Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlotte Zink.
Hi Charlotte, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
A native of New Orleans, I ventured out to Colorado in 1987 to study art and art education at CU Boulder. I’ve enjoyed experimenting with many mediums over the years, always sketching, painting, paper making, and clay, and for the past twenty-four years, collaborating with my husband and partner Ben, creating with metals. We live and work in a 125-year-old home in the heart of old town Berthoud.
It has been a wonderful place to raise our two children, grow our sculpture garden and participate in the truly vibrant art scene up and down the Front Range. Shows, galleries, and open studio tours have blessed us with loyal patrons over the years. Sharing our own designs, working on commissions, and custom works have kept us on our toes, always learning something new and stretching our skill set a little further.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like everyone, we have had our share of both. Life definitely has its way of taking you through challenges and also grants beautiful chapters of ease . . . our own and the family and friends we care for. A sense of humor is required for survival, which we know is true.
Perseverance, patience, and gratitude are some things that have certainly helped us navigate through difficult times. The guidance and encouragement received from educators, colleagues, and family over the years have shaped my art experience in profound ways.
Seeking out and being willing to mentor others has enriched my journey; I think lifelong learning and community engagement are vital to our art and practice. My dad just passed this year, and it has made me more reflective about the heroes in our lives and how they shape and inspire our work and our capacity to love.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are seasonal creatures, painting, and sewing in the quiet winter close to the fire, sketching and working out designs for the spring and summer season, which is when we do most of our metalwork. There are always more ideas than we can execute, so there is the tough part of paring down which projects are chosen every year.
I the immediacy of small illustrations and paintings I do love. The steel and clay works take some time, larger public works even longer. Ben jokes that my magic wand has not yet arrived, although it remains on my wish list every year. Lighthearted, spirited, whimsical, and feminine are terms used to describe my style and imagery.
Freeing and following my imagination, solving problems, sharing concepts, and collaborating with and learning from other talented souls have taught us invaluable lessons. I am truly grateful for this artful life we have created. Now in its fifth year, I am proud to have helped start our own Open Studio Tour here in Berthoud, showcasing our creative spaces and promoting local artists of all ages.
As of late, I am most excited about our public works; on sculpture installation days you feel like an art fairy dropping off a bit of joy for the community. Art has the power to touch and connect us, and it is a wonderful feeling to see our creations out in the world doing that for so many folks.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up I was nerdy, a little shy, the middle-kid peacemaker in a family of five lively kids. A loud and fantastic circus we were. I definitely took refuge and comfort in creating. I remember a giant bushel basket of old crayons, its enticing smell, and hours and hours of coloring and drawing. New Orleans was an incredible city to grow up in.
Experiencing the wealth of music and participating in the creativity and pageantry of Carnival embedded the spirit and playfulness of the jester in my heart forever. Collage, jewelry, sculpture, the medium doesn’t seem to matter, making art objects continues to be a very joyful, rejuvenating place for me. And no plans to retire . . . having too much fun!
Thanks for this opportunity to share a little about our journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: Zinkmetalart.com
- Instagram: @charlottemaryzink
- Facebook: @Charlotte Mary Zink , @zinkmetalart- page
