Artist Of The Month - February 2008

Barbara Thomas
Clovis, CA

Email:
barbara@opal-tibara.com

Web: www.opal-tibara.com/

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1717
Clovis, CA 93613
Phone: 559-299-4764

What do you love about Art Clay? I have investigated most aspects of metalsmithing some exciting, some not, but Art Clayis always exciting. I can start simple and proceed to complex and if I don't like the result I can throw the Art Clayback in the clay post and start again. I get to design around our opals integrating my interest in petroglyphs. Art Clay and enamel, or copper or brass or silver or gold or glass or ???? anything one can imagine.
What are your favorite Art Clay projects/creations? I work with and around opals amking rings, necklaces and earrings. I picked a passion flower and brought it in the house where it dried and fell into three pieces. I could see where one of the opals would fit and I then proceeded to create an elegant necklace.
What other media do you work and/or teach in?? Metal working, fabricating, casting and a bit of enameling.
Biography: As a child I took delight and sometimes solace in drawing, painting and messing with clay. When I 'grew up' I became a Math teacher, needed a graduate class, took a tecnical Metal Design class and got HOOKED. My professional life kept me very occupied for 33 years. Then I retired? Took a lot more classes and got serious about metal crafting. And then my daughters discovered Art Clay and now we three are learning and teaching.
Philosophy: THERE ARE NO FAILURES ONLY OPPORTUNITIES!
Awards / Degrees / Publications: Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, Masters in Mathematics and lifetime teaching and administrative credentials in California Second Place American Opal Society Design 1992 Second Place jewelry Fresno County Fair 1995 First Place jewelry Fresno County Fair 1997 Honorable Mention jewelry Fresno County Fair 1994

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