The Music Within - Upcoming Show

Yay!
"Monkey Gone to Heaven" has been accepted into the Music Within show at Blue Line Arts!

The show will run October 17, 2013 - November 10, 2013. Reception October 19, 2013 6;00 pm - 9:00 pm.

The piece will be available for purchase through the gallery.
Hope to see you there!

Visions in Clay 2013

The online version of the 2013 Visions in Clay national juried show is now live!

I'm honored and humbled to have 2 of my pieces included in this show and would like to invite you to not only enjoy the online show, but also come see the show live.

August 22 - September 19
Reception: August 30th  5 - 7pm

Visions In Clay Arts Lecture
August 30th 1pm
Tillie Lewis Theatre

57 Ceramic Artists

To Purchase Artwork

Visit or Email the Gallery

Upcoming Shows

I've received notices of acceptance recently for 2 juried shows I've entered.

"Galaxy Song" and "Blind Faith" have been accepted into the Visions in Clay juried show at the L.H. Horton Jr. gallery at Delta College in Stockton, Ca.

I'm really excited to be included in this venerable show.
There were 110 entrants and over 400 works. Juror Peter Held selected 58 artists and 70 works for the show.

The show runs August 22 – September 19, with a reception August 29, from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Hope to see you there!

Also, my piece "Relic" will be showing at the Blue Line Arts gallery's Membership Medley show,
The show runs July 19 - August 24. I'll amend with reception info as soon as I have it.

Works will be available for purchase at both shows.

BoxerTribe's Always Look On The Bright Side

Cleo...

I'm taking a break from art posts to pay homage to a lovely old lady.

Just over a year ago, at the end of March, 2012, I lost my heart dog Owen. Just 2 weeks shy of his 15th birthday. His passing left us boxerless for the first time in nearly 20 years.

That void was filled 10 days later when, with the help of Tracy Hon of Chico Boxer Rescue, I volunteered to foster a senior special needs girl who had been at the Sacramento county shelter for 3 months. Her time was up and - not for lack of trying on the shelter and Tracy's parts - she was out of time.

I drove down to collect her on her "death day".

She underscored everything wonderful about opening one's home and heart to a used-up old dog; yes, she was blind. She had tumors all over her lovely body. Her hearing was so/so, her teeth rotting nubs, her ears were full of scar tissue, and she had a pretty significant cardiac arrhythmia.

Her spine was fused from the pelvis nearly to the rib cage and a big spikey ball of bone growth in her pelvis gave her her "old lady waddle".






BUT she was also house trained. She was crate trained, spayed, easy with other dogs, not bothered by our 7 VERY dog-friendly cats, quiet and friendly with people. And always happy. Always.As naturally as she came in and claimed Owen's big bed for her own, she also claimed our hearts.

Now, a little over a year later, and quite likely in her 13th or 14th year, she's telling us she's ready to go now. There's pain, little strokes, the indignity of incontinence. A heart on it's last legs, and a rapidly shrinking world.

That's OK - we had her much longer than we expected, and have never regretted our time with her.
I won't ever think of her and be sad - what's to be sad about? We got as much as we gave (or a little more), and too, are able to give her a far better end than the shelter could have. Dr Mike will come Wed and we'll help her across the bridge, in her own home, on "her" bed. Till then, its cookies and premium canned food and peanut butter bones without end.



So, I guess I just wanted to share our sweet old gal with you.
She was just a backyard-bred boxer, but if I could give her a good registered name, she would be BoxerTribe's Always Look On The Bright Side

Yeah, that's her. That's our Cleo...
Thanks for listening.
More art soon.
CMCK

When she's awake, every step is tough, but in her dreams,
the bunnies run for their lives!

Another work in Progress!

 The first half of "Prime Time" is back in the kiln for her final firing. temps are in the triple digits here for the next few days, and so I'll wait for a little cooler weather to fire up the kiln.
As I want to get her where I want her, and need to use her as a reference for the second girl, I decided to start another piece.

Actually, I spend a couple days making a little donation for one of my favorite charities first.
A little goat head - "Wall Flower" who will be heading to New Moon Farm goat rescue and sanctuary next week.

Then I started in on a new piece."Blind Faith" is much more obvious than "Prime Time", and smaller, but I'm really liking it.
Something clicked, and I managed to get most of the forming and modeling done in a couple of days and am at a point where clay needs to stiffen up a bit before I can continue.

I would eventually like to do a series of this one.
The sheep will have blinders on and images will be applied to the inside of the blinders.

Its not as large as "Prime Time", but I'm trying to think not just in terms of content, but more practical considerations such as transporting and display.

Anyhoo, as always, process/progress photos can be seen on my FaceBook page, and ya don't even have to be a FaceBook user to see them.

Stay tuned...
CMCK

New Work in Progress

As is often the case with my pieces, I get an idea/image stuck in my head and don't seem to be able to move on 'til I get it out of my brain and into the kiln. I like when this happens - everything just seems to come together. Working on something as a request or exercise never feels as natural to me.

This time, I'm trying to express a larger idea than, say, with "Relic". That piece was pretty straight-to-the-point. No real insightfulness required to get the message. Which threatens to send me off on a ramble about using one's medium to convey messages or ideas beyond "I like ponies", or "I thought that was pretty", and doing so successfully. But I'll try and stay on point here.

I was talking to my Hubs one day (probably after a few beers - I tend towards epiphany then) about the state of political discourse and the younger generation these days. I'm 50 now. Hard core Punk, like bondage pants and my cute flower print Docs is no longer really age-appropriate, and I find myself muttering "get off my lawn" more often than I would have expected.

Yeah, anyone under 30 is now a kid to me. I don't partake in much popular or mainstream culture.

Anyway, I was remarking that it feels like we have all become over-the-top reactionaries. Listening to others and finding common ground are considered signs of weakness in our hyper-patriotic, 24-hour-news, war-weary, Reality TV world, where we salivate over displays of the worst possible behavior and feel the only way to make a point is to drown out every other point of view, or worse, tell lies until they become "truths", and that, perhaps in some way, the mechanics of our current political machine like that and perhaps even have a hand in the formation of our current popular culture to further their own causes.

Think Karl Rove and Sara Palin.

Hubs suggested this might be a good springboard for a sculpture, so here I am. Wallowing about in mud and ideas.

Technically, this piece offers some exciting challenges. I've never tackled the human form before. Never worked this large before. Never really worked with color the way I intend to on this piece.

I don't know how successful I'll be either in a technical sense or in a larger sense, but I'm excited to take this leap and see what happens and where the clay takes me.
As usual, the best place to keep up with the progress of this piece (tentatively titled "Prime Time") is on my FaceBook page. You don't even need to be a FaceBooker to look at the pics!

So stay tuned and enjoy the ride.
CMCK

New Projects

April/May are sure busy for me.
2 shows means lots of traveling to and from galleries to deliver and retrieve art as well as attend the shows.

Stick a 3-day ceramic conference in the middle of that, add in a couple of 1-day demonstrations, and it seems I'm away frm home almost every weekend till June!

That doesn't leave much time for a couple of the more ambitious projects I have in mind, but I'm finding time to be creative nonetheless.
A good example is this boxer head study I managed to make yesterday. Sometimes I struggle with a piece, and sometimes they just sort of flow out, as was the case with this piece.

Another project I've managed to squeeze in is a re-do of an earlier piece.
Originally titled "You Are Here", I really like the ravens. But I was not really feeling good about the rest of the piece, and many ceramic shows require work to be at least 70% clay, so this just wasn't working for me.

I dismantled the piece and just sort of lived with the ravens in the studio for a while before inspiration struck, in the form of the Monty Python's Galaxy Song.

Thus was the idea for the new work formed.
The bowl, on which the birds will perch, is done. Glass, oxides, and slips give the inside an appropriately "spacey" look. Its quite large and took some doing to get it from the kiln to the reduction chamber!
Now the Solar System is in the kiln, waiting to be fired and added in, then will come the birds.

Besides that, I spend some time creating some tiles to donate to a fundraiser for Mo/Kan Boxer Rescue.

I have a couple of rather large pieces in mind - when the traveling settles down - but will try and get a few smaller pieces worked in in the mean time.
As always, a peek at my FaceBook Page will give you a better idea of what I'm up to in real time.

more to follow...
CMCK

Playing With Home Brew

No, its not what you think.
I've recently learned about a relatively obscure eastern European firing technique called Obvara.

It is apparently meant to seal pots and creates some lovely effects.
The ware is heated to about 1800 degrees f and then cooled to about 1500 f. Its ten removed from the kiln and plunged quickly into a brew of yeast. flour and sugar (though I'm going to play with that mixture...) and then plunged into a water bath.
The brew carbonizes on the ware, sealing the pot and leaving its mark.

I'm hoping to explore the technique more over the next few months and gain some skill with it.
I can certainly see that it will lend itself to my work quite nicely!




Stay tuned...
CMCK

April 20-21 - 53rd Annual LCAC Spring Show

I'm excited to let you all know that my piece "Relic" was juried in to the 53rd annual Lodi Community Arts Center's Spring Show.

This is a wonderful event, showcasing a diverse set of artists from all over California, and held it the barrel room of the Robert Mondovi Winery - Woodbridge. A very cool venue to be sure.

Last year, my piece "The Outrage" won 3rd Place in 3D in this show, though after seeing some of the other works, I'm amazed it placed at all. I expect I'm in at least as good company this year.

This year's show will be held April 20 and 21,  at the winery in Acampo, Ca.
5950 East Woodbridge Road Acampo, California 95220 
(209) 365-8139

I'll be attending at least one day - to be determined by my family I expect.
Hope to see you there!

May 10 - June 01, America's Clayfest

Today I received my acceptance letter! 
My "Egret and Snake" sculpture was juried in to the America's Clayfest (formerly Feats of Clay) show!
I'm pretty excited ;-)The show will be held at the Blue Line Arts gallery in Roseville, Ca this year.
Mine was one of 80 pieces selected out of more than 350 entries, from all across the U.S. as well as several other countries.

The show will open May 10, 2013 and run through June 1, 2013.
I am intending to attend the reception, which will be Sat, May 10, 2013, so if you're thinking about coming to see the show, I hope you'll try for then so we can say hello.

Lint Feeder Give-Away!

Besides my sculpture, I do a small amount of functional work, which can be purchased through my Etsy Shop.

One of my most popular springtime items is the Lint Feeder.

Its always seemed a bit of a waste to me to just toss the lint from our dryer into the trash.

Problem solved with this little lint feeder! Hang it on an exterior wall, fence post, tree or anywhere birds gather in spring, and let the birds feather their nests with your dryer lint!   

So I'm giving one away!
The winner will receive their choice of any Lint Feeder in the shop!  
Just in time for spring!

Its easy, and there are lots of ways to enter. Just visit my Facebook page and click on the blue "Giveaway" tab. Pin the photo, send a Tweet, comment and/or share.

Each one gives you an entry, so go crazy! Some you can even do every day!
The contest ends March 31, 2013 and I'll announce the winner on April 1st, 2013.

***NOTE!***  After you Like, Share, Comment, Pin or Tweet, you MUST click the green button in the lower left corner of the option you've chosen to be entered!            

Anyone can enter, but winners outside the US will be responsible for shipping charges.
Good luck!

Second Saturday Art Night

March 9 marks my second week in Ventana Gallery, and my first inclusion in Sonora's Second Saturday Art Night.

Currently I have 10 pieces showing in the gallery. Everything from small pieces priced under $100, up to my puffin sculpture "The Outrage", which took 3rd Place in last year's Lodi Community Art Council's Spring Show.


If you're in the Mother Lode Saturday, please do stop by the gallery and have a look! So much wonderful art!

meanwhile, I'm back in the studio splitting my time between some functional pieces for spring/summer fairs, and a couple of new sculptures I need to get out of my head and into the real world.

Oh! And a little reminder. if you've stumbled upon the blog from the World Wide Web, please do continue on to my website www.CNewlin.com to see what else is cookin'!

stay tuned...
CMCK

Gallery Bound!

Big news for me! I've been accepted into a gallery!
After introducing myself to Dennis Garcia at Ventana Gallery in Sonora, Ca, it's a go.
Beginning Friday, March 01, 2013, you can view and purchase selected works.
I was really impressed with the artists included in this space. Lots of wonderful 2D and 3D works. I'm very excited and honored to be amongst such accomplished artists.



Oh! And a little reminder. if you've stumbled upon the blog from the World Wide Web, please do continue on to my website www.CNewlin.com to see what else is cookin'!

stay tuned...

Ruminating on a New Project

Just bought about 30 various tiny toy guns. I don't think I have all of "Relic" out of my system. Could not sleep last night for wanting to get out in the studio and start a new piece.


Oh! And a little reminder. if you've stumbled upon the blog from the World Wide Web, please do continue on to my website www.CNewlin.com to see what else is cookin'!

stay tuned...

New Year, New Directions

2013 is bringing lots of exciting work and possibilities!
Since the first of the year, I've been working larger, and with clearer vision and focus.
Working larger is challenging. In some ways it makes things easier, but it has its own set of challenges too, and it prompts me to see my work in new ways.

First up, I decided to enter the America's Clayfest (formerly the Feats of Clay) show in Lincoln, Ca. This has been a pretty California important show in the past, and I decided to do what I felt was an iconic subject for central and northern Ca. Anyone familiar with rural Ca knows about cattle egrets, and I felt that would be a nice homage to my home state. At 24 inches tall, this was the largest piece I've done to date.
I'm currently waiting to hear if its been accepted into the show.



Next came a stab at my favorite breed.
I'd never sculpted a boxer before - they're near and dear to my heart. It was much more difficult than I expected, and I'm not sure I captured what I wanted to, but it was fun. And it sold pretty quickly and will win its way to Canada this week!

A little time spent with some whimsical fish and sea creatures, and then I moved on to 2 more large pieces .
"Relic" which will be completed this week (waiting for the wheels to arrive) was particularly challenging. Sculpted in 2 pieces and then assembled, requiring multiple firings and some real problem solving, I think its my most ambitious piece so far. And it is more than just a pretty picture. I'm really excited about this piece and already have more commentary swirling around my brain.





And then there's the zebra.
In the kiln as I type. I thought I wanted to make a horse, but no.
You'll have to check back to see the results.

LCAC 2012 Small Works Show

At the end of 2012, I entered the Lodi Community Art Center's Small Works show.
Wow! I am humbled by the results.
4 of the 5 pieces I entered were given awards.

"Pup II" was awarded Best in Show, 3D!
This was one of my first high fire sculptures. I was so pleased with how it turned out, but honestly, its not the most warm and fuzzy piece, so it was a surprise that it was so well-received.









"Pangolin" was awarded 1st Place.
This is one of my favorite pieces. Small and simply, but in my opinion, he has tons of charm.

"Rat II" was awarded 2nd Place, and the "Raku tentacle" was given Honorable mention.
At first I assumed I must have been the only 3D entrant in the show, but no. There were some really wonderful entries. It always humbles me to see the "competition".







More updates soon...the last few months have been really exciting!