Cynthia Toops

Cynthia Toops was born in Hong Kong and began making polymer clay beads and jewelry in 1986, inspired by Lois Dubin’s book, The History of Beads. Over the years she has experimented with many decorative techniques for polymer clay, including borrowing ancient techniques. Cynthia is also incorporating these same concepts into her new felt work. She began her education with a BA in biology from Drake University. She then moved on to The Factory for Visual Arts before earning her BFA in printmaking from the University of Washington. Her work has appeared in various galleries across the country, most recently at Facere Gallery and Pacini-Lubel in Seattle, and in exhibitions at several museums including the Tacoma Art Museum, Bellevue Art Museum, and American Craft Museum.

As part of her Fellowship’s Meet the Artist requirements, Cynthia shared slides of her polymer clay work to illustrate the possibilities and versatility of the materials to a friendly group of 20 at the Richmond Library in Shoreline. She included some process slides on different techniques she has developed, and people got to handle Cynthia’s work, materials, and tools.