For those of you who are potters (or even if you work in another medium) – do you ever fall out of love with clay (substitute medium of choice)? I do and I’m not quite sure why. I’ve tried nailing it down in my head – is it the sales aspect? Or frustration at seeing some very fine factory produced work from Asia selling for pennies? Or lack of ideas? Or technical difficulties? Or keen competition? Or, or, or???
I seem to be afflicted by all of the above from time to time and am really trying to make an objective analysis of my two steps forward, one step back position with clay. Literally, I distanced myself from clay in May & June by not making any work at all. It’s not that I don’t like touching the material, it’s more a question redefining what I make and what I want to see happen with the end products.
Coiled Mug
Let’s face it, it’s tough to make a living as an artist. Throw in teaching, selling in galleries, in person, and online and one begins to approach being able to support oneself. If you are more of a production potter, then you stand a better chance short of being a pottery super star. I guess what I realized about myself is that I’m not happy doing all of the above at the same time. I never have been very good at juggling.
So, in an effort to reclaim my love of clay, I’m taking the selling aspect out of my clay experience. Or more correctly, I’m removing the pressure to make a living as an artist and am simply moving to more of a hobbyist making what I want and selling here or there when it suits my frame of mind and schedule. As an observer, you might tell me that you could have told me this – but somehow I had to decide this myself for it to stick. I think that’s why I decided to go back to school (albeit another creative field, but one where salary is more livable) this fall. For a time, I even considered selling all of my pottery equipment in one fell swoop. But, I know I would regret this when the love returns. And it will…because it always does.
Pinched Bowl
In my last post, I showed a hand built box along with a large coiled bowl that I made last week. I have gone back to basics to help reclaim some of the joy that I originally found when I first touched clay in 2002. Coiling and pinching are a pottery student’s first projects and there is something magical transforming a lump of clay into something – anything. I had to laugh though – I think I messed with my coiled bowl for the better part of 5 hours – not necessarily the route to efficiency or wealth. But, I guess that was my point when I decided to make these projects – sort of clay as zen master. I am not planning on selling these either – they will serve more as a reminder about why I turned to clay in the first place seven years ago.
This post isn’t meant to be all dark and brooding either…it’s simply a revelation I recently made about myself. I love pottery, making, buying, touching – I just don’t want to be a professional potter after all. I truly hope that this sentiment comes across today.
So where is this blog going? I’m not sure. Most likely, it will continue as it has with a bit about my interests, clay work, connections found and maybe even some school projects thrown in here and there.
Here I am standing in the Colorado Potters Shared booth at the farmers market before it opened yesterday morning
Meanwhile, I had a busy weekend including a stint at the Old South Pearl Street Farmers Market early yesterday morning. But, wait – I just said I’m taking the selling aspect out of my clay experience. True, but I did say I’d sell some of my stuff when I felt like it and this was one of those times. I didn’t have much in the way of pottery, but I did bring my ceramic jewelry which generated a few sales and lots of interest – one of my booth mates even commented that I would have made a lot of money if I charged a $1 a touch. 
A local gallery even inquired as to whether I’d be interested in showing my jewelry at their First Friday events. I make stuff that I also like to buy and jewelry is one of those things. Hopefully that comes across in the things that I do make – that they’re made with love by someone who is enjoying what she does. I think this is also true in reverse because it’s also reflects the type of person from whom I buy whether pottery, food, or services. Laissez faire….
Have a great week,
Cynthia
20 Responses to “Falling in and out of love”
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Ah! The joy of figuring it out for yourself is . . . priceless.
Sometimes – and I see this with my relationship with my daughter – things are so apparent to anyone watching, yet not so for the confused. I always try to refrain from I told you so…except for when it comes to myself and then I just whack myself up side the head (like those old V8 commercials).
I know what you mean. I am not happy when I see cheaply-made beaded clothing or jewelry sold at discount stores.
A fellow clay blogger recently had a great discussion about pricing on his blog and while I didn’t respond to the comments, I think the consensus is that it comes down to educating buyers about why a handmade mug (beaded item etc.) is so much more expensive than a cheap mass produced one. To be honest, I didn’t buy any handmade pottery until I started making it in college and I realized the skill and years of practice that goes into each and every single piece.
It’s such a hard choice. But I know how you feel about all the other stuff that goes into trying to make a decent living as an artist. I have a lot of trouble with that aspect of it, and if I had to pay the rent with it, I don’t really know that I could. But I just can’t stop painting.
You can’t stop painting any more than I can stop touching clay! I guess I had once fancied myself an almost full time clay person (I came close last year with teaching/making/selling) but then I was pretty burned out. Once I admitted that I don’t want that life – which I had romanticized – I feel much more at peace. I probably made the decision when I applied to return to school last Feb. I just haven’t verbalized it till now.
Sigh- yes- I understand fully and completely!
Mark and I laugh that we rebuilt the pottery studio and then realized we could have used the money to open a beer store in the town to the North of us which has been dry FOREVER, but just voted in beer and wine.
But- then we could not live the lives of hermits; making our money off selling our pots.
Can we keep this up now that age is really creeping in?
It is such a debate and yet when something new hits the brain off to the studio we go and you will too!
The hardest pot to make of the day is the first one.
Meredith – I often wonder if it would be easier if I had a partner, like my husband, who was there to share the ups, downs and work load with me. I’m not sure – there could end up being double the angst, but he’s much more organized and has the financial acumen that I’m sure it would have worked itself out. At one point last year, I even suggested we sell everything and move somewhere less expensive to live a different life style. But, he nixed that pretty quick. He liked the idea of it, but he’s a realist and knows that it would be difficult. It seems like you and your husband are doing what you like to do and it suits you perfectly. You have a beautiful home in a gorgeous area of the country and are making it work for you. We still have my daughter’s college education looming in front of us and I don’t want her to make do with the closest college to home regardless of reputation – my choices as a “non-traditional” student. Anyway, I’m comforted by all the comments from much more experiences potters who have some of the same thoughts in the backs of your minds.
Not having the pressure of having to make money, I think will bring back the joy for you quickly. To make a living at this, I think you have to commit FULL TIME and that is something I struggle with as well. I am a hobbist pottery, enjoy selling locally, blogging,etc. It helps with added income but is not my full time job. I enjoy Function, in pottery more than anything, and when something is missing in my kichen I get inspired to make it. Just go with the flow…you’ll find your way, always have
If I were independently wealthy, it would be easier to remove the money aspect from my avid hobby. You know where one ends up making so much stuff – and you’ve already given everything away that you can and you still have left over stuff in the studio…I guess that’s sort of when I decided to start selling. Though, I probably shouldn’t have sold some of it – I would recall those first pots! I don’t regret the past few years – it has been wonderful to have a part time income when my daughter needed me at home. I suppose when I realized that she doesn’t need me as much any more and I’m not into production – I started questioning what I am doing and where I want to go. It’s almost like phase 3 of my adult life. I know my daughter is only 11 (almost 12) and most definitely still needs and wants me – but she is going to be off to college in the blink of an eye. Now in my 40′s I feel like I need to make a move if I’d like to have another career. I enjoyed working before I had my daughter – I suppose it’s pretty common for women who have children.
I’ve had some of these same thoughts and I think a good part comes from the state of the economy and therefore fewer sales. I haven’t really tried selling much since I’m trying to improve my work before I do. For now I love working with the clay and can’t see myself not working with clay. Somehow I see you as having more than one career at a time. Can’t wait to hear about your remodeling projects, school pursuits and new clay adventures. I really enjoy your blog.
You are very wise, Linda – as I mentioned above – I wish I could recall some of my early pots! The economy is slow – I see it on Etsy, at the market, at our shows, heck even local established businesses. If anything, people are working harder to stay afloat – but not me – I’m pulling back, reassessing what I want to do. I do love clay and that’s the feeling I want to find again so I don’t feel like I have to make x amounts of something and can take more creative risks.
howdy C, thanks to your encouragement i hit the pavement last night not a major run but one still the same… it was good… and blogwise all the stuff you do is interesting so whether it remains about art or everything else i think we all enjoy being connected accross the big blue, clay is just one part of it..
Every little step counts, Ang! I did closer to 8 miles last Saturday – but it was a hot day and walked part of it with 2 of my running buddies. One just turned 50 and the other is 62 – I am the baby at 43
I figure if they can do it, then I can too. Plus, I always appreciate the calories burned after a long run – Saturday night is my splurge night as far as dinner is concerned. I have enjoyed “meeting” people from all over the world too!
I had to smile at the 5 hour bowl – totally been there!
I agree that your love will no doubt return now that you have taken some pressure off yourself.
My problem is that I have projects to finish that I have lost interest in. I want to do other clay projects but feel held back by these unfinished ones.
I have come back to some of those unfinished projects a year or two later with fresh eyes, Linda – if you have the storage space put them aside and you’ll find them again. If you don’t love it any more, recycle them. I’m trying to be more practical now a days.
I moved you “down the list” while you were on holiday. Now…I come back to find this!
Cynthia, this is a dilemma for almost every creative artist(whatever field)at some time.
At least you have come around to this decision by your own route.
Whatever you do, be happy and be well.
Thanks Dinahmow – I feel pretty comfortable with the direction I’m headed towards right now.
i think there is nothing quite as important as finding out what you want to do or don’t want to do… many people, myself included, flounder around for years with so many interests and not picking any only to realize that you’re not going to live forever. being able to figure this out allows you to move forward with more certainty
So true, Jim – I guess I woke up one day and realized I’m in my 40′s (even though I feel more like 18 most days) and had better figure stuff out while I still have time ahead of me. Granted, my dad died when he was 44, so I know the future could just be tomorrow or it could be another 50 years. Who knows? Realistically, if I re-enter the work force at 46 – I still could have a 25 year career ahead of me with clay to keep me sane. Nothing is certain – but I do feel very comfortable and have had 4 years to think about returning to school since dropping out. In fact, at the beginning of every semester I was tempted to re-enroll but the timing wasn’t quite right. Now the stars are aligned just right.