Secret Treasures
I started making these porcelain boxes and I can’t seem to stop. In fact, I have another 4 in the works ranging in size from 2″ square up to 5″ x 6″. In a departure from the slip transfer that I used on “Birds and Bees”, these 2 are hand painted with underglaze and have not yet been bisque fired. I’m not quite sure which method I like better. There’s a looseness and loss of control in the slip transfer that I like – it’s not quite as tight as these paintings. Irregardless of method, I am going to be showing these at the “Fine Art of Craft Show” at the Center for the Arts Evergreen on April 25th.
I am reassigning the first 2 pieces I originally made for the show using relief printing techniques to the Colorado Potter’s Guild Sale opening on May 1st. I couldn’t help myself. I wasn’t disciplined enough to squelch the desire to make these porcelain boxes even though I knew I was on deadline for the show in Evergreen. I guess that’s a good thing about being my own boss. 
I’m still at a point in my career where I’m trying to find a style that totally resonates and am not yet known for a particular line of work so I do have a freedom of sorts.
Meanwhile, I’m fully aware of a low level undercurrent of stress that is permeating my days leading up to these shows. I must make work, I must make work, I can’t do this, I can’t do that because I must make work. Yes, this is inside my head nearly every waking moment. How do I cope? When I catch myself doing it, I try to breath deeply and remind myself to take each day as it is – live in the moment. Harder to do than to write, but I try. Do I drop everything I’m doing and beat myself up? No, despite waking up and thinking that I need to cancel going to my garden club meeting tonight so I can work – I’m going to make an appearance and start dreaming about getting my hands in a different kind of mud.
Gotta fill the cup,
~ Cynthia
