lynny Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Hi all, Usually my biggest problem in the studio is having my hands on too many projects at once and then juggling drying times etc. Over the Christmas break I normally dont go into the studio for 2 weeks while the busy season is around. But this year I'm stuck. Stuck in 'unmotivated' mode and I cant seem to shift it. In the mix my health wasn't great, so maybe thats slowed me down. When I'm in my usual routine......it goes like this enjoy morning coffee while reading my own notes from yesterday thorough clean up of space with quiet music then a few hours of productive creativity Since the break it all stops at step 1 !? But i'm curious........ what do others do to get the creative juices flowing? I'm interested in hearing your comments cheers, Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Creativity ebbs and flows, so go with it. Clean your studio. Read your old ceramics magazines. Go to an art gallery or museum. Read up on another area of the arts that interests you. One trick is to make 20 miniatures of pots you like ... hand build them if you usually throw or throw if you hand build. Jog your brain into another gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucille Oka Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Go out and play and don't feel guilty about it. If you can, go for walks in the park. Go to see a show. Cook something that you've always wanted to try like paella or an authentic cassoulet. How about baking real french bread (this one is really tough). In other words get away from the clay work for awhile. Do something completely different. Desire will draw you back when you are ready to work with the clay again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Go somewhere new, do something different. Look around you in a different perspective. Draw. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederik-W Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 A bit of "hanky panky" will get the creative juices flowing. I am not being facetious, I am very serious - it is a medical and scientific fact. It releases the right hormones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Hi all, Usually my biggest problem in the studio is having my hands on too many projects at once and then juggling drying times etc. Over the Christmas break I normally dont go into the studio for 2 weeks while the busy season is around. But this year I'm stuck. Stuck in 'unmotivated' mode and I cant seem to shift it. In the mix my health wasn't great, so maybe thats slowed me down. When I'm in my usual routine......it goes like this enjoy morning coffee while reading my own notes from yesterday thorough clean up of space with quiet music then a few hours of productive creativity Since the break it all stops at step 1 !? But i'm curious........ what do others do to get the creative juices flowing? I'm interested in hearing your comments cheers, Lyn Inspiration is something that starts for me with a little kernel of an idea, it may be the edge of a building, something I see in nature, some object, or something else visual, audible, or on occasion even a smell. From that kernel, I usually "gestate" the idea sometimes for months before I ever put anything on paper, then it goes on paper as I have it all planned out. Once the planning is done the project usually takes little time to complete. This is the way most of my slab constructions start out, and end. When on the wheel, it is the feel of the clay that leads to the next change in a form. Lots of forms, small changes in search of what I am looking for-and that is always changing too! Surface treatment has always been challenging, but lately I have discover decoration before shaping-with scraffito, and stamping before shaping then shaping the form. Where this will lead who knows, but it is part of the inspirational process for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Lynne I'm going through a similar situation I want to change my direction of my work at least for a while, I have been working with tile, murals, fountains for almost ten years. There are so many types of pottery that I love that I am having a hard time deciding, so I have been making mugs and doing different surface treatments on them until I make my decision. I think I might try Chris's suggestion of making minatures of your 20 favorite pots, I love working in my studio this time of year it's usually cold and nasty outside and I'm warm and cozy working away in my studio. I hope we both get inspired soon. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMudder Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 After reading this I am inspired... to take a nap! Days are getting longer, there will be more sunlight. Sunlight is good! It perks us up and makes us feel better. Hang in there. I just filled all the bird feeders in the yard. I have seven of them now all made by ME!! It is time to work on some totem poles I think. I've been watching HGtV home improvement shows for ideas. What is with the damned granite counter tops? What happened to beautiful handmade tile counter tops? Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trina Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Hi there, I have been having a bit of a downer since Christmas, feeling a bit lardy and bla way too much sugar!! However I found that stopping with the sugar and going out with my dogs in the fresh air helps. I was in the studio this morning looking at a dreaded commission (hehhehe) and decided that having a look in some old sketch books and looking at old photos of things of the past helps. It gives me that 'Oh ya. I wanted to do that and that with that thing next time or a series of that and that' I love making salt and pepper shakers like the ones on my ID photo thing, so I go back to that theme time and time again....I can tell though that I am brewing another big mural it is in me somewhere and my subconcious is going let me have it when the time is right. So what this space. Trina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teardrop Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 The video link you posted in another thread was very inspiring here, trina. I could see how your mural idea blossomed and became something that others around you were inspired to also participate in. Very cool stuff! Your choice of music had a great call to arms as well... "the time to hesitate is through, no time to wallow in the mire, try now we can only lose..." I dug this ditty (from years ago) up the other day when I was feeling very down and simply needed a push. (the tune is very "80's" but the message is timeless here) thanks for sharing the vid. teardrop http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coD-NUvBFYI If I didn't try, how would I know, how would I know If I didn't try, how would I know, how would I know Sometimes I think I must be crazy for doing this (Think I'm never gonna win) But how would I know it's a losing cause If I didn't try, if I didn't try If I didn't try, if I didn't try If I didn't care, nothing would hurt, nothing would hurt If I didn't care, hope for the best, expect the worst Sometimes it feels like my whole life has been leading to this (Wish that I could hide somewhere) But how would I know how it feels to live If I didn't care, if I didn't care If I didn't care, if I didn't care Sometimes I think I must be crazy for doing this (You can never run away) But how would I know it's a losing cause If I didn't try, if I didn't try If I didn't try, if I didn't try Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 i CAME ACROSS AN OLD cLAY tIMES MAGAZINE IN MY STUDIO WITH AN ARTICLE BY pETE pINNEL ON BONE ASH IN GLAZES. tHERE IS A GREAT LOOKING YELLOW GLAZE THAT i WANT TO TRY. i AM IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING STUDIOS, SO AM NOT SET UP FOR MIXING GLAZE TESTS. sOMETIMES YOU GET INSPIRED AND ARE PREVENTED FROM WORKING. sOMETIMES YOU ARE NOT INSPIRED OR MOTIVATED. oN THOSE DAYS, i WASH THE FLOOR OR READ MAGAZINES, OR GO FOR WALKS. sOMETIMES THE MUSE DOES NOT COME. i DON'T SWEAT IT. iT ALWAYS DOES COME, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. hANG IN THERE, YOU'LL get inspired. Oops, caps lock on again! Sheesh! TJR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Go out and play and don't feel guilty about it. If you can, go for walks in the park. Go to see a show. Cook something that you've always wanted to try like paella or an authentic cassoulet. How about baking real french bread (this one is really tough). In other words get away from the clay work for awhile. Do something completely different. Desire will draw you back when you are ready to work with the clay again. perfect! this is exactly what i'd do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wind n Wing Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Color inspires me. I will go to the Hardware store and stand in front of the paint chip display and soak it in. Fabric stores are another favorite and yarn shops. I like to cruise the asiles in the hardware store and look at everything and try and figure out if I could use the item in a different way to create designs or fit it into a structure of some kind. I like bead shops and the different findings and carved beads to use in my word as stamps. The internet is a wonderful place to get things reved up as I visit other artists (not just clay) and admire their work and wonder how that might look if it was tweeked this way or that. (Never copy just get the juices flowing). I guess its all a matter of perspective anything can spark a new direction for me. I once saw a commercial Windchime that sparked my interest and thought I like the concept but would do it my way. Tried it and it has turned out to be a wonderful seller for me. Then went on to tweek it some more and now have a line of chimes that seems to have something for everyone. Take a look at what you have done and see if you can't come up with a new slant on it. When I seem to run out of inspiration sitting still and reading a good book gives me a mini vacation. The next thing I know I'm looking at things from a different point of view and my palms begin to itch and I know I will be back in the studio again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynny Posted January 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Thanks all for some wonderful tips!! Chris is right, inspiration has an ebb and flow, and if its not there you cant force it. I cant blame the cold here, we are in the midst of beautiful sunshine and warm temps. For those others feeling the same way, lets walk away for a while, do some other stuff thats good for the soul and allow that little 'kernel' of an idea Pres mentioned to sprout. see you again when I'm fired up (pun intended) cheers, Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 I saw an image of cows one misty morning as I drove along a levee and that haunted me until I figured out a way to express the feeling they gave me. It lead to a whole new direction in my work. I guess sometimes something slams you in the face and you run with it. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Like most of you, I try to relax and not worry too much about the lack of inspiration, but I do go back to my books - and when I leave the studio, I always carry a pocket sketch book and notepad so I can be ready, should inspiration strike in a coffee shop or in the park! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.