I put up those pictures rather hastily. I just wanted to post something because it's been so long. And that picture is actually a clay button I had made. It looks like a big shiny cookie with funky glaze blown up like that. The design is my own. From a drawing I had in my notebook called "love knot". It even made a guest appearance on this blog. Then I had it made into a stamp and I can now stamp away. Into clay, silver clay or onto paper with ink. A self-replacating wonder.
Yeh, I 've been making tons of stuff. Pottery, silver clay, paintings, bags, designs and a bit of knitting too. It just seems to be what I do. What I have to do and am compelled to do. I imagine I'm not the only one who struggles with the "whys" of this. For as long as I can remember, whatever I made seems to be immediately assigned a price tag by some. Over the years I've been nudged to get into "production". To become a one-woman machine cranking out that which will sell (I have never actually bought a refridgerator magnet- have you? Apparently they are supposed to be hot sellers). I tend to stick with one-of-a-kind which is always exploring new territory. To try different things and sometimes watch ideas come together that came from....I don't know where. To boldly go where no man has gone before.
After 2 months of weekly pottery class I finally succeeded in making a thrown coffee mug. This mug is my pride and joy.I had a goal to make such a thing by Christmas, so I'm a little ahead of schedule. I can't even tell you the patience that pottery requires and the treacherous path a clay creation walks from lump of clay to finished vessel. It is not easy. And there are so many steps in which things could go badly awry. Don't be deceived by potters who make it look like a cakewalk. So in the pictures is a photo of my mug. I could carry this thing with me everywhere just because I'm so amazed by it. Shoot, I think it even has a name....after an Irish singer (not that loud guy I know you're thinking of....another one). I showed it ("him") to the Starbucks crew and after some ooohs and aaahs, the first thing I hear is "you should sell those". I understand the sentiment, and I shouldn't be surprised at such an attitude coming from the mecca of marketing, but it was the last thing on my mind. *Sigh* I could only think it would be better to be a musician. To sing well or play a song on the guitar (or mandolin!). Such things can be appreciated for what they are. If someone sings you a song, you don't feel financially indebted to them. But if you give them a physical object....it all changes. And it's good to make money as a musician. But I envy the fact that they can share their gift without charge for the sheer joy of it, if they should so choose. Do you get what I'm trying to say?
I guess I'm in the very fortunate position at this time in my life where I don't have to think about making money out of every thing I make. But I still wonder....is there a way or a place or a people where creativity is shared? Where gifts are given and joy is communicated? Oh what a foggy headed thinker I am. But if you understand...let me know.
Ok, show and tell time here. This is my latest painting. It isn't quite finished, but mostly is. I feel good about it. This is a good thing in itself after a series of paintings that just did not work. They wound up getting painted over and I was beginning to wonder if I would ever make a decent painting again.
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