About me
Welcome!
I am Cynthia Jack Newman, a weaver working in northeast Oregon. The beauty of the region is a source of calm and inspiration for my work.
My creative path started in graphic design at Oregon State University and textile design at Gray’s School of Art in Scotland, where I first found the joy of exploring the world around me and translating it into cloth. In 2018 I completed the journey of becoming a Master Weaver through the Handweavers Guild of America.
What began as a fascination with pattern and the texture of cloth has become a lifelong exploration of color, design, the rhythm of weaving and the beauty found in simple materials. I often look at both architecture and the natural world for inspiration, weaving pieces that reflect the harmony between geometric forms and the landscape around me.
From scarves and shawls to wall pieces, I am drawn to how color and design can shape simple threads into something expressive. Each piece on the loom, and every class I share, deepens my respect for this craft and the possibilities it holds.
Cynthia Jack Newman
My Home Studio
Awards
Bachelor of Fine Art, 1984 Oregon State University
Certificate of Excellence – Handweavers Guild of America – Technical Skills 2014.
Certificate of Excellence – Handweavers Guild of America – Master Weaver 2018.
Interaction of Color and Design in Satin Blocks.
Weaving Guilds of Oregon 2018 Traveling Exhibition - Color Gone Wild
Best Technical Excellence for Color Blocks I, II & III.
Weaving Guilds of Oregon 2023 Traveling Exhibition - Filaments
Best of Show for Five Stories Up.
Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds 2025 Juried Exhibition
Best Interpretation of Conference Theme for Connecting.
Publications
“Skipping Rocks.” Handwoven Loom Theory 4-Shaft Scarf Collection, 2019.
“Graphite & Gold.” Handwoven Loom Theory 8-shaft Shawl Collection, 2019.
Look Development Textile Designer – “Missing Link” Feature Film. LAIKA Studios.
Hillsboro, Oregon (Golden Globe Award 2020).
“Sword Fern & Horsetail Runner.” Handwoven, 2020, March/April.
“Turning Autumn Towels.” Handwoven, 2020, Sept/Oct.
“Big Wrap Beach Blanket.” Handwoven, 2022, May/June.
Collaboration with Katzy Luhring.
Contributing weaver, cover photo
Winter, R. The Enigma of Shadow Weave Illuminated. Atglen, PA. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2022.
Instagram: rebeccawinter555.
“Blue Horizon Tunic.” Handwoven, 2025, Summer.
Collaboration with Katzy Luhring.
“Setting a Goal, Then Finding a Path.” Handwoven, 2025, Summer.
Collaboration with Katzy Luhring.
Sword Fern & Horsetail Runner
Handwoven, 2020, March/April
Photo by George Boe
Courtesy of Long Thread Media
Big Wrap Beach Blanket
Collaboration with Katzy Luhring
Handwoven, 2022, May/June
Photo by Matt Graves
Courtesy of Long Thread Media
My artistic process
When I begin...
I spend time noticing the world around me. Inspiration comes from many places: the shapes and colors in daily life, the rhythm of a song, the lines of a building, the texture of stone, or the way wind moves through grass. Architecture and the natural world often guide the balance and rhythm in my weaving, finding their way into each design.
In my studio...
I pay close attention to the feel of the cloth, its texture, weight, and movement. I often work with satin and summer & winter structures, which allow color to show through and create depth and space in the cloth. My process is a blend of planning and curiosity, exploring how color, pattern, and structure can echo the lines of buildings or the flow of nature. Each warp is a new chance to see how materials can carry feeling and form.
