Connie Norman is this week’s featured artist.
Medium(s) you work in:
My ceramics are made from earthenware clay, white and terra cotta, with low fire glazes.
How would you describe your art?
My ceramic vessels are very decorative. I use my vessels as a vehicle to explore form, glaze and text. I am fascinated by the rhythmic qualities created by color, texture and patterns. Decoration and the act of decorating are essential, because it celebrates and enhances form and speaks purely of aesthetics.
What artist(s) living or dead inspire you? Why?
I love Grant Wood’s, not so much American Gothic, but his landscapes. I love his patterns and how he divides up the space of the canvas. I love how many dots, circles and stripes he uses.
What are your thoughts on selling art?
At this point in my art career I am not really focused on selling my art. If I sell artwork, I’m thrilled. I am trying to get my artwork out there, in galleries and publications. I’ve been constantly reading blogs that help with selling art, which has made me become a regular reader of Art Palaver. I do have several avenues of getting my artwork out there; I do have a Facebook page, my blog and my website. I use these three sites dialog with other artists and people who are interested in my work. I’ve been fortunate enough to sell artwork this way.
What is the biggest challenge you are currently facing as an artist?
Right now I have very limited time. I work full time as an art teacher of junior high school students, and I have a three year old son, and after all that I try to be a professional artist. I long for the day I can do my art as my full time job and get a full night of sleep.
What has been the biggest victory or success in your art career?
I’ve been lucky enough to have several milestones in my art career; I was on the cover for Ceramics Monthly, December 2004. I won a Wyoming Visual Arts Fellowship. I just recently found out that three of my pieces were juried into 500 Vases by Lark books. It will be in stores the fall of 2010.
What are your short term artistic goals? And what are your long term goals?
My one of my short term goals is to get more comfortable with taking my own images and learning the technology behind it. Images are so important for an artist. I think I should be in control of my own images. But it has been something I have been reluctant to learn. I’m always afraid I’m going to do it wrong. I don’t want to get reject from shows, but especially I don’t want to be rejected because don’t understand the technology.
My Long term goals are to make sure I always make art.
Anything else you would like to share?
This year I was commissioned by Denver International Airport to make 68 pieces for them. My artwork was part of DIA’s efforts to get a Denver – Tokyo nonstop flight, and to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Denver’s relationship with their Japanese sister city Takayama. Some of my pieces were given to Mayor John Hickenlooper of Denver and Mayor Mamoru Tsuchino of Takayama, Japan and to the Denver City Council.
Connie’s Website | Facebook | accessCeramics
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