20 July 2006

don't give up.


I was in New York City this past weekend and became one with the pavement. It was so HOT it felt as if my feet were melting into the ground. Of course the day I was to check out the museums they were all closed. I did get to the American Folk Art Museum and that was a delight. The White on White (and a little gray) exhibit was beautiful. I was grooving on the marble dust paintings, I am quite certain they are the precursor to black velvet paintings. They are all glittery and full of luscious black and white contrast. I secretly like black velvet paintings.

I felt a little bad leaving off with my last post. In fact I did not sleep very well after I hit the “publish post” button that night. I was certain I’d get hate mail. I was wrong and thank you to those people who might have been pissed about what I said and refrained from telling me so, I really appreciate it. Yes, I am a whimp. I got the the feeling from the responses I received that I brought up one of those issues that people feel uncertain about, myself included. I think we all have the best intentions to share, blogging is a sharing thing in itself, but are uneasy about discussing it when it crosses over into that other place of which we may feel protective of.

I am back in the studio finishing up a big order for the Gardener in Berkeley, California. I remember when the store first opened. I was young, just starting to explore being an artist, taking my first ceramic classes. I would go in and admire all the lovely pieces they carried and fantasize about having my work there some day. I really didn’t have any work then but I was good at dreaming. It is a milestone for me to have my ceramics there. In fact it has taken me nine years since I started this line to finally get it in the door after many attempts. It goes to show that you gotta keep trying even in the face of rejection. I like to think with every no there is new opportunity out there waiting to be discovered...a yes!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, that is good to hear. I myself am in the ceramics classes/dreaming/admiring others' work stage. The prospect of the noes is one of the things that scares me most about pursuing ceramics more seriously. So I'm happy to see your yes!

paula said...

But it's so hard to get NOs for an answer and still keep on believing...You made me think with this post and Yes! I have to keep dreaming...maybe it will come true

julie said...

Wonderful as usual!
There are many of us dreamers out there...

Anonymous said...

Yes, don't give up 'cause your chock full of talent! I know what you mean about the heat affecting sleep which in turn affects our decision-making brains. The past few weeks have been brutally hot, haven't they? I became an entirely new crabby, overly sensitive person with the ability to cram an entire closet full of shoes into my mouth. Almost thought of turning the bumbling experience into a painting. Anyway, I don't think you should regret anything you said last week. You were honest and put into words what many of us artists think and feel about sharing our personal techniques. Don'tcha worry!

Mary Anne Davis said...

Blogging is scary, especially when you go to the core. Congrats on hitting the "publish post" on last week's entry, thank you for sharing what you REALLY think and congrats on being a fulltime artist for 12 months. Impressive. :)