Sunday
Nov272011
Just a bit of a Ramble about being an Artist
Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 9:22PM
I recently wrote about good I am feeling these days and how happy I am with my work.
I want to comment more now on how much I feel priviledged to be working as an artist and how I'm so thankful for those folks who buy my work and for those who give me moral and emotional support.
As an artist/craftsperson we each put our hearts and souls out there for the world to see. That's a very brave thing to do. Many times what we care about gets over looked or mis-understood. Sometimes people step on it or cut it down or turn their noses up at it. It's hard as hell when that happens. I have felt crushed when I have gotten rejections to shows, or to craft schools, or to galleries. I have cried, and been depressed and looked at myself in very small ways over the years for various reasons. It's not easy being an artist. We are often sensitive, unsure, lonely, self abusive, and have the self confidence of a maggot at the bottom of a trash bin.
But we get to do what we love! We get to draw or paint or make things or write or play music or whatever. We get to be serious, or playful, or goofy and we get to make up things and to push ideas and boundaries all over the place. Sometimes we even get paid for doing these things. We get to teach others too! That's totally cool.
I had no formal education to go into the arts. I can't really talk about art history or sound intelligent when I see a painting I like or say what exactly makes a good pot or a beautiful piece of music. I can however draw on my experiences and what I've learned and try my best to make some sort of difference in my life through that and maybe in some others lives too. A handmade cup is pretty much my gift to whomever will take it and use it. I put all I can into it and then go and make another one, maybe better, maybe not.
I feel like I've really been focusing on my marketing over the past few years. I know many artists hate this part of it and say they don't care if they ever sell anything. That's fine, and I do feel sort of strange posting all my Etsy listings on Facebook all the time. Still, I want to make a living from my work. I don't want to go back to the DOT or the deli or landscaping. If I have to do those things so I can buy more clay I will though.
No matter what I've been through that's been crappy and rough and depressing, I've continued to make pots over the past 19 years. It's the one thing I've found that I love to do and I go out there everyday and work on something. Usually in my free time I'm thinking about pots or drawing pots or looking at pottery on the internet or whatever. It's my life, I'm surrounded by all the great pots in our house and I can't even go on vacation without seeing pots in windows or going through our hosts cabinets looking for a special bowl or mug.
Anyhow I need to wrap this up, but I wanted to say how grateful I am to be able to do what I want and that I have seen some positive movement out there in the retail world of craft shows lately. I am so thankful for the people who have bought my pots over the years and those that continue to. I hope my work is enriching their lives.
I also want to thank those who have commented here on the blog and have sent me messages about my work. It's so amazing, this online family that I have. It's great to log on each day and read what folks are doing and see what they are making. It's cool to be a part of each other's journey.
Okay that's all for now. Sorry that was a bit of a ramble.
I want to comment more now on how much I feel priviledged to be working as an artist and how I'm so thankful for those folks who buy my work and for those who give me moral and emotional support.
As an artist/craftsperson we each put our hearts and souls out there for the world to see. That's a very brave thing to do. Many times what we care about gets over looked or mis-understood. Sometimes people step on it or cut it down or turn their noses up at it. It's hard as hell when that happens. I have felt crushed when I have gotten rejections to shows, or to craft schools, or to galleries. I have cried, and been depressed and looked at myself in very small ways over the years for various reasons. It's not easy being an artist. We are often sensitive, unsure, lonely, self abusive, and have the self confidence of a maggot at the bottom of a trash bin.
But we get to do what we love! We get to draw or paint or make things or write or play music or whatever. We get to be serious, or playful, or goofy and we get to make up things and to push ideas and boundaries all over the place. Sometimes we even get paid for doing these things. We get to teach others too! That's totally cool.
I had no formal education to go into the arts. I can't really talk about art history or sound intelligent when I see a painting I like or say what exactly makes a good pot or a beautiful piece of music. I can however draw on my experiences and what I've learned and try my best to make some sort of difference in my life through that and maybe in some others lives too. A handmade cup is pretty much my gift to whomever will take it and use it. I put all I can into it and then go and make another one, maybe better, maybe not.
I feel like I've really been focusing on my marketing over the past few years. I know many artists hate this part of it and say they don't care if they ever sell anything. That's fine, and I do feel sort of strange posting all my Etsy listings on Facebook all the time. Still, I want to make a living from my work. I don't want to go back to the DOT or the deli or landscaping. If I have to do those things so I can buy more clay I will though.
No matter what I've been through that's been crappy and rough and depressing, I've continued to make pots over the past 19 years. It's the one thing I've found that I love to do and I go out there everyday and work on something. Usually in my free time I'm thinking about pots or drawing pots or looking at pottery on the internet or whatever. It's my life, I'm surrounded by all the great pots in our house and I can't even go on vacation without seeing pots in windows or going through our hosts cabinets looking for a special bowl or mug.
Anyhow I need to wrap this up, but I wanted to say how grateful I am to be able to do what I want and that I have seen some positive movement out there in the retail world of craft shows lately. I am so thankful for the people who have bought my pots over the years and those that continue to. I hope my work is enriching their lives.
I also want to thank those who have commented here on the blog and have sent me messages about my work. It's so amazing, this online family that I have. It's great to log on each day and read what folks are doing and see what they are making. It's cool to be a part of each other's journey.
Okay that's all for now. Sorry that was a bit of a ramble.
Reader Comments (10)
The jobs I have applied for recently so then I can keep buying clay supplies... I can't seem to get one which sometimes is as hard as getting reject left right and centre from every event I apply for.
Selling pots for me, is just a way of continuing to make pots.
I need to try and get organised into some sort of working studio, which I don't have right now. So I am painting to fill the void, the void of not throwing is dangerous and frustrating. Making helps me centre my life and is the only way to calm my over-active mind.
Seeing as I can't find a job I am going to do a major push on re-advertising working in schools and other groups just so then we can survive.
Yo Ron,
Your apologies are entirely unnecessary. That ramble was a sweet and timely reminder of things that are important to (I'm guessing) most working potters. It certainly spoke to me. In fact, I'd bet every potter would have a similar story to tell. And thanks as always for sharing your story. One of the great things about this clay community is that there are so many of us kindred spirits out there, which can be less than obvious when we are isolated and nose to the grindstone in our studios. So part of my thanks this holiday season is that I have gotten to know you and some of our brothers and sisters out there, and knowing that I have some high caliber company in this journey I am embarked on. Pretty much without exception potters are some of the nicest people I know. So thanks for being you, Ron. And thanks for being so generous in sharing what you do.
Good luck with your sales!
Sharing is what makes me return to your blog. Thank you
My thoughts exactly, thanks for giving them a voice.
I love that you are so open and sharing of your journey. It is very inspiring and supportive of my own journey--stumbling as I am on my way. Good to be in high spirits at the start of the holiday season--I am often a bit low at this time. Stay happy, be well. Fondly.
That's really nice Ron. I could relate to so much of what you said. Continued best of success to you.
Awww.... sounds like you've traveled a long way. It's been so much fun watching you work, and watching your pots evolve. You should be very proud of yourself, your work, and your art. It's also so nice that you share so much. I still LOVE watching you work and the whole process! Happy holidays to you and your family. :-)
Beautiful post and all very true! We're all on a journey to a destination thats not always known, good luck for the next 19 years and beyond!
Hey Ron, great post, I'm entirely with you. I had an appointment the other day, the chap asked me what I did for a job, I told him, then asked what I did for a hobby, ermmm well actually the same answer as the last question. I think he was a wee bit confused for a mo there.
It is so cool to read your blog. I feel very grateful to be able to see your wonderful animals on clay. I feel grateful to learn about what makes a potter create his work.