Close Window

Cynthia

Cynthia Halleen Craft was born into a family of artists and writers in 1955. It was a full moon Halloween, and her mother, dressed as Humpty Dumpty for a costume party, ended up at the hospital instead, with a new baby whose middle name became Halleen.

Cynthia acknowledges her mom's influence while growing up – she had an exceptional gift for seeing life's events with new eyes. Her mother also shared with her children her deep love for nature, art and books.

Today, Cynthia strives to preserve her mother's creative tradition, both as an artist and as a journalist. Cynthia won a competitive Knight International Press Fellowship that landed her in Peru to teach multimedia journalism at a Lima university. Previously, she had worked as a magazine editor, a writer and editor for a major newspaper and a multimedia designer.

Cynthia's passion for art has never been far from her heart and mind. In Peru, she has discovered new levels of inspiration, particularly in the ability to expand her vision to include silver design, for which Peru is famed. Cynthia is also smitten with the playful imagery of the many and varied ceramic, textile and expressive arts dating back to Peru's earlier civilizations.

"Art is a necessity for a good, balanced inner life – like deep breathing, like looking at a silvery moon and really seeing it, like living in the moment," says Cynthia, crediting earlier cultures for their artistic vision and philosophy. She is never at a loss for new ideas, techniques or sources of inspiration, which means she is often engaged in more than one project at a time. Her wide range of interests include hand-painted art furniture and jewelry design. Cynthia enjoys introducing unexpected images and meaning into her jewelry designs.

Her works have been displayed in several art shows and galleries in northern California, and her Peruvian Collection was exhibited by runway models in Peru's official fashion trade show in 2004. Originality is a key artistic value to Cynthia, who believes that stretching one's notion of good design is ultimately what opens doors to even better design.

Cynthia's highest goal carries a personal meaning: "I would like to transmit a healthy and positive energy through a caringly created piece that travels from the artist's hand to the wearer." The opportunity to share joyful creations with others is the true root of Cynthia's satisfaction in creating wearable art.

Cynthia is sure that other Novica artists feel similarly. To potential clients, Cynthia wants to convey what the global community of artisans surely agrees upon: the opportunities for growth Novica offers through its website and through its nurturing of artists is an important lifeline to an international marketplace. The result is an opening up of new channels to the wonder and potential of undiscovered, skilled artisans in developing nations. For this, world artists certainly speak in one, appreciative voice of gratitude.