Here is my final project.  I took this picture with my phone at end of class today. I used some of the colors in my Calrsbad Cavern color sample.  I decided to model my pattern after a quilt.  Now all I need to do is decide how to finish it!

The class was great.  I can’t wait to start applying what I learned.  I have to get some jewelry ready the Art in the Park show in Richmond this weekend.  I plan to add some color samples to each firing this week.

April 26th, 2009 | Category: Creative Exploration | Leave a comment

Here are two  pictures I took with my IPhone of some of my favorite samples from the Color Theory Workshop. 

This has been a great experience.  I’m looking at color in a new way.  My final project if firing in the kiln tonight.  I pulled some of the colors from the Carlsbad Cavern inspired sample, and made what I think will be the beginning of a glass quilt.

April 25th, 2009 | Category: Creative Exploration | Leave a comment

Today my favorite exercise was creating color samples base on images.  The goal of this activity wasn’t to create a stylized version of a photograph, but to create a glass sample based on the colors found in an image. 

I used a Time Life book with photographs from all over the world as a point of departure. When I got started  I thought I would be drawn to places that I’ve held in my memory because of the impact they had on me when I saw them in person.   I was surprised that images I selected were of places I’ve never visited.    My first sample for this activity was based on the Great Barrier Reef. 

The second sample was based on Carlsbad Caverns. 

I enjoyed creating two very different color schemes based on these remarkable places.  Even if these initial samples don’t quite capture what I’m looking for I think further exploration of these color schemes will be an enjoyable part of the creative process.

April 24th, 2009 | Category: Creative Exploration | Leave a comment

This week I’m taking a class at Vitrum Studios  with Richard Parrish called Color Theory for Glass: Fear No Color.   Yesterday we looked at the Bullseye Glass line of opaque and transparent glass in the context of the color wheel.  This was an interesting exercise that has opened my eyes to a new way of looking at color.  Today we took this a step further and developed a series of color samples. 

April 23rd, 2009 | Category: Creative Exploration | Leave a comment

I like to do a mix of wholesale and retail shows throughout the year.  Retail shows are a great opportunity for me to have direct contact with customers.  The feedback I get at these shows helps me to refine my line and offer suggestions to my wholesale customers about top selling items.  As I’ve started to plan my fall show season a few key points come to mind.

• What type of show is it?

For me the most successful events have been well established Festivals and/or Art Shows.  Typically events like An Occasion for the Arts in Williamsburg VA, or the Festival in the Park in Charlotte NC have been great events for me.  These shows have been around for many years and have a great following.  Events like these have a lot of traffic.  High traffic usually results in great sales.

• Where is the show located?

How long will it take me to get there?  Is there an opportunity for me to visit a new area?  Two years ago I did the Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival in Huntington Beach South Carolina.  I picked this show because of its overall reputation as well its location.  I’d never been to this part of South Carolina, so this was a great opportunity to spend some time exploring.

• What are the requirements to get into the show?

I’ve found that juried shows have a better quality and draw more people that are interested in what I have to offer.  I participated in two shows last year where the only requirement was to write a check.  In both instances my sales were below my overall expectations.

In addition to networking with other artists I use the following resources to select shows:

• Zapp
• Juried Art Services
• Sunshine Artist Magazine

April 8th, 2009 | Category: View From My Booth | Leave a comment

I have a check list that I run through whenever I get ready for a show.   As part of my preparation process I went to the bank to get cash to make change.  My first flight to Las Vegas was delayed so I had to run through the Charlotte Airport in order to make my connection.  I was weighed down by rolls of quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies.

I made it just before the door closed.  When I got to my seat it occurred to m that I was traveling to the Glass Craft Expo in Las Vegas and that I would be staying in a Casino!

April 3rd, 2009 | Category: View From My Booth | Leave a comment

I have a special sale running through April 30^th.  For every $100 you spend you get a free pair of earrings!  If you’d like more information please contact me at 757-250-3337 or email me at nancy@nglassworks.com.

March 25th, 2009 | Category: Fusing Art, Creativity and Business | Leave a comment

This week I’ve been trying to find the balance between creating some new items for my line, filling current orders and making sure I’ll have a good variety of items to take to the Glass Craft Expo next week.     I was sawing apart one of my larger pieces to make earrings and pendants, and I wasn’t getting a nice clean cut.  I dressed the blade and had some minor improvement but nothing felt quite right.

 I decided to walk away and order a new blade.   One of those things I think I should have in reserve just in case…  Well maybe next time.

March 25th, 2009 | Category: What’s Cooking in the Corgi Cottage | Leave a comment

I’ve been working through a book titled Coaching the Artist Within by Eric Maisel.  I have had time to reflect on what I have read and one of the statements that has stuck with me is “You must be able to create in the middle of things or you will not create.” 

When I read this I immediately thought of the Saturday Night Live character Roseanne Roseannadanna’s lament:”it’s always something if it’s not one thing it’s another”.  So if it’s always something how do you keep creating?     Here are a few steps I’ve taken to keep creating in the midst of the stress of living in a recession, the never ending stream of paperwork, sales and marketing tasks and other activities that are part of living day to day.

• I have found that if I take a broader view of creativity, my perspective changes. For example when I look at marketing as a form of creative expression instead of as task, my perspective changes, my thinking is freer, and ideas flow more easily.
• I’ve started to set priorities and a schedule for each week. This keeps me from spending too much time on admin tasks. It finally occurred to me that since the paper never ends, I can set a time limit, do as much as I can and get back to creating! I also find that setting a plan and having a structure gives me more freedom. I resisted this idea for a long time because I thought this approach would be more restrictive.
• I carry a small notebook with me wherever I go. This is place to record my observations, sketch new ideas and record any ideas for blog posts, marketing pieces or any other changes I’d like to make.
• If I start to feel overwhelmed or discouraged. I stop take a deep breath and take note of at least 10 things that I’m grateful for. This shifts my perspective and helps me to center myself, get unstuck and move forward.
• When I develop a new item for my line of glass jewelry and gifts I have an idea of where I want to head, but I don’t attach myself to a particular outcome. This no expectations approach keeps me open to how I can turn an unexpected surprise into a new product, improve my technique or set something aside and move on.

March 19th, 2009 | Category: Creative Exploration | Leave a comment