When I begin writing an article where I've interviewed an artist, I sort through my notes and think about what I've learned about the individual, to come up with a one-word summary to help me focus on my writing. In the case of C. Ann Ross, as she is known professionally, the one word that best describes her is "inspired." Ms. Ross' drive, determination, and perseverance are evident throughout each of my interactions with her. She is driven and determined to be a successful polymer clay artist and she perseveres through even the most challenging circumstances.

My first encounter with C. Ann Ross was mid-July 2005 when I received an email about a new polymer clay guild forming in Pensacola, Florida. "Cheryl," as she is known in familiar terms, is founder of the Emerald Coast Polymer Clay Guild. Little did I know that just five months later I would be contacted by an industry vendor recommending I interview an innovative, relatively new artist on the polyclay scene.

Through the ensuing weeks, Cheryl and I corresponded by email and finally had our first telephone interview on Christmas night. We talked for several hours about life and clay and what drives Cheryl on her life journey.

Polymer clay made a brief appearance in the Ross family when Cheryl's son was just eight years old making earrings and necklaces to sell to neighbor ladies. Her son moved on to soccer and the clay moved into the closet. Fast forward about 12 years to 2004 when Cheryl was in the process of moving to Florida and discovered the small toolbox with all the tools and supplies she had stored so many years earlier.

Cheryl, her son, and his family were toughing out the devastation of Hurricane Ivan and she says, "That polymer clay was all that I had between me and INSANITY!  I would condition way into the night to have 'what to do' while we waited for the National Guard to bring water and food." By October of the same year, Cheryl had traveled back to Colorado to wait for her house to sell and found polymer clay was something she could do that didn't take up too much space nor interfered with house showings. During this time Cheryl developed what she believed to be a unique, innovative technique unheard of in the polyclay world -- combining polymer clay with solder!

The Incan Lamp in the photo to the left (currently on exhibit

nce again time moved at a swift pace in Cheryl's life. In early January 2005, she received word that three of her pieces were juried into the Colorado Springs Smokebrush Foundation's "Celebrating Black History in the 21st Century" show to be held that February.  (Link to more photos)

Cheryl's good fortune continued as one of her pieces from the Colorado Springs show, a Moroccan inspired curio cabinet, was juried into the prestigious 17th annual '05 CINCO BANDERAS show sponsored by the Florida Arts Council and held at the Artel Gallery in Pensacola. "I think there were about 170 entries and only 43 were chosen," Cheryl explains. "When that show ended December 3, the curio cabinet went on exhibit in the art gallery at the Pensacola Airport." Additionally, her jewelry, says Cheryl, "is on exhibit for sale in the Analece Gallery in Fairhope, Alabama, and other pieces are for sale on the Southern Visionary Art website where I am the featured artist."

So what inspires this artist to pursue polymer clay with a passion?