Today I was able to sleep in after two challenging days at the apper factory. It felt nice to relax a little after working both the pots and my work schedule. So far, the Artist Collective is going well at the fair, and the other artists seem to be selling quite well. The pots have not been selling at all. That is fine, as maybe my people have not discovered them yet, and the pots may even be in the wrong place; however, just showing up is important. I do enjoy people and being at the fair.
I think that since I enjoy firing out pots most of all I tend not to put much time into finding ways to sell the work. I find the kilns and firing process so interesting that I find myself throwing large amounts of pots that may all look the same just to fill the kiln and glaze them so I can try different things while firing them out. At times, ceramic artists may dread glazing and firing, as that is the process they have less control over and may not get to experience as much. Some are even part of community studios where studio technicians fire their work for them and might not care as much about the work as the maker.
The idea in my mind is that it is a gift of generosity to have the ability to create and simply show up. Many times, simply showing up with even one thing might have taken much effort and hardship. That hardship, however, is part of the process and is expected. Many times I expect not to sell a single pot, and in my mind I believe I am owed nothing and that I am not at all entitled to enjoy the fruits of my labor. The satisfaction comes from the journey and the struggle of making and firing pots and how they might turn out. This type of thinking has allowed me to walk off kilns loads of pots that might not have turned out as I have thought.
So while it is nice to sell what you made to someone who cares and would be delighted to pay for your creation, another side is that I would still create even if I didn’t sell anything. So showing up at the fair with other artists and having a few shelves of pots is quite nice, but it is not the end goal. There are far easier ways to get shelf loads of pots, and far easier ways to make money. If money was the goal, I would have been a hedge fund manager for Goldman Sachs, not one who works in clay and with fire. How lucky I am to be given the chance in life to practice creating in such ways. I am so glad I am not a painter.
If I were living yesterday a second time: I would have done things the same. Not too many days are relaxing days
Things I am grateful for: My ability to still fire using the gas kilns.
If I get to live to be 86, I might only have: 12,592 days left.
Originally published at Creek Road Pottery
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My feelings exactly!