Charles McLean Redding
(the son)
is an artist who works with various mediums (ink, paint, papier mache, wood, textiles, scrap, used clothing and toys) with a focus on weathering/distressing, making cool looking messes, and interactive art. He works in the genres of fantasy, horror, post-apocalyptic, steam-punk, and science fiction.
Charles is also a LARPer who creates custom padded and sculpted equipment for LARP and foam combat sports. He also writes and independently publishes his own works of fiction, settings, games, and music. He is a compulsive worldbuilder with many various worlds and settings in jars on a shelf in his room.
He grew up in the Pacific Northwest, but now lives in Colorado Springs. His work is informed by the various subjects he has studied, including anthropology, geology, paleontology, writing, and the performing arts.
His goals are to be able to make a living with his arts; to tell stories through a variety of genres and mediums; to help people learn to see and utilize the creative fire within themselves; and to make the world a stranger and more beautiful place for all of us to live in.
Charles can most often be found camping at a LARP event, playing board-games at the local shop, running around the park with foam swords, making weird stuff in his studio, or hiding in his room, playing Fallout, and hanging out with his dog.
Ciel Redding
(the mother)
is a photographer, a poet and author, as well as a creator of cozy and delightful crocheted yarn goods.
As a photographer, Ciel considers herself a snapshot artist. She doesn’t set up long shots, carry lots of equipment, or work in a studio. She photographs the world in a moment. Her travels have given her opportunities to take photos around the world, from New Zealand, to Singapore, The UK, China, Australia, Italy, and some of the most beautiful spots in the US. On the ground or from the air, in every location she tries to see from different angles, and looks for the shots that others might not think to notice. Prints of her photographs are available at The Fire Thieves Studio.
Ciel has called herself a Middle-Earth ex-pat, having immersed herself in Prof. Tolkien’s writings for ~60 years now. She wanders here and there, they say… over the landscapes of Middle-earth through the online RPG: Lord of The Rings Online. She has written a collection of poetry over the years that reflects her sense of Middle-earth, over 40 poems. She is now seeking permission from the current holders of the rights to Tolkien’s works to publish them.’
Ciel’s poetry has sometimes a playfulness, sometimes a depth of feeling, and often an element of spirituality that has nothing to do with religion. Besides The Lays of Middle-Earth, she writes poems about the humanity within mythology, examinations of the things which both drive us and hold us back, and ruminations on the world and nature, and the experience of being human. Several of her collections are currently being prepped for publication to be offered through The Fire Thieves Studio.
People Are Planets…
…that do sometimes collide.
We explore those planets
when we go inside
another person’s thought and feeling,
discover what
the silver atmosphere’s concealing:
Different laws of nature may apply
to different creatures under different sky.
A world may be hostile
to our hearts, our breath…
May lead us far astray
into confusions and delusions,
even into death.
Yet some planets do
attract us by the soul,
and so connect us,
thus between us, we are whole:
Sashaying
through the cosmos twirling,
side by side,
sharing sun and stars above,
meeting together
cosmic storm and tide…
CL Redding, 2001
Creative Pursuits
As an Artist
Charles loves to explore experimental processes and materials, using ink, paint, fire, water, air, and whatever else he can get his hands on. He is less a “trained artist” and more a maker of “interesting messes”.
You can see his works on the Gallery page!
As an Author/Playwright
Charles’ written and self-published works include tales from The Roarin’ West, The Guardian of Taihar series, and his Snack Pack: Raptor Comics, with many more novellas, comics, and plays in development and on the way.
You can find, purchase and review those works from the Bookstore page!
You can also read some of his short stories in The Reading Room!
As an Actor/Director
Charles has taken on various roles for dozens of community shows and short films, including as an actor, director, playwright, props master, stage-hand, set-builder, clown, puppeteer, costumer, and sound designer.
If you would like to work with Charles for your own production, please contact him at thefirethievesstudio@gmail.com.
Want to collaborate?
If you would like to acquire or commission some of Charles’ art, invite him to work on a project, or if you want his help developing a project of your own, please contact him at thefirethievesstudio@gmail.com!
Also, please consider supporting him on Patreon! For a small monthly subscription you’d get first access to all updates, the opportunity to provide input and feedback on his projects, and other patron-exclusive posts and art-pieces! For that, simply click on the button below!