I got this in an email the other day from Theresa Charpentier, one of our Creative Drive artists:

“Looking forward to spring already!”

Spring seems like a long way off as I write this. It was dark before 5PM and the temperature is heading towards zero tonight. I just want to eat and drink coffee and then go to bed. Right now spring seems farther away than last August. It is easy to put off today what we can do tomorrow and winter seems like a great time to live by that axiom. I know I can fall into that frame of mind.

But is spring really that far away? Not for an artist.

As a potter I have been surprised by spring many times. The production cycle of making pots runs six to eight weeks for me. A hundred or more pieces must be made, then given time to dry. This is followed by the firing process, which can run several weeks. In all from start to finish, with a few interruptions, I have to remember that it takes a long time to make a bunch of pots. The same goes for the other art mediums. I need to start making new work two to three months ahead of when I need it.

Theresa’s comment could mean that she is already tired of winter and is trying to “think spring.” But I don’t think so. I took her comment as a reminder to me that I cannot wait for the signs of spring to start making new work. I have to anticipate spring in the dead of winter if I am going to have some great new work done by the first weekend in May in time for the Creative Drive. I have a feeling that Theresa is way ahead of me on this.

★ Featured Artist – Read More ›

★ Featured Artist – Read More ›

★ Featured Artist – Read More ›

If you would like to know what dragon eyes, writing books and leather have in common, then please join me in getting to know Charles Smith. Charles is an author and leather artist who has been living in the Baldwin area since 1990.  I met him one evening at his home in the woods of Western Wisconsin.

Jenelle:  What is the first piece that you remember making out of leather?

Charles:  A book binding.  I had written a novel, titled Dryad, for my kids.  My daughter, Soleil, who is now 16 years old, said she would like it in book form so I printed it out and stitched it together.  Then I bought some leather and made a binding out of it.  Soleil thought it was so cool, she helped me sign up to take some classes and learn more about working with leather.  I got started slowly and enjoyed it very much.  Every month I would buy a new tool and learn how to do something different.  That’s how I got started.
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