A special hello to to the new subscribers from Silver Spring Maryland!  What a vibrant, thriving city.  We were amazed at the bustling atmosphere and the true diversity of the area.  An extra special thanks to the person who tipped us off to the Burmese restaurant!

Of course being of the more rural persuasion, Alan & I promptly celebrated our return home by canning peach jam, baking zucchini bread, whipping up some homemade lotion, and homebrewing beer (okay, the beer was all Alan and the lotion was me, but we still cheer each other on).  It was our little nod to the start of fall, or “flannel” weather, as we affectionately call it.

New Work

Lately there has been a lot of focus on gift-giving… the holidays are approaching, and people are planning!  I’ll quietly admit to not starting my shopping til much (much) later, but many thanks to those of you who have started custom orders early this year.  I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to create a few custom photo boxes, which I’ll be offering as an option soon — small boxes with wallet-sized metal photos will soon be available, as well as larger 5×7 boxes with enough room for a family photo.  I’ll keep you posted!  In the meantime, I have three lovely new additions to the jewelry box line — copper & teal swirls, and a lovely teal blue Japanese maple leaf.

Until next time ~

Chris

Decisions, Decisions

Back in April I asked your opinions about a large Cleveland skyline. I received quite a bit of lovely feedback on the sketches! When I tallied up the emails, blog comments, and twitter responses, the classic black & white design was a clear winner. The bottom sketch was a close second, so when this piece finds its home I will make a companion in silvery teal blues. Here is the final piece – I’m quite happy with how it turned out! I think the moody atmosphere and strong shapes work well in the piece, and pay homage to the Art Deco style of much of our local architecture:

The Guardian

The Guardian was finished in time to debut at Cain Park, where it received a lovely response — including features in three local media sources. In hindsight, I think most people couldn’t decipher how it was made… which is always an interesting dilemma. I want my work to be appreciated purely visually – it either grabs you or it doesn’t – but there is definitely a different level of appreciation when observers learn that it is made from metal, cut apart with a tiny sawblade barely the thickness of a sewing needle. I’m always trying to find new ways to convey the process, I’d love to hear your suggestions!

Custom Boxes

The boxes have received a lot of attention (and lovely sales), but my offer for a custom logo box got lost in the shuffle. So I’m putting it back out there! If you own or work for a business and would like a box with your company logo or business info on the lid, please let me know! The small box fits business cards nicely, so it’s a perfect match. But I need examples to get started! You’ll receive one lovely wenge box at a discount in exchange for letting me photograph the finished piece for promotional purposes. You get a box, I get a picture, and your business gets a tiny spotlight on the CLS website! No small print, except that I need permission to post it. So if it’s not your biz, just give me a thumbs up from the person in charge!

Hope you’ve enjoyed this glance back through the projects!  Will be sharing new work soon!
Until next time,

Chris

metal photograph, 6×16 inches ~ click for more info

take care,

Chris

I love times like these, not just for the break, but because I get to rediscover what inspires me as an artist.  It takes a moment of stillness to hear the inner voice, but once tuned in, it is a familiar refrain.

I’ve been working small this time, experimenting with the Wenge boxes again.  There is something very Zen about them — how the lid glides along its track, the weight of the metal against the wood… they have a lovely smell from the finish, and the smooth brown grain is the color of coffee or dark chocolate.  I’ve been pairing them with smaller versions of some of my black and white images to create a set of keepsake boxes.  They are the perfect size to store a handful of beach glass, a dozen tea bags, or anything that feels calming and makes the world seem right again.

click to purchase or for more info

I also made a few boxes with simple designs in vibrant colors.  My daughter gave me the idea for these next photos ~ she is on a sewing kick right now, turning old jeans into hip teen messenger bags and purses.  I wanted to emphasize the rich saturated colors of the box lids, but also give a sense of scale.  I think they just might be some of the best product photos I’ve taken:

I have a few more designs to experiment with, and hope to have a lovely range of colors and textures soon.  In the meantime, if you like what you see, please pass it on!

Take care and have a great week~!

Chris

Saturday, August 6, 2011 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Detroit Ave. between Andrews and Marlow, in front of the Lakewood City Center
(held on the street, traffic is blocked during the event)
Parking is available one block north of Detroit in several locations

I like to always debut a little new work at each show, so this Saturday I will have some lovely new metal photographs on display. A little sneak preview for you:

click on an image above for more info

Hope you can make it!
As always, take care and have a great week!

Chris

Given that most of my recent posts have focused on local items and events, I thought I would tell a global tale this time. I’ve often wondered what it would be like to live during a different era, experience the “good old days” (whenever they may have been) and know how a simpler life might feel against this skin.

But the truth is, I’d probably get homesick pretty quickly. I love living here, now. I love the interconnectedness of the world. I love having a true understanding that deep down, we are all alike — and yet so incredibly different. The internet is an amazing solvent, allowing people of all ages, races, cultures, religions, and viewpoints to dissolve into one huge puddle full of ideas and inspiration.

So in honor of the wonderful people I have met across the globe without ever leaving my comfy chair, I’d like to take you on a tour of my world.

Portugal

Hot off the presses, I’m so excited to announce the arrival of my book!!  (And by “my book”, I mean the copy they gave me as a thank you for using my artwork on the cover.)  I must admit, it is quite a fun thing to see your work on the cover of a book — especially one from another country.  And I know at least two of you reading this who are the proud owners of some of the pieces in the photo!  The authors, Demyan Belyaev and Zoran Roca from Edicoes Universitarias Lusofonas in Lisbon, Portugal, write this about the image: “The metal astrolabe featured on the front cover was invented in Portugal and became instrumental in the success of Portuguese maritime expeditions that led to the discovery of Brazil and the sea route to India.  Will Portugal again be able to leap forward and tread the path of knowledge-based development, as it once did?”  Luckily the book is in English, as I’m embarrassed to admit my Portuguese skills are just shy of dangerous.  But very excited to learn more about the history of this device that has fascinated me for so long.

click above for info

Australia

I’d like to take a moment to say a special “hello” to my Aussie readers — that I even have any is a testament to the power of the internet!  I’ve been thinking about you a lot recently — given the recent heat wave the U.S. has experienced, I think I can speak for most of us when I say “we wish we were there”!
And politics aside, whenever the value of the U.S. dollar goes down against the $AUD, I get a rash of orders from Down Under.  You all know your currency conversion, and you love your Art Cards!  So this lovely new mini astrolabe is dedicated to you!

click above for info

United States

Today I shipped out six packages to six different states.  What a testament to the vastness of the internet, and what a privilege to have the opportunity to create things for people across the country.  That people like you allow me support myself and my household doing things that I love is something for which I will forever be grateful.

Back to Ohio

To celebrate the return trip, here is a copper corporate award I recently finished that is flying its way to its recipient as you read this.  If you are local, please join me at Lakewood Arts Festival on August 6, 2011 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  Held on Detroit Ave. between Andrews and Marlow, in front of the Lakewood City Center.  This is a dynamic and exciting one-day show that I am thrilled to be a part of — if you can’t make it, please cross your fingers for beautiful weather!

Whever you are, take care, and have a great week!

Chris

Good morning all!

An extra special hello to the lovely people who came to visit at Cain Park, and to the new subscribers.  While we all joked about the weather (the infamous flooding stories that I secretly suspect get deeper every year), it was quite a lovely weekend and the turnout was grand.  Perhaps it’s because I live here, but the thing I love most about this show is the way it melds community, camaraderie and culture into one beautiful event.  A bit like a backyard barbecue over Chardonnay with a backdrop of amazing art.

New Work ~ Copper Goes Functional!

The Cleveland-themed pieces were definitely the hit of the show, and I’m very proud to share some of them with you!  I teamed up with local woodworker Darbynwoods to create these beautiful Wenge & Padauk hardwood boxes.  The lids are etched zinc with photos of local landmarks, and they come in two sizes to fit business cards, or pens/ pencils.  I’m quite pleased with the way they came out, as I experimented with (yet another) photo transfer technique.  The results are beautifully crisp and quite striking, and I couldn’t be happier.   (click on photos for more info)

I also turned a few into jewelry boxes, and can’t wait to make more!  They make a great keepsake box for rings and pendants, or would make a beautiful business card holder for someone who wants a more decorative touch.  Or if you are an avid art card collector, they’ll fit perfectly!  I’m very excited to experiment with these further, as the boxes were designed to fit my small artwork.  So all of the cool patterns you can get in an art card or mini easel art will soon be available as functional items!

What’s Next?

Well, I’ve been pondering a few ideas lately.  I’d love to start offering custom pen boxes and business card holders.  Since the photo process works with any image, it could easily be customized to include a company name & logo.  I’m going to try it out using my logo, but would love a few other samples as well.  If you are interested in a customized business card box, please contact me!  I would love to sell 3-4 at a discounted price in exchange for permission to display them on my website.

Take care, and have a lovely week!

Chris

Show Time!

After a long wait, it is officially show season here at CLS!  It was nice to be able to take a vacation before digging back in, but I’ll admit it feels good to get back into the swing of things.

I’m starting out the season with a shiny new logo and tent banner (above), and an integrated shopping cart!  Now when you click on the “Shop” button above, you will be able to purchase directly from my site rather than click through.  Items are being added daily — the selection is small but growing, and the checkout is fully functional.  Please let me know what you think!

metal map of Traverse City, Michigan

On the show front, the season is off to a lively start!  We spent a lovely weekend in Farmington Hills, Michigan, where, among other things, they have the best Irish pub ever.  I loved it more for the decor, but the Handsome Man assures me the beer was top-rate as well.  Next weekend we’re headed to Elk Rapids, near Traverse City MI for Art Rapids, a one-day show from 10-5 on June 25th.  If you are near the area, email me your address and I’ll send you a postcard!  We’re crossing our fingers for perfect weather and lots of sales!

In July, the big event will be Cain Park, a phenomenal show that just happens to be in my neck of the woods in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.  It will run July 8-10, Friday 3-8pm, Saturday 10-8, and Sunday 12-5.  Friday is free, admission is $5 on the weekend.  Email me your address if you would like a postcard for this show as well!

I’ll update the list as events get closer, until then ~ take care, and have a great week :)
Chris

The piece is seven feet tall (just over 2 meters), so it currently ties for the largest piece I’ve created in metal.  (The COSE piece in the terminal tower beats it by a thread.)  The new piece is affectionately called “Red Tree”, because I couldn’t think of a better name.  It began as this thumbnail sketch:

It was designed to hang in a foyer — the straight side of the tree parallels a second floor opening, while the organic edge reaches over a nearby doorway.

Here are a few fun pics of the piece in progress:

The above photo shows the center section of the tree in progress — it will become the lower half of the red leaves.  I love this photo because it shows the various stages of the copper.  The blue square is a new piece of copper, with the protective film still on.  The pinkish squares are etched with maple leaves and scrubbed clean.  The orange squares have been given a heat patina, which helps create a more vibrant red color later.

The same middle section with the branches laid out:

Almost finished — using different thicknesses of backs to create the necessary layering:

Paying someone else to install it, priceless :)

My favorite detail shot, showing the layering and where the trunk peeks through the leaves:

On that note, I’m ready for a vacation!  My lovely man and I are heading up to Canada in a few days to enjoy a week of campfires and hiking and stargazing and nothing-doing before show season kicks in.  I’ll be closing down my shop and setting my email to autopilot Thursday evening, and will be offline until the end of May.

Take care, I’ll miss you all!!

Chris

This post is going to be short and sweet, just a quick peek at a new piece I’m very excited about!

It’s a new addition to the Cleveland series, this time celebrating the landmark “Guardians of Traffic” sculptures of the Hope Memorial Bridge.  If you haven’t had an occasion to drive across it recently, here is a lovely set of photos I found online that give a great sense of the power and scale of these Art Deco treasures.

My piece started as this sketch, where I separated out the values as shapes:

After cutting and etching, the 16×20 inch plate looked something like this:

It’s not finished — dark areas will go a pinch darker, silvers will be polished brighter and all the obligatory tweaks will happen here and there — but here it is so far:

I do believe he is turning out quite handsomely :)

Chris

p.s. thanks to all who gave suggestions re: the Cleveland skyline!  Black and white was the clear winner, and the first layer is on and curing.  Will share pics once it’s done!