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What's going on at the
​Calaveras County Arts Council?

What's up in Calaveras County Arts in December

12/1/2020

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Calaveras County Arts Council winter Newsletter

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Happy Holidays!
We hope that you and yours are keeping healthy and happy this season.
We are looking forward to the time when we can be together again. We havebeen planning upcoming music seasons for a time when it's safe for all togather, plus a special event to celebrate.
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​Meanwhile, we keep the arts in Calaveras alive online. Please enjoy theartwork on our website, follow us on social media for artwork, updates, and news, and join our Zoom events (see below for the artist meeting in December.)


Scroll down to read the whole newsletter:
  • Artist December meeting
  • One-of-a-Kind Gift Show
  • Poetry Out Loud
  • Artists Call to entry

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SUPPORT THE ARTS IN CALAVERAS COUNTY
How do your contributions to the Calaveras County Arts Council keepthe arts blooming in Calaveras County?

  • You support signature events like Music in the Parks and the Ovationswinter concert series.
  • You beautify our towns with public art
  • You give local artists a place to exhibit their work
  • You support an arts economy that benefits the community
  • You strengthen arts education for Calaveras public school students.
 Without you, the Arts Council could not do all that it does.
​We appreciate your generosity.
Contribute to the Arts

Artists December Meeting
December 16, 6 p.m.
Via Zoom
Our November artists meeting was such fun, we wanted to offer another chance for artists and members to meet again in Decembervia Zoom.
Victoria Fout will again be leading the meeting, and will be sending out invitations soon.
We'd love for you to attend. Please contact Maggie at ccacinbox @ gmail.com for an invitation and a Zoom link.

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One-of-a-Kind Gifts of Art
Colorful and charming, the One-of-a-Kind Gift Show at theCalaveras County Arts Council gallery in San Andreas is chock-a-block with artworks that will lighten this holiday season. This show represents the work of 25 artists, with over 40 pieces of joyful artwork.
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You can see the show in the gallery by making an appointment with Kathy at goldrusharts18@gmail.com.
Or you can enjoy and purchase the art online at the Arts Council’s website www.calaverasarts.org)
Visit the One-of-a-Kind Gifts of Art shop

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Poetry Out Loud 2021 News
Poetry Out Loud is most likely going virtual this year, as we continue to work to ensure the safety and health of participating students and staff.

​Thanks to super-volunteer Ingrid Hjelmervik, who volunteered for the third year to chair and coordinate our local competitions, we'll again be joining the nationwide poetry competition, where high school students recite classic and contemporary poetry. This competition is open to all high school students in Calaveras County.


If interested in competing, or volunteering for this event, please email Kathy at goldrusharts18 @ gmail.com


ARTIST CALLS TO ENTRY
Post Cards for a New Year
Online gallery show presented by the
Calaveras County Arts Council

Online Registration starts December 1
Show online and in gallery: January 11 –February 26
Drop art off at gallery: January 4-8
​(Drop off by appointment only. Email Kathy at goldrusharts18 @ gmail.com)
We invite artists from Calaveras, Amador, and Tuolumne Counties to participate in a postcard/small works show, Post Cards for a New Year. We are accepting up to 30 artists, with no more than 2 pieces of art per artist. This show will be displayed in the gallery and online.

Theme:
We want to see postcard-size art that describes your experience of 2020, orwhat you’re hoping for in 2021. We’ve all had a rough 2020 and we’re all looking forward to 2021 being a better year. What postcard do you want to send to the world?
Requirements:
All artwork must be under 5” x 7” (You can orient that vertically or horizontally).If framed, frame must be no larger than 5” x 7” or 7” x 5.”
Use any medium: collage, digital, watercolor, acrylic. All oils must be thoroughly dry. If using charcoal or pastel, make sure artwork is well sealed with fixative. Please don’t use glitter, and affix all media securely.
Learn more about Post Card Show

Ironstone: Spring Obsession
Presented by
Ironstone Vineyards
Show opens: Saturday, March 6, 2021
Show closes: May 9, 2021
Once a year, Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys fills its winery with artwork andshowcases artwork from across the nation. This is a juried and a judged show,with prizes given.
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Theme Division: Daffodils
Online Registration ends January 1, 2021
Open Division
Online Registration ends January 31, 2021
Learn more about Ironstone Vineyards Spring Obsession show

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Calaveras County Arts Council's mission is to build a unitedcommunity by awakening, supporting, and nourishing the arts.

We rely on people like you, who believe that the arts make this world a better place.

Give us a shout to find out how you can help. We need volunteers, helpers, members, and artists!
​
Call us at 209/754-1774 (message) or email at goldrusharts18 @ gmail.com

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How to Instagram

7/21/2020

 

Online platform made in the shade for artists

Part 3 in a series about artists going online
Other parts in this series: 
Putting your art on(line)

Should I show my art on Facebook?
How to Instagram
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​Instagram tends to be a happy place, devoted to image scrolling and tending towards the inspirational. You can follow friends, artists you like, cos-players, dress makers, car collectors, gardeners—there are loads of random topics to make you smile.
 
Instagram is built primarily for smartphones. You can see your account on a desktop system, but you can only post to Instagram via your smartphone, unless you pay for a service that posts for you, or use a complicated workaround.

It's all about the stories

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What makes Instagram so popular? It’s all about the stories. They are fascinating. The sweet story of a girl and her dog. The strange and wonderful world of a fantasy artist. The foul mouthed botanist. The musings of a man with pet pigs. And best of all, art lessons from skilled artists.
 
(Personal note: I follow many, many artists. I take classes from artists I find on Instagram. I learn from their videos. I purchase artwork and books. I advertise for the Arts Council on Instagram. And I post my own artwork.)
 
Since Instagram is a visual medium, good photos of your art are crucial. And you’re already doing that, right? If not, read our blog post on how to photograph your art.
 
The fun thing about Instagram is that you get to be creative with your photos; you’re not entering a competition.  There aren’t strict rules. Photograph your art in different locations. On your desk. In the garden. On your head. Be creative  Study what other artists do and try out their ideas. Take the time to honor your art and make it look good.
Think of Instagram as an open studio tour in cyberspace.
Like Facebook, Instagram offers a personal account option and a business account option. A business account option allows you to advertise, gives you analytics about your traffic, and a host of other benefits. If you elect to have a private account as a way to share your artwork with the world, be sure and make it public so you can be found. (How to make your personal Instagram account private) 

Ceramicist Steven Hall, who owns Brownell Ceramics in Mountain Ranch has a business account for strictly business purposes, and a private account for his own use. “I use the personal account for posts that don't contribute to the branding and marketing of my business, like camping, birthdays, family, and friends etc. I use the business account for my professional page because IG provides analytics and advertising that aren't available to personal accounts.”
 
According to Hall, Instagram analytics can help you market your work with information like what time of day your viewers are most active so that your posts are more likely to be seen and engaged with.

He also warned against posting too often so you don't wear out your followers. It's a good idea to take time and consider your Instagram strategy to make the most of your online efforts. 

 
A beginners guide to Instagram
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-to-use-instagram
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https://productpictips.com/how-to-photograph-your-art-for-instagram/#Get_Your_Art_Seen_On_Instagram
 
Should I convert to an Instagram business account?
https://blogs.constantcontact.com/instagram-business-account/
 
How to promote art on Instagram
https://sproutsocial.com/insights/promote-your-instagram/

Should I show my art on Facebook?

7/21/2020

 
Part 2 in a series about artists going online
Other parts in this series: 
Putting your art on(line)
Should I show my art on Facebook?
How to Instagram
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Face to face with Facebook

Facebook is the biggest dog in the social media yard. It’s probably the most popular platform right now. While you may have personal reasons for not joining FB, it is currently one of the easiest ways to reach new collectors. A smart social media plan can reach hundreds, if not thousands of pairs of eyeballs. Remember that FB has right around 1 billion users. That’s quite a potential audience.

Facebook personal page vs Facebook business page

​When you start on Facebook (FB), you start with a personal page. That’s where you post notices of birthdays, weddings, graduations, vacations, or possibly inflammatory political opinions. You can make posts on your personal page private or public. You friend people on your personal page; they can accept and friend you back.
 
A Facebook business page is a different animal. You (technically) are allowed only one personal account, but you can have multiple business pages. (Remember, if you don’t follow FB’s rules, you might be banned from the site. Yes, they can do that.)
 
A business page is where you post information about your business. You might post information related to your art, or related to the business of art. You engage with your followers. You can create a gallery of your artwork. You can sell products from your business page. You can buy advertising for your business page. Your business page(s) is/are for your businesses.
 
This is possibly the most important thing about a business page:
People can follow your business page.
Yes, people can follow your public posts on your personal page (Here’s how to allow followers to your personal page)

But changing the visibility of posts is cumbersome and unless you use your personal page for only business posts, you risk mixing personal and public at inopportune times.
 
It’s more professional (and risks less embarrassment) to have a business page for your business. It allows for organic reach as people share and like your posts on your business page. And it allows for boosted posts and paid advertising if you decide to embark on that adventure. (You can't advertise or boost a post from a personal page.)
 
I follow a ton of FB business pages. I like to know what my favorite businesses are doing. What is the local bookstore selling? (She’s on FB)  What is the local catering company making for home-delivery Friday (She’s on FB). What’s the local theater producing this weekend? (They’re on FB.)
What are my favorite artists making? (They’re on FB.)
​

When I follow a business page, FB (mostly) feeds their posts into my newsfeed, especially if I’ve engaged with them on their pages in the past (this is why engagement with posts is so important). Engagement can be simply saying, nice work! on one of their posts. Or it can be a question for them to answer. Always answer comments on your posts. (You can block people if you get a nasty commenter. Your page is your space.)
 
The upshot: Facebook is still the leading way to advertise your artwork. To effectively advertise and sell your art, you need to create a business page.
 
How to make a business page on Facebook
https://sproutsocial.com/insights/facebook-business-page-guide/

The difference between a personal page and a business page www.outboundengine.com/blog/facebook-business-and-personal-pages-the-differences-dos-and-donts

www.thrivehive.com/why-you-need-a-facebook-business-page/

​Facebook marketing strategies
https://blog.hootsuite.com/facebook-marketing-tips

Putting your Art on(line)

7/21/2020

 

Displaying your art on the internet

Part 1 in a series about artists going online
Putting your art on(line)
Should I show my art on Facebook?
How to Instagram
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One of the things we’ve learned during the current crisis is the importance of taking your business to the internet. In March, as the shut-down began, businesses that made a nimble pivot to online were able to mitigate the damage caused by the shut-down. Even as we tentatively open businesses, customers who are leery of shopping as they did before COVID-19 spend more time (and more money) online.
 
The business of art is a business just like any other. Artists need an audience of collectors and a great way to reach those collectors is online—in fact, until we are able to safely open the country, online might be the only way you can reach collectors. And online takes your art show, which was probably local, and gives you the opportunity to make it national, if not international.
If you don’t have an online presence, now is the time to create one.
Picture of many people
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
I know artists who treat this part of their business as pure drudgery, not part of the creative process. I admit, it’s hard to get over that hump.
 
Overcome your resistance! Marketing your work online is a creative adventure. You are telling your story. You're creating a persona and a digital space for your art, and that space—that persona—will be a work of art that showcases the work you make irl (in real life).
Overcome your resistance!
Here are some ideas and resources to guide you through the journey to online success. This is not meant to be an exhaustive look at social media marketing. A person can spend a lifetime studying that topic. This is just a taste, to get you started.

Should I social? A beginner’s guide to social media

Picture of woman and social media icons
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Social media is social. It's good for networking, making friends (yes, I’ve made friends on social media), keeping up with trends, learning new things and having fun. Oh yes, and advertising your artwork. Social media is a popular way for many businesses to be online for little or no monetary investment. 
 
You don’t have to become a social media junkie to use it effectively to advertise your work. But you do have to come to terms with it, maybe even enjoy it a little. Remember, advertising on social media is all about engagement. It’s about being social. Respond when you get comments. Follow others. Be friendly, kind, patient. All the things you are in real life.

What platform should I use?

Set limits. Pick one or two platforms and start playing.
Choosing a social media platform can be bewildering.  What works for me may not work for you. You’ll learn to work social media in your own way. The important thing is to start.

​The big dogs (right now) are Facebook and Instagram, simply because of the sheer numbers of users (1 billion for Facebook). But they aren’t the only game around; Twitter or Linked In might be right for you, or Pinterest or TikTok. You’ll have to figure out which one you like the best (or hate the least), and which one provides the most return on your time. Set Limits. Pick one or two platforms and start playing. 
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Keep in mind that the social media ecosystem changes fast, so you’ll want to stay aware so you can respond to all the twists and turns of life online. But there's no need to become obsessed if you don't want to; even a basic presence on social media can help your art business.

Resources

Cory Huff at Abundant Artist describes how to choose between  FB, Instagram, and Pinterest.
www.theabundantartist.com/cant-decide-facebook-instagram-pinterest-heres-choose

Artist and businesswoman Lori McPhee has a series of blog posts on social media.
www.finearttips.com/fine-art-tips/2020-club/social-media-tips

How to Take good photos of your Artwork

7/14/2020

 

Don't throw shade on your artwork with sub-par pictures.​

To display and sell artwork online, clear and accurate photography is crucial. Collectors aren't able to see the art in real life, so they depend on the images they see online. Please take the time to make sure your photos accurately represent your work. Even if you don't have a fancy camera, the phone on your camera can take good pictures. Most phone cameras these days are pretty amazing. 

Here are a few tips for taking your own images.
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  • Give your art a fighting chance with accurate lighting and color, and razor sharp focus. 
  • Photograph your artwork BEFORE you frame it, especially if it is going to be framed under glass; glare on glass will detract or obscure your artwork.
  • Only your artwork should be in the photo.  No people. No furniture. No MacDonalds hamburger wrappers. Just the artwork.
  • If you have an iPhone, experiment with the hdr setting. It can help achieve a balanced exposure of your artwork.  
  • ****IMPORTANT**** If you're using a phone, don't use the zoom! Camera zooms are digital, and degrade the image. 
  • Minimize distortion. Keep the camera square to the image (see below). ​
  • Always label your image files. Give the file name your last name, first name, and then the name of your image.​​ ​

PHOTOGRAPHY CHECKLIST 
  • Are all photos are at least 1000 pixels wide and 150 dpi?
  • Is the artwork in sharp focus?
  • Is the artwork the only thing in picture?
  • If artwork is a rectangle, is the picture square (see below for how to minimize distortion)? 
  • Is light even across the picture?
  • Are the colors accurate?

HOW TO MINIMIZE DISTORTION IN ARTWORK PHOTOGRAPHY
Graphic: How to avoid camera Distortion
Your camera (or phone camera) should be on the same plane as the picture to avoid distortion, as close to parallel to the artwork as possible. If the bottom or the top of your artwork appears distorted, try moving your camera up or down until you reduce as much of the distortion as possible. 

make sure everything is in focus

Photos of your artwork must be crisp and clear. When online, collectors can zoom in to see every nuance of a brushstroke or a sculpted line. Whether using a fancy camera or a phone camera, you can make sure your photos are in focus by following these suggestions: 
  • Take the picture using the camera's timer. That way you're not fussing with the shutter while you're trying to hold the camera steady.
  • Put the camera on something so it's steady. I've used ladders, chairs, books, to create an impromptu tripod. But I love my trusty Slik tripod. 
  • Turn on image stabilization if your camera or phone has it. 
  • Get more light on the subject. Cameras need light for best focus. You don’t have to have expensive equipment. It’s nice, but I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of two bell-shaped clamp shop lights with the brightest LED lights I can safely use in them. I use daylight colored lights on the cool side (I adjust the color in photoshop or with  my phone's editing program). I put the light on either side of the painting.  I move the lights around until I've got an even amount of light on the image, being careful to avoid glare. I keep the lights in front of the camera to avoid shadows. I've also taken photos of artwork outside in bright shade or on bright cloudy days. 
    And whatever you do, don’t use a flash, or take your photo in direct sunlight as it will cause an unflattering glare on your artwork.​
    ​ 
    Here’s an easy homemade diffuser to decrease glare from your lights.
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  • Play with the focus. That's the way you will learn to get the best focus. 
  • As you're taking pictures, check every shot to see how sharp the focus is, so you know where you need to make adjustments. 
  • Don't get discouraged!! Sometime it takes many many shots to get the perfect picture. You will get the hang of it. And your artwork is definitely worth the effort to show it off.
To learn more about photographing your artwork, visit these website:
Photograph your artwork while on a budget
​How to photograph your artwork 
How to photograph your 2D art the right way
How to photograph your 2D art with an iPhone

The artful Volunteers

5/19/2020

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Anne Cook and Will Mosgrove Give back to Moke Hill

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​When Anne Cook and husband Will Mosgrove retired from illustration (Anne) and teaching photography (Will) and moved to Mokelumne Hill five years ago, they fulfilled a vision. “Our dream had been to move a place where we could bring our art background and make difference,” Anne said.
 
They started out by purchasing the H.M. Sturges building at the end Main Street in Moke Hill and turning it into an arts playground, which was another dream they’d had, to have an storefront that was open on a whim, and offered classes and space to make projects. “We had it for 3 years,” Anne said, before they sold it last year. “It wasn’t working out,” she said, admitting that when they made the choice to sell it, they felt as if a weight had lifted from their shoulders.
 
Even though the storefront is closed, Anne said, “We're still operating Acme Art Moke Hill. We're working out of our home. Most of what we do except my mosaics class is taught off premises. It's a lot simpler.”
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The littles (ages 4-7) had fun at Summer Art Camp making monsters based on Where the Wild Things Are,

Oodles of Doodles

Anne and Will are still making a difference. Most of what they do is volunteer. If they are paid, for example by the Calaveras Arts Council, to teach at a local school, “it goes right back in to art supplies that we give out to the community,” she said.
 
These supplies help them offer a free art class at the Moke Hill Library once a month that they call Oodles of Doodles. “Oodles of Doodles has been going about a year now,” Anne said. “It happens the third Friday of every month at our library here in Moke Hill. It goes for two hours and you can drop in for however long, or stay for the whole two hours.” She offers guidance if people want it, but she said that usually people know what to do. It’s open to all ages, and it’s free. Anne and Will offer a different project every month, ranging from painting rocks, to drawing, to making aluminum Christmas ornaments inspired by their trip to Mexico City. But you don’t have to do the project if you don’t want. “We have stations where people just sit and color,” she said.
 
Since the Covid-19 shut down, Oodles of Doodles hasn’t been able to meet in person, so Anne has been trying to figure out how the community can still enjoy art together. She  created a froggy coloring sheet that’s available to download on their Facebook page; printed copies were available to pick up outside at the library.
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Anne fancified frogs for Oodles of Doodles.

Summer Art Camp

The complications of Covid have impacted another long term commitment that Anne and Will oversee: Summer Art Camp.
 
Five ears ago Anne and Will took over Summer Art Camp, a low-cost way for local kids ages 4 to 16 to learn about the arts. Sponsored by the Mokelumne Hill Community Historical Trust, Summer Art Camp had been nurtured by Ed Cline, and Anne and Will were receptive to his vision of the future.
 
Ed’s dream had been to make it a fine art camp with music, dance, theater, and art, so Anne and Will set out to expand. “A couple years ago we were able to find a drama teacher and a music teacher,” she said. The core of what Anne teaches at the camp is visual arts. “I concentrate mostly on modern art,” she said, “although we have done things like portraits made by painting with vegetables ala Archimboldo, a Renaissance artist.. I’ve taught about Renaissance art. I teach everything from drawing to painting to collage.”
 
This summer—Covid Summer—presents a challenge. Traditionally Summer Art Camp meets in the Moke Hill Town Hall, where they have room for around 70 kids. “But this year because of this new normal, we can’t meet in the town hall,” Anne said. She’s working on art kits made up of inventory they’ve been amassing over the years from donations and careful purchases. “If anyone wants an art kit this year, there will be no charge,” she said. “I'm putting together kits for 30 kids. Each kit will have watercolors, some drawing, and we like to focus our lessons on particular artists.” The kits will be distributed through Mokelumne Hill Elementary and Toyon Middle School.  
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Working at home

For her own private art practice, Anne has been enjoying staying at home time very much, and has been productive, working on mosaics, jewelry, Oodles of Doodles projects, resin, drawing, and coloring. “I painted over 150 rocks for the Kindness Rocks Project,” she said, referencing the popular internet rock painting phenomenon. “I’ve been shipping boxes of rocks all over the country to friends and family. I shared 50 rocks in town over Easter.”
 
“The last couple of months I got to do whatever I wanted.”
 
Anne admitted that when she deactivated her social media accounts (Will runs their Facebook page), it helped to free her creative spirit. But she’s also just loving retirement. “I’ve have been so liberated by no longer making art for commerce. If I have pieces for sale, it usually goes to charity. I’m not a commercial artist anymore!”
 
 “I’ve also been a little aimless,” she admitted. “It has been nice to do what ever I want to do.”
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"A project the kids age 8-16 did in art camp. They created two part collage full body portraits. The idea was to get them to think and work BIG! We also taught a bit about the history of collage and modern portraiture." —Anne
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Marlene Bradford creates ideas in clay

5/4/2020

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Isolation has given this ceramic artist time to think

Ceramic figure of girl with birds
For ceramic sculptor Marlene Bradford, the nation’s isolation order during the time of Covid-19 has been a time of introspection about her art. “It’s been great having the time,” she said. “I enjoy working by myself. Although I also enjoy having company.”
 
This enforced time-out came just as Marlene started to pull back from perpetual activity. For the last seven years, she’s been a popular teacher of clay sculpture at Quyle Kilns, where she has instructed many in the skill of how to roll, knead, bend and convince clay to take animal and human form. But recently she gave up teaching regular classes, preferring to teach small groups or individuals on request. “I’ll be 87 in June,” she said. “I don’t have the energy I had before, or the patience.” 
Artist Marlene Bradford
When you take a class from Marlene, you tap into a life dedicated to art. She has always been an artist, and she returned to college in her 40s to complete a major in art. Clay is her first love.  “I like the way it feels. I like being able to move it around and change it back and forth and create my ideas using the clay.”
 
Her ideas, brought to life in clay, bring smiles to viewers. She still has a big presence at Quyle Kilns, where ceramic faces and animals peer from the walls, smile mysteriously, and catch your gaze and make you smile. Making the viewer happy is what Marlene intends.
 
She doesn’t strive for strict accuracy in her animal sculptures.  Instead, she tries to express her feelings about them. “I really want to bring joy through it, and have people enjoy looking at my pieces.”
Ceramic Big Mouth Bass
Ceramic Totem
“The reason I say that is because there are many pieces of art that are not about joy. They are expressions of sadness and illness. That isn’t what I want to think about and express. I enjoy trying to reproduce the shape and idea of different animals. And again, I want them to look peaceful. With them I want to express some kind of good thoughts.”
 
Her portraits of people reflect not just a physical likeness but also the emotional personality of the subject. She honed her accuracy with acts of generosity. “I started having people I know pose for me so I could practice. I said if you like it I’ll give it to you. That’s how I got my technique worked out.” Her commissioned portraits of two doctors—Dr. Milton Ben Smith and Dr. Dante Albasio—greet people at Mark Twain Medical Center.
Bronze bust
Ceramic Bust
​Now sheltering at home, she spends time in her studio in Murphys working on a series of pieces intended for totems, large pieces of art that comprise animals, figures, and objects.
 
Isolation has given her a chance to delve more deeply into her work. “It’s a chance to concentrate on your own ideas and think about what you’re doing. Often we want to discuss things with other artists or teachers. This is a good time to really look inside of ourselves and try things and see if they’re going to work. And figure out how to do something, or what we want to do. What you want people to think about it.”
Keep working during this time. “If you start something, it will be on your mind. You’ll be thinking about it and then you’ll want to get back to it.”
She welcomes the chance to pull out her own ideas and not be influenced by another person. Isolation has made her more thoughtful, sometimes changing her creative plans overnight as she’s slept on an idea. Isolation has made her work more deeply personal.
 
And so the work goes on, although she admits that she hasn’t been working everyday. “There are other things to think about. The garden. Friends to talk to.” But she encourages others to work creatively during this time. “If you start something, it will be on your mind. You’ll be thinking about it and then you’ll want to get back to it.”
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Creativity carries the day at Arsty-Parts in arnold

4/27/2020

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How an artist found elastic and love
​during the Covid-19 shutdown.

Mona Baroody at Artsy-Parts
Mona Baroody solves problems with creativity and business skills
Like most of us, Mona Baroody, owner of Artsy-Parts in Arnold, didn’t expect a mysterious and lethal virus to upend the world so completely. But she is navigating our new reality with the blunt force of her creativity.
 
Mona opened Artsy-Parts in Cameo Plaza almost exactly a year ago as a creative community center. After dedicating four years of her life to the Butte Fire recovery, she said “I wanted to do something for myself.” Someone asked her, what would you do if you could do anything? “My answer was easy. I want to create all day and get paid to do it. I’ve always been creative and happiest when I was doing it. I also wanted to help other people feel the same peacefulness.” In the time before Covid, the cozy warren of rooms provided space for the community to drop in and spread out art projects, take art and craft classes, buy hard to find art supplies and exhibit their art work. The virus changed all that.
 
If an art store seems an unlikely business to survive the shut-down orders, you’d be surprised. Not only do times of uncertainty call for creative outlet to relieve stress, precarious times require an artistic temperament. Mona believes that all the traits and skills of an artist—creativity, inventiveness, thoughtfulness, flexibility—coupled with a positive outlook and hard work will help her weather this storm. At the same time, she can help her community too.
 
“I thought, how can I make this work for all of us?” 
Mosaic class at Artsy Parts
Mosaic making class at Artsy-Parts
She started by supplying crafting kits for families sheltering at home, giving bored kids and stressed parents the chance to craft items ranging from simple foam chickens and bunnies to complicated quilled paper pictures. But other needs surfaced. On Facebook, she posted “hey, spend your money locally. Then somebody said, ‘I need elastic. [for making virus masks]. Can you get elastic?’ And I had no idea what was going on in the world regarding elastic.”
 
In the two days it took Mona to put together an order for a group of local mask makers, all the elastic supply was suddenly gone. “The shipment was being held by the government at the dock as supplies necessary for essential workers only,” she said. Eventually, the wholesale company she ordered from was able to take possession and distribute the elastic. But because the manufacturer couldn’t keep up with the orders, they released only 2 rolls of elastic per day. Not enough for the sudden crushing need for homemade masks.
 
You can’t stop an artist. Mona, a jewelry maker, remembered a kind of silicon rubber cord that is used for stringing beads, and will be able to buy a supply of this for mask makers, as well as pipe cleaners to make the masks form fit to the face. “If the elastic crisis continues,” she said, “I have other ideas.”
Selection of Covid masks
Artsy-Parts carries locally crafted masks
Then people asked if she had material for making masks. “The most effective mask material is debated,” she said, “but the general consensus is that you want 100% cotton quilting blocks. That happens to be what one of my wholesalers carries.” She bought enough for the group and enough to have in stock at her store.
 
All of this has kept Mona quite busy. Time flies as she finagles orders for craft kits, origami paper, calligraphy pens, art supplies, and mask making materials. Customers pick up their orders outside the store, which Mona sanitizes religiously. At the end of her days, often after midnight, she said “I’m so busy I haven’t had time to figure out how I’m doing.” ​
This has made me very aware of how much I love people...It's a basic human need. Love is part of our DNA
One thing Mona has figured out is how hard it is to be isolated. “This has made me very aware of how much I love people. How much we all love people. It’s a basic human need. It’s part of our DNA, a deep need that’s part our survival. Love is a part of our DNA.”

“If it wasn’t for the virus,” Mona said, “I wouldn’t have realized this so deeply.”
 
Mona encourages people to call her for creative needs. She said she can meet or beat Amazon pricing and delivery time. Order supplies from Mona’s online store at artsyparts.com, or her Facebook page, or give her a call at 209/736-7336.
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April 10th, 2020

4/10/2020

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From quilts to Medical mask Maker

4/10/2020

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This is the first in a series of stories about Calaveras County artists and how they are responding to the pandemic emergency. 

Nora Carracedo Keeps busy making masks & tells us how to manage isolation

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​When her doctor could not get cloth masks to protect staff and patients, quilter Nora Carracedo of Valley Springs came to the rescue. After watching several mask making YouTube videos, she sat down at one of her many sewing machines and started thinking.
 
She designed her own version of washable masks made of all cotton material, with a pocket in the middle for a piece of material that’s breathable but still acts as a filter.
 
“I use my own pattern,” she said. “I made one for Sue (her daughter) and me and they worked great. Then I made some for the doctor, and they love them.” Her masks add a bit of brightness to a stressful time. “Some of them have flowers, some of them have polka dots. They’re not plain. They’re pretty,” she said.
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​She’s perfectly suited to this need. Nora’s been sewing and quilting for most of her life. When she was young and living in Argentina, she started sewing for a local store to make extra money. “I made pants, underwear, and shirts for men,” she said. “I had to learn to make patterns because there were not many patterns at that time.” She sewed on a pedal machine and finished the clothing by hand.
 
After coming to the states, she sewed clothing for her children and herself. When the grandbabies started coming, she began making quilts. Sue recollects, “I remember my mother making a little bear quilt for the first grandchild.”
 
Nora is still making quilts for the grandchildren, as well as quilts for community members in need. Nora and her sister lead a team of quilters at the San Andreas Senior Center to make quilts for foster children, children with cancer, and comfort care for hospice. “We also donate money for the senior center, and low cost lunches for kids.” It’s a tight knit group, but they welcome others. “We have fun and we enjoy being together,” she said.
I’m a very positive person. When something happens, I always say ‘I’m going to go up, I’m not going to go down.
While she misses the group since the stay-at-home orders made gathering impossible, Nora doesn’t let it get her down. I asked her for advice on how to manage isolation and the stress of this situation.
 
“I’m a very positive person,” she said. “When something happens, I always say ‘I’m going to go up, I’m not going to go down. I’m going to do everything I can for me, for my family and to keep myself busy. And I get my mind on something I like to do. Even if I don’t like it, I make myself like it. I push myself.”
 
Nora is not an idle person. Besides sewing masks, she makes gifts for the family, cooks, cleans, works in her garden, knits, and generally keeps busy, even while watching television.
 
“I never lay down on the couch,” she laughed. “I don’t even know how to do it.” 
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