How did I get Here
I’m building a website, but why and why now? How did I get to this place in my artist’s journey? Why am I journaling my experience? Why make collections?
Pottery has essentially always been a part of me - I remember telling my mom in when I was in elementary school that I wanted to be an artist and work with clay when I grew up. I really fell in love with pottery in high school when I took my first class, but college was really where my foundations were built and my artistry grew. Post college there was a long hiatus, but pottery was always in the back of my mind. Once my kids got into school full time I started taking classes again and have found the most amazing community studio that is full of supportive ceramicists of all kinds.
So am I a full time potter? No. Do I have enough stock to sell online? No. Of course social media would be an easy way to ease into sharing my journey to becoming a full time potter and selling online, but I’ve not been part of it for over a decade because of the undue anxiety it caused me, so why start now? However, I want to have a place to showcase my work and my process. A place for the people I meet at markets to go and learn more.
A website also gives me a purpose to drive myself as an artist. It gives me accountability and focus. It allows me to think of my practice in a different way. Like the idea of developing collections which allows me the flexibility to experiment on the wheel and with glaze. It doesn’t lock me into one type of form or look, I can change with my mood or the seasons.
It’s also giving me a chance to reflect on my journey as an artist and my process. Writing helps me find clarity and organize my thoughts. Whether that pertains to the forms that I’m making or the application of glazes I choose. What works and what doesn’t, my triumphs (few) and failures (many). It’s all part of the process and being able to write it all down and reflect on it in the moment or looking back on it is invaluable.
Eventually maybe I can become a full time potter and sell my work online, until then I guess I’ll fake it until I make it! And in the meantime I will keep up this website, keep writing and continue to find markets to get my work out into the world.
