Susan Cohen Thompson

Stacks of brochures for the Camano Island Studio Tour are now being distributed. The brochure features my painting “Guardians of the Island” on the cover.

Art studios all over Camano Island will be open to the public for two weekends in May.

MAY 10th, 11th, 12th and 18th, 19th. 10 am – 5 pm

There are over 30 studios and the work of more than 60 artists featured on the tour. This is my 10th year participating in this fabulous annual event.

You can download a copy of the tour brochure and get information on the event.

For those of you who live in the Seattle area, we hope you will take this opportunity to visit the island and my studio.

Selling art on-line is an interesting challenge and can be a delight to connect with a buyer who would otherwise never have the opportunity to see your work or bring it into their home and life. I recently sold the ceramic piece pictured here (Raku Bird Rattle) to a woman in Virginia who found me on-line. I love the personal experience of selling directly from my Northwest studio and wanted the package to convey the feeling of warmth and attention I give to people visiting me in person.

Following is a copy of the e-mail to me from the buyer……

“Your beautiful handwriting on the box arriving at my office signaled much to look forward to.  Last night when I got home, I carefully opened the box, lifted out the packing to reach your note and the evocative cards of your paintings – thank you greatly for that extra generosity;  it will be such fun sharing your artwork with a few cherished friends via those cards!  Then I lifted out the lovely box and unwrapped the rattle –which is even more beautiful in person.  Its substantial heft surprised me and is so anchoring and comforting to hold and gently move to hear the just-so sounds.  Then I smiled to see the wire cradle you’d created for the rattle to nest in.

When I felt your rattle in my hands I instantly understood what my (now grown) stepson, Daniel, taught us when he was a little boy.  He’d sleep with every new baseball glove or other special treasure, so happy to have them in his life that he did not want to give them up for even a few hours.  I decided not to risk the rattle rolling off the bed and breaking, but smiled to feel Daniel’s “wisdom of delight”.  Who knows what stories such objects could tell, what flavors they’d give our dreams?

Thank you again and always.”

OPEN STUDIO THIS WEEKEND

CAMANO ISLAND, WA

October 20, 21, 2012 from noon to 6pm

Art Talk: this Saturday at 4pm in studio.

The studio is located right before the entrance to the Camano Island State Park on Lowell Point Road.

Open to the public this weekend.

The Cascade Clay Artists, an association of ceramic artists that I am a member of, enjoyed their annual Burn Party on the beach overlooking Port Susan on Camano Island this past Saturday. We had the opportunity to bring a few pieces to raku in kilns brought to the beach for the day by a few generous and able raku experts in our membership.

This bird rattle is one of two pieces I fired at the party.

The rattle is carved in light relief and glazed with White Crackle and TZ Copper. It is 4″ round. I haven’t figured out how I will display it yet. I don’t want it rolling off the table. It will be for sale in my studio during my up coming Open Studio exhibition October 20th & 21st. There are more birds in it than meet the eye.