When you've been making and selling pots for awhile you never get past the point of over thinking what your doing right or wrong. Maybe this is just true of art in general. Those of us who make things or create internalize so much of the process that at times, it sort of take a lot out of us. I use to think it was just me who encountered this but after being in the business for several years, I think most of us feel this way. Its no wonder when your in art school and you have a critique that some take the criticism with no emotion and others get super defensive. Selling things you create is sort of the ultimate critique just with no words said. Funny....would we rather have a professor tell us that our pots just didn't meet the standard expected or would we just like for customers to quietly pass us by?
I thought I'd bring up these questions not because I had a bad sale last weekend - I did sell pots. Its just that you never know what will be a hit and what will not be a hit. You can think that maybe you've found your niche with folks and then other times you may think that your not speaking to the masses as well as you could.
I've gone back and forth several times with these thought and all I can conclude is that...well, I'm just an artist who is sensitive to what I make. I guess this will never change and after every sale I just have to sit back, re-group, clean-up my studio and start again on making the best work I can. I always like to tell myself that the time in my studio with my quite thoughts is so important. This time I have is so limited with balancing all the other things/people in my life. I tend to forget this when I have a deadline and with multi-tasking , I should really be focusing and not rushing through the creative process. Details are a hard thing for someone with ADD to focus on!
Last night I worked on some butter dishes that needed to be finished. I had several pots that did not make it into the kiln last week so I will slowly load my kiln this week. The majority of my time will be spent on my Art101 class...midterm is fast approaching so I need to give that area of my life some attention.
I hope everyone has had a good start to October. It is my favorite month!
Here is what I did the rest of the day......
A view into the new gallery.
I'm working away on several things. I plan on making a bunch of drinking vessels this season because I have this really cool new display unit being made. If you recall I had bought a CD holder at IKEA a while back to use for my display but it didn't really work for me. So, the perks of working at a University is all the hungry grad students around who need money and are willing to use their skills and talents to help out. I found a very nice woodworking student who is currently helping me out with some of my display issues. This is SO exciting to me! Forget making the pots, its all about your display at a certain point in your career. ( I say this with zeal and much enthusiasm...surely someone out there can relate to this!) Anyways...I plan on having a bunch of different mugs to fill my new display unit.
Here are some large bowls under wraps drying.
These tall vases seem to be very popular these days. I've been sort of obsessed with getting my handles to match up just right, not only with each other but with the cuts I have on the tops of these pieces. I love the fact that I still find new things that need improvements in my work.
I love this "gal" here, look at those hands on her hips!
Halloween was a little off this year. We got some rain which threw us into a little bit of frenzy. I didn't get as many "spooktacular" photo's this year as in years past. I may have bribe the kids with more candy next weekend just to put on their costumes again! ( First I guess I'm going to have to let them eat all they got last night.) No matter if it rains or not, its always a good Holiday. Now the race is on for the finish line.....December. I know everyone else out there is doing the same!
I was asked again by my glass friend Lisa Oakley to join her for a home show here in Charlotte. Her sister in law, Claire Oakley is hosted it and it is near the South Park area of town.
You can see more information about Lisa by just visiting the site for Cedar Creek Gallery. Lisa has a wonderful sense of humor and I enjoy having a chance to hang out with her, admire her glass work and have many good laughs...all while selling some pots! Friends in the craft world need to stick together and I always enjoy opportunities like this one where I get to visit with an old friend.
So nice to have a new gallery and it will be my first in the State of New York. Ye-ha!
Back to making more families of bottles.
Today Mckenna was home sick from school. She spent time on a little towel before her doctors appointment coloring Tweetie birds for all her friends at school. We had a nice day together and I am happy to report that she'll be back at school in the morning. I'll miss her little company but I really need to get crackin' in my studio!
I'll keep ya' posted!
Doesn't "she" look like a Hollywood starlet with an attitude in a gold gown? 
I'm also working on sketching out a wall piece for the CDC. I'll see if I can get some photo's up from my sketch book soon.
When you've been making and selling pots for awhile you never get past the point of over thinking what your doing right or wrong. Maybe this is just true of art in general. Those of us who make things or create internalize so much of the process that at times, it sort of take a lot out of us. I use to think it was just me who encountered this but after being in the business for several years, I think most of us feel this way. Its no wonder when your in art school and you have a critique that some take the criticism with no emotion and others get super defensive. Selling things you create is sort of the ultimate critique just with no words said. Funny....would we rather have a professor tell us that our pots just didn't meet the standard expected or would we just like for customers to quietly pass us by?
