MEET CHAUCY

I have been a Colorado potter since I landed in Denver in the late 80’s, straight out of college in St. Louis, Missouri with a BFA in Sculpture and Ceramics. After graduating I loaded everything I owned into the back of my pickup and headed to Colorado. Everything about this state, the landscape, the big blue skies, and the laid-back people and lifestyle are what inspire me. Upon moving to Colorado I rented a shared studio space, moved out and down to the basement studio of my home, and graduated to a small studio and shop just outside of Parker, Colorado.

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I believe it is important to know your community and working locally has given me the opportunity to connect with my customers and create strong relationships. I have enjoyed having my customers come to my studio for years to get a glimpse of my production and creative process. It allows me to get to know them and their styles and tastes. This gives me ideas and inspiration for new designs and use of color along with an understanding of how my wares are being used and where.

 

I recently decided to move my home and business from the Front Range of Colorado to the Western Slope on the other side of the state. On a weekend excursion to the mountains I came across a remote but oh so charming little town tucked into the North Fork Valley, Paonia. I knew immediately that this was where I wanted to reside as I settle into the second half of my life. I set forth on a quest to make things happen. I worked for two years getting my business in order and switching largely to online selling through Etsy. It was hard work picking up my life and studio after 28 years, but it all seemed to come together as if it was meant to be.

 

I bought a 100-year-old home that needed some love and quite a bit of renovation. I converted the detached 2½ car garage into a studio with lots of windows and a fully glass garage door to allow plenty of natural light in. It’s my dream workspace – my commute is 30 feet through my back yard to my studio, where customers are welcome and can find me almost any time of the day. The town is surrounded by mountains and orchards with the North Fork of the Gunnison River running right through town, giving me a truly beautiful landscape to view from the windows. As an extra bonus, the local post office is only a short four-block walk to mail Etsy orders. It is a simpler way of life that I am so thankful to have found.

 

In the summers you can find me at the Colorado Renaissance Festival in Larkspur, where I’ve had a booth and have been selling my wares for the past 9 years. This is another source of inspiration for me, surrounded by other talented artists in a truly unique and eclectic environment. And now that I’ve moved this allows me to say hello to my Front Range customers and gives me a chance to meet new customers from all over the country.

 

Life is a journey, and after years of exploring, finding my way through life and developing myself as an artist I’ve finally found the place I want to call home. I’m very grateful to do what I love every day and be able to run my own small business. I’m always looking ahead and can’t wait to see what life throws at me next.