An Artist Journey - The ups and downs of creation, and how to keep moving forward. — Store News

Participation ribbon, not keeping score, everybody wins? Sounds like everybody loses to me. Why is it so bad to lose, isn't it a part of life? I think this is a valuable lesson to teach children. Some people many not agree with my parenting and ways but when I play a game with my little ones and I am able to win, I do. They have to learn to lose with grace and learn from it. I would much rather have my child at four pitch a fit to me about losing, than have them pitch a fit about not...

Old people are great in my opinion. I love how they just don't care and will tell you exactly how they feel. If you happen to put on some weight or get a bad hair cut Grandma will be the first to let you know. It's like the honesty of a child with the wisdom of a lifetime. Have you ever tried to get a gift for an old person? It's terrible they don't want anything. They see it as they have everything they need. They don't have a need or want for anything else. The lack of the material...

It's not the huge 180 degree changes that achieve greatness. We are creatures of habit and trying to change ones self or our way of doing things all at once is a set up for disaster. You will eventually revert to your old ways. But changing the way you look at things and how you do things a little at a time is how to achieve that overhaul, that 180. From a couch potato making a New Year's resolution to working out 6 days a week and eating healthy is not happening. It may for a little while but you...

Bigger, grander, more, more, more! Well... for some this might seem like overindulgence or greed but in pottery it is about getting the correct size. From working in wet clay to the final product of a glazed pot the piece will be about 12% to 14% smaller. Yes, they shrink quite a bit.                                                                                           I remember when I first started making pottery. Oh the anticipation for my completed serving bowl, I was so excited! Then you pull it out of the final kiln and you have what? A cereal bowl, a bit of a let down to say the least....

I recently had a large glaze kiln going. It was a full kiln and I had many of my very time consuming pots inside. Large platters, watering cans, pitchers, mugs, all of these items take a long time to make and to dry. The anticipation to see them completed was high. My daughter, Delila, who just turned four was in my studio with me while I was unloading this kiln. I just wanted to unload it quickly as I could not wait any longer to see my final product. Heartbreak....that was what I was experiencing, total and utter heartbreak as I...