year, I have decided to teach one day a week this fall partly to help with burn out and also because my daughter has a super busy schedule this year including soccer practice twice a week, my clay class and a music class. It means less of an income, but it frees up more time for me to make my own work during school hours – which is a good compromise if you ask me.
I have also been working on my website the past few days and uploaded the current enrollment form for my after school clay class to my Teaching Schedule page, along with a gallery of children’s art work which is a sub page of the teaching page. I’d be glad to hear any feedback if you have any. Next up on my agenda is to flesh out the gallery page for my own work which still shows under construction. Also, I am not sold on the current header image and am continuing to work on the theme template I’ve settled on. I would like to have the colors of the little graphic icons and the text (titles, links, etc.) be in the same color family. I will be working on my website a little bit at a time when I have a spare moment or two and definitely don’t feel the same urgency as I did a few weeks ago after breaking my site.
- Big Blue Bear who stands 40 feet tall is seen peeking into the Convention Center in Denver
The bear is really called “I see what you mean” by Lawrence Argent
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, I pulled my daughter out of school (with her teacher’s blessing) and headed downtown to see some of the sights and sounds of the Democratic National Convention that has taken over Denver this week. I figured it is educational and who knows when we’ll ever be in a city again where either party will be holding their convention. First we traveled by light rail and went to the non partisan “American Presidential Experience” at Invesco Field. There is so much security in town right now that it was like planes, trains and automobiles just to get there. We were on foot from the light rail and ran into swat teams, secret service and all kinds of blocked streets which added quite a bit of travel time to our journey. The Presidential Experience was interesting, but it is a commercial enterprise which devalues it just a bit for me. I’m not sure I’d do it again, but my daughter enjoyed the event (especially touring through Air Force One, seeing an exact replica of the Oval Office, and seeing some of Jackie O’s Clothing) so I guess that’s what counts.
- Invesco Field is ready for Obama to speak tonight
A normal 20 minute walk from Invesco Field to downtown Denver took us an hour because of road closures and other obstacles. We arrived at our chosen lunch destination, The Market, bedraggled, hot and hungry. Luckily the food there is delish and after refueling and cooling off, we set off for Robischon Gallery to see a political exhibit as a part of “Dialog: City” during the DNC. In between, we saw some celebrities and almost literally ran into Senator Tom Daschle, and got caught up in all kinds of protest and demonstrators, which was interesting but just a little disconcerting for my daughter who sort of lives in a protective bubble (like most kids should).
After spending some time at the gallery, we headed towards the convention center where many of the caucuses are taking place. Surprisingly, we were allowed to go in and watch the caucuses after going through a security check point. We wandered around from meeting room to meeting room and eventually went to a “watch” party which sounds way more exciting than it actually is. We had intended to head on over to Civic Center Park where many of the demonstrators where camped out, but when I finally looked at my watch, it was 5:00 pm, so we decided to skip the park and catch a train back home.
Things are returning to “normal”,
~Cynthia
