I have a difficulty seeing my pots – this is often because I am comparing what I meant to do with what I have done (the pot in my head is always better). Sometimes it is hard for me to see my pots because I have spent too much time with them. A little time away from them, helps me gain a bit of perspective. And sometimes it is hard to see my pots because I only know them from the studio or in the sales booth. When I see them in the context of domesticity, they seem different to me – more themselves.
A collection of berry bowls and stacked serving bowls
I have an amazing group of friends – who also happen to love pottery. My friends have a lot of pottery that I made; but, I cringe when I see pots from a few years ago. I compare these pots to middle school pictures of myself – when I made them, they were my best work; but, I wish I could convince my friends to trade them in for new, improved pots.
So when we got together in June for a long weekend, I saw a lot of the pottery that one of my good friends has been accumulating (usually on the pretext of giving as gifts – but is seems the gifts are often to herself!). I was honored that she uses the pottery and pleased by the pots themselves. I was also glad that I didn’t cringe.
Whew… thought with you going to a workshop that there wouldn’t be a blog… and as we did not have class this week I was going through extreme Rae withdrawal.
I am delighted that you didn’t cringe…now if you can just teach us how not to cringe huh? If we would just learn to embrace our work at each level for what it is and what we have accomplished … but we tend to be our own worst critics. I applaud you for the no cringe.
btw… the picture with this blog is really lovely…
Picture credit goes to Sharon – I am looking forward to class!
I’m still working on the not cringing with my work…perhaps it’s because the pot in my head (or what I’ve sketched out/imagined on paper) never seems to quite materialize in front of me in clay…or perhaps it is simply I’m not at the correct level yet…and need to be easier on myself and recognize the smaller accomplishments for what they are rather than criticize what I perceive as faults? (I know Rae…I know…I am listening to you, lol)
That said…your pots, at whatever stage of when they were created are simply beautiful. Think of it this way….would people look at an early painting of Van Gough and say it was lacking or not as good as his later works? No – it is simply an earlier version – neither bad nor good…simply different and not what he created in earlier periods, and also what helped him achieve his later masterpieces…
No clue where that philosphical rant just came from 🙂
Wow! you seem to have had some moment of insight. I know you have experienced developmental and technical challenges in your costume designs and paintings so your philosophical rant has credence. Thanks for sharing.