mgtmeehan

My answer may be a little different, because it concerns someone else’s ceramics... but I was his HS teacher. Many years ago, I had an extremely gifted student who was enrolled in each of my art classes throughout his 4 years of high school. I needed to be a Jack of All Trades, as the only art teacher in a rural high school... taught First Year Studio, Drawing and Painting, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture and of course, Ceramics. His 3rd year, after Studio, and Drawing and Painting, he enrolled in Ceramics. However, he always seemed to gravitate right back to his easel... he really was getting better and better at painting, BUT he was ignoring his Ceramics. I knew he had a bright future, and was trying to help him get a scholarship to college... BUT did not want to mess up his chances with a low grade in Ceramics... so we made a bargain. I would sustain his 4.0, but he had to put in double time after school or whenever, to get his Ceramics done. Well, he did it. Then went on to win a scholarship to the Boston Museum School (affiliate Tufts U, at Boston Museum of Fine Arts.). His first year in Boston, he excelled in Ceramics and became a fantastic, prolific, creative potter. (but still painted :-) That young man went on to work at the Guggenheim, then the Smithsonian. Now in his forties, he just completed a book, and has created an exhibit comparing Matisse’ inspiration to the work of native Alaskan indigenous peoples. He has made me proud. :-)