Last night I participated in ART/RE/ART in Morganton, NC! Three exhibition disks and a few pattern spacers are now in the collections of some great people. I cannot believe the energy and enthusiasm of the artists and community. The comments and conversations with many of the over 350 visitors reflected the pride they have for their town, appreciation of the innovation of the event organizers, support of the arts and downtown businesses, and excitement of what us to come. I’m crossing my fingers and toes that I can get @nancyvannoppen down to speak to my students at #Limestonecollege and Gaffney art community at #CAVA . Thanks to all for your support. Plan your next trip to spend a weekend in Morganton and support their local art! For more pictures, check out my Instagram @cfordart .
​https://www.artreart.com/about/

This summer I began dabbling in the world of custom commissions (drawings, tiles, and paintings) after I had completed works for the Asheville Art Museum gift shop (soon to open Appalachia Now exhibit). I’m back to full color and loving it. If you are interested in commissioning a work of art, especially a pet portrait, give me a holler (Southern for “ask me” or “send an email”) for a quote. Visit @cfordart or @eviltwinA on Instagram to see more examples and process shots. Once the semester calms down, I will ramp up requests for pet portraits on mugs. I’ve got some friends who give great gifts and support the arts.

I’ve been working on southernisms on plates to sell alongside the Appalachia Now exhibit at the Asheville Art Museum (date to be determined). Without listing the title, I encourage you to see if you can figure out the riddle depicting typical southern sayings. Embrace your heritage. Appreciate the variety of accents and sayings as they relate to your history. Enjoy a good conversation without judging and thinking your area is better than another. Travel makes me love home and unite great things such as colloquialisms from all over the world.

Plate one has been carved. I opted to go with more southernisms right now but am brainstorming about creating patterns. Plate lips are a pain! I’m crossing my fingers nothing warps or cracks. Tired. Need to pack. Beginning to talk like Frankenstein. Over.

I have been “knee high to a pig’s eye” in work this year with the college’s transition from “college” to “university,” SACS accreditation, departmental changes, and my desire to be in the studio with the kids. I could have taken it easy leaving the students to work on their own but....I’m just like my mom. This new group of students asked for demos I never get to give. I opened projects up since there were so many great questions I wanted to answer and demo. Before I knew it, I was staying in the lab until 3am to create new works. I’ve finally reintroduced color into new exploratory works I’d like to continue. My brain is on hyperdrive as to so many series I’d like to begin. I’ve got alternative methods I’d like to explore on trimming and hanging my disks. Ug! So many ideas and so little time. Now that’s a first world problem 😀. But I digress. I just got a call from the Asheville Art Museum gift shop asking to consign works related to Appalachia Now (a story I need to write). Although I have other southern travel disks that might apply, I’ve gone into a frenzy to create a set of image plates. I’m in the “to foot or not to foot” and “leave it raw, or refine” debate. I wish I had more than one full week to explore before I have to send images and inventory list before taking off to the British Isles. So in writing my first blog in a while, I’m wasting quality creation time! Stay tuned and thanks for being patient. Instagram is the best way to see updates!

Don't think I haven't been busy since school has started. Mum's the word on a pending exhibition so stay posted until the official museum notification goes out. It's killing me to hold in this big secret! Now that I know a certain body of work is reserved until late 2019, it's time to send applications into new shows.
​In the meantime, I planned and took my students to the Biltmore to see the Chihuly glass, hung some exhibits at Limestone, and am busy serving on several new committees that I'm very passionate about. The Global Experiences Committee will allow me to plan and take student abroad with tuition money! This year's trip to the British Isles will be the last trip I have to recruit and raise funds for! Whew. During Fall Break, I've worked tirelessly on webpage updates, curriculum maps, next year's one-year plan for scheduling, and making the Major Donor Dinner gifts. 

I'm thrilled to post that my tryptic on Tennessee music placed third place in the Anything Goes! exhibit at the Gaffney Visitor's Center that was part of the Peach Festival celebrations. The exhibit was judged by Jane Nodine. Thanks to all at CAVA and the Gaffney Ledger for the publicity of the show. It's nice to be surrounded by talented friends and neighbors here in Gaffney. 
​https://www.gaffneyledger.com/articles/luci-wins-best-in-show/

I know I took a photo class to learn how to photograph and edit my works but who has time when summer is counting down? Fortunately for me, I know so many great people especially some of my previous gifted students. Justin Kelly is now an art teacher, artist, photographer, and jack of all trades. I'm very proud of him. Justin and his friend Tom came by "Disco Laundry", my studio, to help photograph new works for the update of my webpage. Sometimes students and those that buy art have no idea the expenses that go along with being an artist such as paying for professional photos, supplies, webpage yearly fees, applications for exhibitions, memberships in artist guilds, postcards, mailers, storage, gas, etc! Even if art is a side gig, exhibiting can be expensive and the cost of said items has to be added into the total price of the work if sold. I am appreciative to have art friends like Justin I can depend upon when it's crunch time! 

Post Spain and Portugal, I’ve been obsessing over Moorish/Islamic tiles and patterns viewed in the Alhambra and mosques in Córdoba. Here are a few carvings I’ve finished. Eventually I’ll get back to travel images but for now, I’m lost in pattern.

Professor Emily Tuttle and I are ready to bounce! Our group of ten depart today to Spain and Portugal for two weeks of inspiration. I can’t wait to start carving. I’ll admit I’ve been binging on creepy Spanish ghoul, Cryptid, UFO, and ghost story research. For some fun listening, check out #bigfootcollectorsclub podcast. Maybe they’ll do a story about El Coco, the Spanish version of the boogeyman! Follow my Instagram for frequent pics! Adios.