Resolutions Reviewed
As a true Resolutionist, I couldn’t let the end of June pass without a status review of my 2011 resolutions (it is a neurotic burden). June is the half-way mark after all. So here it is: Better Pots – The general focus for 2011 is practice and refinement. The shows that we have planned are providing plenty of opportunity for me to be purposeful and mindful when I make pots. I feel like I have so many pots to make, so I make the same pot multiple times with the same surface treatment. It gives me lots of opportunity to refine and tweak things. I am having a lot of fun because I have a goal and I feel like I have time to achieve it. Improve Classes: I am trying to improve class instruction and bring more interesting projects to the ceramics class. I am more consistent about bringing finished pots to class to inspire the potters to work on the projects – some of the class projects have been more successful than others. I have been conscientiously watching how I make pots while I throw on my own. Then I practice explaining the process – it means I talk to myself a lot but it has increased my awareness of how to articulate movements. Photography: I want to take photographs that capture the pots as they are. I think I have gotten better – mostly that is because I shoot in natural light. I recently hit an obstacle – I broke both cameras. I am planning to purchase another this week. I haven’t read a photography book but I will do that after I get the new camera. Drawing: I have a book that I want to work through to prepare for a pottery workshop in August. The workshop is approaching fast and the book is unread…. Blog: I intended to write 2 entries/week to keep the website from feeling stagnant. I have managed to sustain the goal and I really enjoy the challenge of writing and editing. It is more satisfying than I would have thought – sometimes it is hard to come up with a topic and other times I feel like there are so many things I could write on. I am really encouraged by the feedback and critiques I have received which have often helped me see things from a different perspective. Thank you to everyone who checks in with this blog. I am very touched that you choose to spend time reading my thoughts and...
Read MorePhotography in Focus
I am richly blessed. I get to make pottery and meet great people. In 2010, we participated in the Humane Society’s Annual Canine Crawl. It was the most fun show! At the event, I met Speight Farmer who purchased a large dog bowl for his St. Bernard. Speight and Nassim are animal lovers and photographers. Little Dragon – Speight’s camera Little Dragon – my camera Seascape Plate – my camera Seascape Plate – Speight’s camera Today, they came to Firetower Studio East to give me a photography lesson. He and Nassim take wedding photos, portraits, and pet pictures – check out some of their work at A-La-Mode-Photography. Speight was a patient and enthusiastic instructor. He gave me a lot of pointers and helped me with the new camera. There was a time when I thought I wanted to be a photographer – I think I was in 8th grade when that was my career ambition. However, in the past year, I have come to appreciate how photography can convey a personal perspective. I would like to be more effective at communicating how my pottery-endowed-world feels to me. Speight and Nassim have helped me begin to move toward that...
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