Synergy2 Sessions

Sessions

Registration
Now Open!

Click Here to Register now

Feb. 24–27, 2010
Baltimore, Maryland
At the Tremont Plaza Suites Hotel and Historic Venue

Galleries 101
Wendy H. Outland

Thursday February 25 -9:00 a.m. - T101

This seminar offers valuable tips based on the presenter’s experience managing a large gallery for many years. Includes practical advice on how to target professional galleries, both online and in person. You will learn what to look for and important questions to ask before deciding whether a gallery would be a good match for you and your work. A checklist for rating galleries is provided.

Download the Synergy2
Schedule Grid PDF here.

Inspirations from Scientific Imagery
Nan Roche

Thursday February 25 -9:00 a.m. - T102
Friday February 26 - 3:00 p.m. - F202

The world of science in which Nan works is full with images that inspire her work as well as her dreams. Her seminar will present a slide show of 60 images from the world of the microscope, camera and telescope. You will see how these images are referenced in her texture, surface, structure, pattern, color and design. Many of these images are breathtaking. The will range from the microscopic to the galactic and everything in between. In some cases Nan will have samples of experiments that have been inspired by these images. A beautiful handout will accompany her lecture.

Evolving Mokume
New Twists on an old tradition
Dan Cormier

Thursday February 25 -9:00 a.m. - T103
Friday February 26 - 3:00 p.m. - F204

Traditional mokume gane was first devised in 17th century Japan to make layered metal patterns for sword fittings. Literally translating as "wood eye metal," it’s been part of the polymer clay repertoire since Nan Roche’s 1991 book The New Clay. Others have interpreted it, and it’s become a staple technique in our medium. Dan begins with a retrospective survey of various types of mokume. Then he reveals his own layers, including a few new ‘twists’ on the Damascus Ladder. Dan will demonstrate accessible but effective strategies for obtaining consistent results with larger slabs. Bigger slabs, better techniques, streamlined systems. Explore the evolution of mokume, new ways to connect a 17th century metal-working tradition with our modern medium.

Increase Your Success
Loretta Lam

Thursday February 25 -9:00 a.m. - T104

For everyone who aspires to a more successful craft business and wants to elevate their game, here are your keys to success. We will explore 7 critical areas which need your attention for growth, including tweaking your product line, raising the bar through marketing and image, the importance of contacts and the give and go of business relationships, time management, setting and managing goals, enthusiasm vs commitment and the truth about luck. There is plenty of information for those just starting out as well as those already a part of the professional art jewelry marketplace.

Color My World: Copper Enameling
GWEN BERNECKER

Thursday February 25 -9:00 a.m. - T105
Saturday February 27- 9:00 a.m. - S105

Copper enameling is back and better than ever, an unlimited and economical art form with some new twists and turns. You will see demonstrations of: enameling basics, sifting, using stencils and rubber stamps to create patterns, and wet and dry applications using opaques and transparent. Demonstrations will be projected so you can see the enamels change state from dry to sugar, orange peel and fused. All demonstrations will be with lead-free enamels on copper using a trinket kiln.

THE Joy Of Color By Design
LINDLY HUANANI

Thursday February 25 -3:00 p.m. - T201

Making confident color choices is one of the most intriguing, challenging and delightful aspects of designing with polymer clay. What makes for successful color combinations? How can you learn to identify the color palette(s) that make your artistic heart sing? Why is being able to identify which colors and combinations you don’t like so important to identifying your own personal color joy? Why is one artist’s accent color choice in a particular design so successful (or discordant)? Nuance, juxtaposition, intention and proportion all play important roles in color design. Join Lindly Haunani for a colorful slide presentation of the work of several contemporary polymer clay artists with an eye for answering those joyful color questions.

Build Your Brand
LISA PAVELKA

Thursday February 25 -3:00 p.m. - T202
Friday February 26 -7:30 p.m. - F304

Learn the secrets of marketing your talents as an artist, author, teacher or designer. Cut to the chase about what it takes to develop yourself and your work as a marketable commodity to multiple target audiences. In this seminar, you'll discover the essential elements of successful promotion and marketing, including branding and publicity. Find out the fundamental do's and don'ts in establishing yourself in the markets of selling, teaching, and publishing. Understand why it takes much more than talent to work successfully as a part- or full-time artist. A comprehensive handout will be provided in this session along with resource information that will help you avoid the pitfalls that many people commonly make when pursuing a creative career. Marketing tools and samples will be on hand to help guide you in your path to success as a creative professional. The session will conclude with a question and answer period plus a drawing for a free one-on-one coaching session with Lisa.

A Passion for pattern
sarah shriver

Thursday February 25 -3:00 p.m. - T203
Friday February 26 -7:30 p.m. - F301

Patterns are elementary and virtually everywhere: in textiles and tiles, in geometry and architecture, in the path of a river and the branching of a tree, in plants and crystals and even in our own microscopic bodies. Universal and fundamental mathematical rules are used to categorize and describe different types of patterns, but infinite variations occurring constantly in the natural world create extraordinary and complex relationships that can easily conjure up more mystical questions. This richly illustrated seminar will culminate in a look at polymer clay’s uncanny ability to play with these complex systems using only intuition as a guide.

Connecting with publishers
Tamara Honaman

Friday February 26 -3:00 p.m. - F203

Meet editors from some of the big publishing houses in our industry and listen to what they have to say about opportunities for publication. Learn about the benefits of having your work appear in print and get a peek into how they each see the future of publishing unfolding. At the close of the panel discussion you will have an opportunity to ask questions, so dust off that old manuscript and learn what you need to do to get it reviewed for publication!

Mix and match
Maureen Carlson

Thursday February 25 -3:00 p.m. - T205
Saturday February 27 -1:30 p.m. - S204

Polymer clay is amazing, but it doesn’t have to be the only modeling material in your bag of clay tricks. Come explore some of the other clay-type materials on the market and how they might be used along with polymer clay in projects ranging from jewelry to figurative work and mixed media assemblages. Included in the discussion will be a comparison of the various types of modeling materials, what they have in common, how they are different, and which ones might be most appropriate for a given situation. The session will include examples, hands-on experience, a chart of test results and ample opportunity for sharing ideas.

From Seed To Blossom
Dayle Doroshow

Thursday February 25 -7:30 p.m. - T301
Friday February 26 - 9:00 a.m. - F104

An energizing seminar to jump start creative juices and explore brainstorming, problem solving, developing ideas and thinking in new ways. We lose many promising ideas because they quickly fly out of our heads or we decide to let them go (it’s too hard, I don’t have skills, it’s not good enough/worthy). Through a series of inspirational suggestions and fun, non-threatening exercises, we’ll explore how to support, grow the seeds of your creative ideas and nurture them into full grown projects. Leave the seminar with fresh ideas, new ways of working and techniques to develop your designs and art work.

Copper & Bronze Collaboration
Tamara honaman

Thursday February 25 -7:30 p.m. - T302

Copper and Bronze! Perfect together…well almost. Learn about the new metal clays; techniques for working, firing and finishing each; as well as techniques for combining the two together. The colors are amazing, warm and just as exciting to see after firing, just like silver metal clay. They aren’t as easy to predict, although worth the effort to learn the quirks so you can harness their beauty. Unleash your fears, jump into metal, find ways to incorporate these great clays into your work

Ten Trends to change
your art And Business
CYNTHIA TINAPPLE

Thursday February 25 -7:30 p.m. - T303
Friday February 26 - 3:00 p.m. - F201

Whether you decide to buck the trends or ride the wave, it will pay you to know what's ahead for our craft. That knowledge can inform your art and improve your business. Using pictures from artists around the world and research from the craft industry, Cynthia will back up her predictions with examples. The predictions she made in her Synergy keynote address in 2008 proved to be right on target. See what artists around the world are doing and figure out how that may affect you.

Watercolor Technique update
Maggie Maggio

Thursday February 25 -7:30 p.m. - T304

The original “Watercolor” technique was developed at Ravensdale 1998 during the after hours of Maggie Maggio and Lindly Haunani’s color workshop. Using the earth colors and torn edges that are the hallmarks of this technique, Maggie will demonstrate how to make focal beads designed to look like beautiful river stones. Maggie will then share some of the latest ways to use this versatile technique including how to make complex patterns with color-washed canes and how to finish projects that are collaged from the very thin sheets of the watercolor technique.

the Incredible lightness of learning:
exploring business identity & profit
Barbara Mcguire

Thursday February 25 -7:30 p.m. - T305

The ‘Niche’ is the ever evasive key to business success. This seminar outlines an intensive exercise to find your mirror reflecting what you do best and the market you can expect to attract to the product you have to offer. As an artisan entrepreneur, you will learn to project, practice and implement a strategy for success. Barbara will share how ideas become reality and the tools used to test and bring products to market. Topics presented are product development and market analysis, pricing by margin and profit formulas, sourcing manufacturing and packaging, distribution, delivery and building a customer base.

Kaleidoscope Construction
Carol Simmons

Friday February 26 - 9:00 a.m. - F101
Saturday February 27 - 9:00 a.m. - S102

A step-by-step tour of the process used to produce Carol's kaleidoscope pendants and beads. This unique approach allows her to produce dozens of distinctively different, one-of-a-kind designs from a single cane. Her necklace of “Korean Embroidery” beads, constructed using this approach, won first prize for polymer clay at the 2008 Bead and Button Show. She will share her techniques through a combination of slides and examples.

The Altered Clay
Laurie Mika

Friday February 26 - 9:00 a.m. - F102
Saturday February 27 - 9:00 a.m. - S101

This technique-driven seminar will focus on a variety of surface applications that will totally change the way you look at raw, unbaked polymer clay. These surface effects are achieved in a non-traditional fashion where the clay is totally altered using acrylic paint, mica powders, embossing powders, Rub n Buff, gold leaf and inks. These techniques have great cross-over potential and can be used by anyone wishing to "take a walk on the wild side"! These are also great techniques for those looking to step out into the mixed media world.

Immaterial– Repurposed Possibilities
Jeffrey Lloyd Dever

Friday February 26 - 9:00 a.m. - F103

From the dollar store to a woodland path, The Home Depot to a dumpster, there’s an array of materials just waiting to be discovered. By re-imagining, repurposing, recycling and recombining these materials with one another and/or polymer clay, an entirely new lexicon of possibilities is awakened. Join Jeff for a PowerPoint/slide show illustrating a sampling of his techniques using repurposed and recycled found materials. A Q & A session with an opportunity to share your thoughts will follow as time allows.

The Basics of Selling Wholesale
Louise Fischer-Cozzi

Friday February 26 - 9:00 a.m. - F105

For those who are considering going this route, Louise will share the lessons and experiences she has had over nearly 10 years of selling wholesale. She has stumbled onto many routines that simplify matters. Louise will address the following subjects in her presentation: Office organization and management. Wholesale shows and catalogs. Apprentices and interns. Pricing. Shipping. Catalogs. Maintaining customer contact. Promotion (publicity and advertising).

More Seminars >>