COMMONWHEEL ARTISTS CO-OP, MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
  • Home
    • About >
      • FAQ
    • Subscribe to Mailing List
    • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Manitou Parking
    • Membership Opportunities
    • Summer Market App 2025
    • Gallery Show App 2026 >
      • FAQ's
    • Gallery Show Inventory Form
  • Artist List
  • Events
    • Pottery By The Price 2025
    • Happy Little Trees
    • Ripples and Rhythms
    • Liminal Land
    • 36 Silences
    • Summer Market 2025
    • Rocky Mountain Reverie
  • Festival
    • 2025 Festival Info Page >
      • 2025 Festival Booth Fees
    • 2024 Artists >
      • 2024 Clay Artists
      • 2024 Fiber Artists
      • 2024 Fine Art Artists
      • 2024 Glass Artists
      • 2024 Jewelry Artists
      • 2024 Mixed Media Artists
      • 2024 Photography Artists
      • 2024 Sculpture Artists
      • 2024 Wood Artists
    • General Information
    • Sustainability
    • Map, Parking & Manitou Shuttle
    • Contact Festival
    • Festival Sponsors
  • Store
  • 50th Anniversary

Claudia Dimidik is our August Artist of the Month.

7/31/2017

1 Comment

 
By Leti Wesolowski, contributor


Claudia Dimidik is a Colorado artist and teacher (both high school art and studio classes) who believes that learning is a lifelong process. Trained and credentialed with a B. A. in Art Education, her desire to learn more than one style of art, led her to earn an M.A. in Fine Arts degree. She works with a variety of media including painting, sculpture, printmaking and photography. As an active member in the arts community, Claudia has earned numerous awards and recognition for her works. Her art revolves around childhood memories, her Slavic background, and her love for nature and the untouched landscape.
​
Claudia is a member of the Front Range Open Studio Tour in Monument, and a Commonwheel member since 2016.
Picture
What is your first memory of being introduced to art or creating something with your own hands? How did you get interested in art?

One of my favorite memories was during an art class in elementary school. We were instructed to paint with watercolors and I proudly painted a yacht. I can picture that yacht to this day with the Blue-Ribbon award attached to it :)
 

What does inspire you?
​

I love to hike, bike and fish. In other words, I have always been drawn to the outdoors and nature. I kind of wonder if this is because we were always sent out to play. I can remember the cattails, crayfish, ice skating and so much more. This makes me want to be outside enjoying the beauty and the endless paths one can find. My scenes are idyllic as they take me back to those happy places.
 
Picture
"Iris Wonder", Batik watercolor by Claudia Dimidik
Picture
"Splash of Color", Batik watercolor by Claudia Dimidik
Picture
"Iris", Batik watercolor by Claudia Dimidik
What is(are) your preferred medium(s) today?

My current preferred medium is the ebb and flow of the alcohol inks. Anything water-based as I enjoy working with wet in wet techniques. It never ceases to surprise me what I see. I also enjoy working with photography and computer graphics.
 

Tell us about your creative process. Walk us through the steps to create one of your alcohol ink trivets.
​

Each alcohol ink tile begins with a good cleaning and then a base of color. Often working from top to bottom. Depending on the image being created the inks are applied with sponges, brushes, Q-tips, eye makeup brushes, toothbrushes and even just straight out of the bottle. At times, a mixing palette is required.
 
Picture
Claudia working on an alcohol ink tile.

​What is the visual effect or emotion you look for capturing in your compositions?
​

I look to depict idyllic scenes that are happy, safe and peaceful areas. Usually associated with a happy place whether it be streams that I have fished, mountains I have climbed, moons that I have seen, paths that I have walked or areas that I have bicycled through. All of these are adventures that are waiting to be discovered.
Picture
"Autumn Whimsy", Batik watercolor by Claudia Dimidik
Picture
"Trivet Tray 2", alcohol ink on ceramic tile by Claudia Dimidik
​
What tool in your studio could you not live without?

I would have to say that it isn't a tool but two areas. The workshop and the studio. My workshop is where the pours, cutting and dirty work occur in. The studio is the staging and painting area. Everything has a place and without these areas I would feel as if I were confined.

 
Do you have a favorite artist that you admire or follow?
​

Ever since visiting Giverny and Monet's garden I have been drawn to his series and his winter landscapes.

Picture
Winter scene, alcohol inks on ceramic tile by Claudia Dimidik
What is your proudest achievement?

Being a member of the Front Range Open Studio Tours. This will be my second year participating in this event to be held the weekend of September 9 and 10th from 10-5 pm http://www.frontrangeopenstudios.com/map.php The 16 artists selected open their homes and studios to help bring awareness of what it takes to be an artist and to gain support for art and the process.

Also, being one of 52 photographers to take one analog camera, one week and shoot one roll of black and white film. The show and book depicts images from each photographer. “A Year in the Life of a Camera,” had been exhibited in Denver, Castle Rock and at Optical Reverb in Colorado Springs.
 

What is your favorite piece you’ve ever made?

I painted a large acrylic over the sofa size painting of some wild horses. The style was a mesh of shapes and colors depicting freedom. The piece was designed specifically to fit the room and decor and was one of the largest paintings I had completed at the time. I had titled it "Into the West". I tell this story to my students because it is important to take photographs of completed works for your portfolio. Well this is a prime sample of what happens when you least expect it to. I put the piece into the then BAC at a high price thinking I'll have it back at the end of the month. It sold and I had to try and remember how it looked to try and paint "Into the West II".
 

What are you currently working on? Is there anything new in the shop that you are very excited about?
​

More alcohol ink tiles. New pieces including very large triptychs and very small miniatures are in the works and will be in Commonwheel soon.
Picture
Alcohol inks on ceramic tile by Claudia Dimidik
Picture
Alcohol inks on ceramic tile by Claudia Dimidik
Picture
Alcohol inks on ceramic tile by Claudia Dimidik
What’s next for you?
Alcohol ink workshops and Batik on rice paper workshops will begin again in September. Sign up on http://www.pictureithome.com/workshops. The Front Range Open Studio Tours happen September 9th and 10th http://www.frontrangeopenstudios.com. I will be at the Palmer Lake Craft Fair in October.
 
But first another bicycle trip. After returning from Spain it was decided we were not done cycling so this time we see Canada and the Kettle Valley Rail Trial.
 
Visit our Commonwheel Artist Co-op store to receive 10% off all Claudia’s creations through the whole month of August (in-store sales only). You can find her art also at the following links:
 
http://www.frontrangeopenstudios.com
http://www.pictureithome.com
http://www.academyframesco.com
http://palmerlakeartgroup.com
 
 
Did you enjoy this post? Leave as a comment and let us know! We’d love to hear from you!
Want more local art news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Commonwheel newsletter here.
1 Comment

    Juanita Canzoneri
    Co-op Member 2004-2019, mosaic artist, Marketing Manager/Shop Coordinator, former co-op treasurer and president.

    Julia L. Wright
    Co-op member since 1976, feather artist, digital photography artist, Festival Coordinator and blog contributor.

    Leti Wesolowski
    Co-op member since 2014, jeweler designer, gallery curator and blog contributor.

    Archives

    February 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

    blog co-op art business small business team building online art store
    new beginnings Gallery studio world peace HOPE vintage

    All
    3 D Art
    3-D Art
    A
    Abraham Eisenstein
    Accent Table
    Ace McCasland
    Alan Boucher
    Alcohol Ink
    Allee Etheridge
    Alpaca
    Amanda Shotts
    Amber Aguirre
    Amy Short
    Andrea Schumacher
    Anne H. Roe
    Annual Event
    Application
    Arin Holocek
    Art Festival
    Artist Of The Month
    Artost
    Art Teacher
    Assemblage Art
    Autumn Art'
    Barbara Rilling
    Barbara Ziek
    Barb St. Clair
    Bargains
    Batik Watercolor
    Beaded Jewelry
    Beads
    Beatrice Trezevant
    Becca Dilldine
    Ben Bires
    Bernadette Larimer
    Bill Wilson
    Blue Grass Music
    Botanical Illustration
    Brenda Hadnagy
    Burnt Thistle Ceramics
    Business Structure
    C
    Call For Applications
    Call For Artists
    Carolann Ryan
    Caroline Elliott
    Caron O'Neil
    Carroll D Hightower
    Celtic Music
    Ceramic
    Ceramic Drinking Vessel
    Ceramics
    Charles Rockey
    Chasing And Respousse
    Chasing & Repoussé
    Cheers
    Cheryl Lafon
    Christina Manos
    Christopher Hureau
    CH Rockey
    Cigar Box Art
    Claudia Dimidik
    Clay By Nature
    Clay N Colors Studio
    Collaboration
    Collage
    Colorado Photography
    Community
    Concrete Art
    Connie Lorig
    Co Op
    Co-op
    Copper Foil
    Courtney Bobo
    Crochet
    Dalton Martin
    Dan Krucoff
    Dan Rieple
    Darla Slee
    David Caricato
    David Smith
    Deb Bartos
    Deb Crowley
    Deborah Hager
    Decor
    Delphine Peller
    Demolition
    Denise Noble
    Dennis And Kay Liggett
    Derek Redding
    Digital Photography
    Disaster
    Display Ideas
    Dolce De Leti
    Don Cox
    Don Seidel
    Drinking Vessel
    Duff Glass
    Dusty Severn
    Dyeing
    Ed McKay
    Elizabeth James
    Elizabeth Tapia
    Ellen Hinson
    Embroidery
    Encaustic
    Essential Oil
    Evelina Stoyanova
    Fabric
    Fantasy
    Fasciator
    Feather Art
    Feather Jewelry
    Feathers
    Felt
    Felting
    Fiber
    Fiber Art
    Fiber Artist
    Figure Drawing
    Fire
    Flood
    Flower Painting
    Flowers
    Food Vendors
    Found Art
    Fountain Creek
    Frances Huntington
    Frank And Ginny Maiolo
    Frank Maiolo
    Front Range Open Studios
    Functional Pottery
    Fused Glass
    Gallery
    Gallery Show
    Gallery Walls
    Garden Art
    Garden Of The Gods
    Ginny Maiolo
    Ginny Marsh
    Glass Art
    Glass Mosaic
    Glaze
    Grandson
    Gypsy Tango
    Harriet Lee
    Health And Beauty
    Heather Cotterman
    Hedy DuCharme
    Helen Smithwick
    Holiday Market
    ICAN
    Indie Music
    Indigo
    Jacqueline Keller
    Jasper
    Jazz
    JCanz Studio
    Jean Cuchiaro
    Jennifer Hanson
    Jerilyn Winstead
    Jerry Rhodes
    Jeweler
    Jewelry
    Jewely
    Joanne Lucey
    Joan Tucker
    Jodie Bliss
    Joel Lugo
    Jo Gaston
    John Haines
    John Murray
    John Randolph Hamilton III
    Jon Murray
    Jon Tschannen
    Josie Quick
    Journal
    Joy Morauski
    Juanita Canzoneri
    Juergen Schleicher
    Julia L. Wright
    Julia Wright
    Julie Kirkland
    Juried Show
    Kaleidoscope
    Karen Simkiss
    Katherine Gaff
    Kathleen Krucoff
    Kathy Sullivan
    Katia Franz-Gardner
    Kay Hall
    Kelly Green
    Kendrick Cowdery
    Kj Becker
    Kokedama
    Kristin Colvin
    Lampwork Glass
    Lampwork Vessels
    Lance Timco
    Landscape Photography
    Lara Popowitch
    Larysa Martyniuk
    Laura Bornhoft
    Laura McCracken
    Lauren Visokay
    Leah Dedrickson
    Leah Kenyon
    Leti Wesolowski
    Lewis Comfort Tiffany
    Linda Newton
    Linda Ross
    Linoleum Print
    Liz Kettle
    Lora Rust
    Lorraine Capps
    Lynn Beckner
    Macrame
    Madalyn Kae
    Madalyn Rilling
    Maggie Elligott
    Mandala
    Manitou Springs
    Marica Hefti
    Marla Sullivan
    Marsha CM Blasgen
    Marta Lacombe
    Mary Cowdery
    Mary Lou Pape
    Mary Madison
    Matthew Everett
    Memorial Park
    Metal Gutz Turner
    Metal Print
    Metalsmith
    Michael Baum
    Michelle Coakes
    Milo Scott
    M Jo Hart
    M.jo Hart
    M. Lynette Holmes
    Mobile
    Molly Harris
    Monica Y. Parker
    Monument Moon
    Mork Rossier
    Mosaic
    Mosaic Art
    Mosaic Table
    Mosaic Tray
    Mugs
    Music
    Nancy And Alan Lindenmier
    Nancy Bonig
    Nancy Morse
    Naomi Peterson
    Natural Springs
    Nicole Copel
    Nina Kuberski
    Oil Painting
    Organic Gardening
    Ornaments
    Otters
    Owls
    Page Jones
    Paiinting
    Painter
    Painting
    Paintings
    Pamela Deramux
    Paper
    Pastels
    Photography
    Pigment Patchwork
    Pikes Peak
    Planet Walk Colorado Springs
    PMC
    Poetry
    Porcelain
    Pottery
    Pottery By The Pound
    Precious Metal Clay
    Prints
    Pyrography
    Quilt
    Quilting
    Raku
    Raku Pottery
    Ramiro Diaz
    Ramona Lapsley
    Ray Jordan
    Rebecca Hull
    Reclaimed Wood
    Recovery
    Recycled Art
    Recycled Wood
    Reggie Pointer
    Renee Gomez
    Renovation
    Reverse Glass Painting
    Rhonda Denney
    Rhonda Van Pelt
    Richard Pankratz
    Richard Risley
    Robin Sappaticci
    Robin Scappaticci
    Rob Watt
    Rock & Roll
    Ron Dehn
    Ron Koehn
    Ruxton Creek
    Sabine Wachs
    Sale
    Salt Fire Ceramic
    Sarah Carlile
    Sarah Stevens
    Sara Torgison
    Savvy Reclamation
    Sculpture
    Sea
    Self Healing
    Self-healing
    Semi-precious Stone
    Shakudo
    Shana Salaff
    Shannon McGarraugh
    Sheila Fuller
    Shibuichi
    Shino
    Shirley Paterson
    Silversmith
    Snowboard Art
    Snowmelt
    Soda Fired
    Sonny Hood
    Stained Glass
    Stephanie Gamez
    Stephanie Lyon
    Stephanie Merchant
    Sterling Silver
    Surrealism
    Susan B. Demos
    Susan Fowler
    Susan Marion
    Susan Randolph
    Susan Tormoen
    Sustainability
    Suzi Reaves
    Table Top Art
    Tara Farver
    Teresa Frisch
    Teri Rowan
    Terra Cotta Sculture
    Terre Christensen
    The Brothers Heath
    Tillandsias
    Tina Rodholm
    Tom Conter
    Tony Heslop
    Tracey Eastland
    Tracy Hartman-Jensen
    Traen
    Tree Of Life Beads
    Turquoise
    Underwater Photography
    Upcycled Jewelry
    Valerie Bartron
    Vicky Hasen
    Vintage Pop
    Volunteerism
    Wall Art
    Walt Moore
    Water
    Watercolor
    Water Photography
    Wearable Art
    Weaving
    Wendy Iaconis
    Wilhemina Steenbergen
    William Weiss
    Willi Eggerman
    Wire Sculpture
    Wood
    Wood Furniture
    Wood Turning
    Working Artists In Love
    Zane Tillinghast
    Zero Waste Event

    RSS Feed

​© 1999-2025 Manitou Commonwheel Artists' Association, LLC
102 Cañon Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
719.685.1008
[email protected]

Directions
Open Daily 10AM-6 PM​

Subscribe to our mailing list
  • Home
    • About >
      • FAQ
    • Subscribe to Mailing List
    • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Manitou Parking
    • Membership Opportunities
    • Summer Market App 2025
    • Gallery Show App 2026 >
      • FAQ's
    • Gallery Show Inventory Form
  • Artist List
  • Events
    • Pottery By The Price 2025
    • Happy Little Trees
    • Ripples and Rhythms
    • Liminal Land
    • 36 Silences
    • Summer Market 2025
    • Rocky Mountain Reverie
  • Festival
    • 2025 Festival Info Page >
      • 2025 Festival Booth Fees
    • 2024 Artists >
      • 2024 Clay Artists
      • 2024 Fiber Artists
      • 2024 Fine Art Artists
      • 2024 Glass Artists
      • 2024 Jewelry Artists
      • 2024 Mixed Media Artists
      • 2024 Photography Artists
      • 2024 Sculpture Artists
      • 2024 Wood Artists
    • General Information
    • Sustainability
    • Map, Parking & Manitou Shuttle
    • Contact Festival
    • Festival Sponsors
  • Store
  • 50th Anniversary