Metal Clay Class with Terry Kovalcik

Snow Farm--Summer camp for adults


Over 4 days at Snow Farm I learned what separates the great metal clay artists from the rest of us.  Creative and unique designs certainly play a large part.  But it's really all about the precision, the "painstaking" attention to the finest detail, and the polishing, literally the polishing.

After working with metal clay for about 4 years, mostly learning on my own, I finally enrolled in an intensive class being taught by Terry Kovalcik.  I'd just created my first 3 dimensional piece earlier this year so creating a hinged box seemed like the logical progression.  I did learn how to make a hinged box but I came away with so much more.

On the first day we created the carcass of the box using PMC silver clay, rolling out each side, then putting them all together, and sanding and sanding until they were perfect. We were 5 students in the class being taught by Terry with special assistance from his wife, Corinne.  We chatted and got to know each other as we bombarded him with questions both relevant to the project or totally off topic.  And we took copious notes.

On the second day we had the anxiety producing chore of cutting our perfect boxes apart. Terry very precisely showed us how to saw them--with a saw!

             
                                                                   I did it!

We then learned how to make the hinges and how to create a hasp plate for the front.

Each of us seemed to have pretty definitive ideas about what the box should look until we realized how much work we had ahead of us. As a result we all ended up making some compromises and did little of the decorating we had planned.  Except for Lillian who pulled an all-nighter, with nothing to eat but Triscuits, to paint on her beautiful design.  I think she has a great future ahead of her as a jewelry designer.

Three of my classmates are from the Eastern part of the state.  Lucille has a background in website design as well as jewelry and she and Amy take classes at Metalwerx in Waltham. Lillian, appropriately, will be starting an MFA program in the fall.  And Deborah's background is in botanical illustration so I was disappointed when we all found that we really didn't have time for much decorating before our projects went into the kiln that night.  I'm sure her painting would have been beautiful.

In this small class we were able to get plenty of Terry's attention.  He's a knowledgeable artist and it was important for me to see him at work and learn from his example.  He manages to quietly demand precision, he patiently answers questions, and generously shares his knowledge and experience with those of us who still have so much to learn.                            

                And so many useful little tips!
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But I don't know how he would have taught our class without the help and support of his wife, Corinne, who knows where everything is, knows the prices of products he mentions and where to buy them, and generally keeps him organized.  A great lady with lots of stories, Corinne was fun and always helpful when Terry was busy.


                                                           

Fresh out of the kiln

Sanded and polished and polished some more, my box has a bright finish only to be oxidized once I get it home.

                       
                                                         Finished Products                                                                    

                                                               I love this hinge!

Forensic Discussion of a Craft Show

I attended a local craft show this past weekend, and as usual, I learned some things.  This is a show that I have done a few times and as recently as last year.  I opted not to apply this year as it hadn't been as successful as previous years and thought I needed a break from it.

There were a few vendors set up who I know well enough to ask the unaskable question: Are you having a good show?  Two of the vendors doing the show for the first time said they were having a good day despite the rain, one having a potentially great day.  Neither was selling jewelry but had brought new products to this older show. Three who have been doing the show for years told me they probably wouldn't be back.

So what's happening here?  Is it just the usual changes that happen with a show from year to year?

Let me start by saying that I'm talking about a mid-level show that falls between a tiny church bazaar and a high end arts show. Admission is over $100.  It's juried. They try to jury out resellers (though they sometimes miss one). Most vendors sell good quality, well made products for middle to upper middle class pocket books.
 
1. It has to be about arts and crafts
There are 3 shows annually at this same location that include craft vendors. I've done them all but only this recent one have I done several times.  The other 2 shows have a focus other than arts and crafts, include activities for children, include local organizations & businesses, and have music.  They encourage families to come and make a day of it. I never went back to the other 2 shows because young parents focusing on giving their children a fun day do not buy jewelry.


2. Don't fix what isn't broken
This recent show has always been about arts and crafts.  It did include music and a book sale.  This year they added activities for children and the customer composition changed.  Some of the typical attendees were there but children and dogs were added to the mix.  The off and on rain didn't help either.

3. A show before the Fall needs to be better to draw buyers
 Any show that takes place before the Fall needs to work hard to attract buyers.  And let's face it, traffic doesn't always equal buyers.  You have to shine, let the public know about the wonderful products available, keep reminding people of the date.  Facebook works really well for that but not all your buyers are on Facebook.

4. Limit each category, including jewelry, even if it means a smaller show
I was distressed at the number of jewelers in attendance at this show last year.  So this year as a customer I did a little informal census.  Twenty-six jewelers, 12 of them all in one row.  With that much competition none of them will make much money in a category that is primarily an impulse buy.

Now in all fairness I understand that the still poor economy means fewer sales.  Fewer sales means fewer vendors willing to come back to a show. And fewer vendors means you have to take what you can get to fill the spaces.  And there are more jewelry makers out there than country songs.  But filling all the empty spots with jewelry is not the answer.  Show organizers shouldn't place emphasis on the bottom line but rather on the art (even if your event is your big yearly fundraiser). It just perpetuates the problem.

In recent news about a series of craft shows in the area--they closed one of their shows.  Last year the number of vendors was way down and traffic was insignificant (though that's not the reason they gave for closing.)

Applause for the organizers of a new series of craft shows

Two local women have been putting out a call for vendors for a new series of craft shows at the Greenfield Fair Grounds and the high school.  I wrote a bit about their first attempt a couple of posts back.  While I wrote that the first show has potential, it did have a few glitches.  Well one of their vendors from that June show told me that they listened very carefully to feedback from vendors and customers.  This vendor says she was monetarily compensated for being in a not well posted location that received lower traffic.  And Karen Towle and Betty Sokoloski are making it tempting for June vendors to return to their Sept. show.
Way to go!!