That's the potter's dilemma...to be able to supply our homes with functional wares which are beautiful. Lately I'm only supplying my own home.
So if nothing is sellling for me, I have to think why. I won't lay all the cause upon economic marketplace reasons. After all, other potters are making sales.
So I go back to my inner cause...that which is the only thing I really have any control over. My own creative process.
Am I creating to sell? Perhaps not. I keep moving away from marketing mentality into "artistic" endeavors.
I could make more of the triple spiral labyrinths, as well as the Chartres Cathedral labyrinths. I could start carving and painting the mountain scenery again on the sides of vases, or on tile forms. I know these are things I can do.
But they aren't necessarily moving me forward into being a better artist.
So the question becomes, do I spend my time, my precious time that is limited in working in clay to only a certain number of hours, in making marketable items, or to stretching myself to do something that makes me feel wonderful, because I am trying to make something wonderful?
Yep, that's where I'm sitting right now.
What do you think?
Why not do both. Dedicate a percentage of your time to things you love to make & things that make you money.
ReplyDeleteEveryone needs to have balance.
Balance doesn't always mean that 100% of the time - you get to make things "for arts sake."
In my world I work my technology job so I can do my hobbies (jewelry, stained glass & pottery). That is my balance. If I every wanted to switch to doing more pottery - I would need to make some things that sell & and other things I make for me.
Best of luck!
Oh wise advisor...thanks so much for putting this into a simple division of time/labor. That is a very interesting way to approach my life. I'll give it a try. Let you know in a week how it works! OK?
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