ayjay Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 I've had the best part of a glaze kiln load ready for glazing for a couple of weeks now. I needed to fill one more shelf and made nearly enough pots to do that, (and then made three large mugs to actually fill the shelf). Having most of a kiln load ready for glazing meant that unlike normal, I know exactly how everything is going to be glazed - it's even all written down. The only things not decided are the three large mugs. I had one idea of a glaze combination and then rejected it, (it would have looked fine, and I'll use it another time, but it wasn't what I wanted), every time I now try and think of an alternative all that will come into my head is the original idea. How do you get a good idea out of your head when you're looking for a better one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 I am still waiting for that good idea If you have time, sleep on it. I like to let my subconscious do the thinking while I rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 If you can't shake the original idea, just go with it. Sometimes you have to just finish the old thought before moving on to the next. Givee your unconscious mind time to work on it. Make more mugs for the next round, and have another go at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 I got a great piece of advice from a pottery instructor ... " notice what you notice." Pay attention to what is catching your attention. Why is the combo tugging at you? Why are you resisting? Knowing the answers should help you move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayjay Posted November 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 I am still waiting for that good idea If you have time, sleep on it. I like to let my subconscious do the thinking while I rest. I've slept on it too much - it's almost kept me awake a couple of times, and nothing keeps me awake, (or wakes me in the night). If you can't shake the original idea, just go with it. Sometimes you have to just finish the old thought before moving on to the next. Givee your unconscious mind time to work on it. Make more mugs for the next round, and have another go at it. I'll go with it in the next firing for definite, I'm sure it'll look OK, but I'm trying to find a more subtle impact - if that makes sense. I got a great piece of advice from a pottery instructor ... " notice what you notice." Pay attention to what is catching your attention. Why is the combo tugging at you? Why are you resisting? Knowing the answers should help you move on. I think my previous paragraph answers your questions too Chris. I'll try and remember "Notice what you notice", but then I have to remember that I've noticed to notice it. I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 I think I have been there more than a few times myself ... My solution was to trust my instincts ... Push through the part of you that wants to stay in the nice cozy place ... the part that does not want to leap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale pots Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 You have 2 choices, keep it simple or experiment! It's only 3 mugs, just do it, the others are getting impatient!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayjay Posted November 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 You have 2 choices, keep it simple or experiment! It's only 3 mugs, just do it, the others are getting impatient!!! I fully intend to experiment, but I wanted a different experiment to the one I first thought of and couldn't get out of my head. Everything is bisque fired now, all bottoms waxed, and I'm pretty sure I have a solution now. It's another two weeks before I need to have them finished, so the next rainy day will see me glazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 how funny! i glaze outside and wait for a warm, sunny day! that will be next spring since we are in the beginning of a really cold mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 still in tee shirt here but its raining. Shop is 90 degees with gas heat on to dry pots. I'm taking today off for a small crab trip offshore while bisque is firing.Monday is glaze day. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chantay Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 ayjay, I wished I had your problem. With the increase in age and health issues I have a mind like a sieve. I will have a great idea, then, like a whisper, it's gone. If I don't write it done, completed it a couple of times, I just can't remember. Uuugh!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 We've just about stopped trying things out on glaze runs, using good pots. I'm the newbie on the wheel so I've created a pretty good sized box of wonky ware. Mostly mugs, cups and whatnot that I go ahead and bisque for this purpose and I also crank out 25-30 4x4" tiles and we use these two to try out stuff. It just get old losing perfectly nice pots to a surface that either does not work at all or even if not awful, it's not product. They have everything written on them so if they turn out they sit in the glaze room by those glazes and become one of the choices for the good stuff. I think your mind is drawing you back to a combo you know and like because your subconscious wants to ensure those mugs come out nice :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 YOU have to take control of your brain, or fool it! Like when Pres turns an object upside down so the brain sees it as something different. Scientifically you write down the poss permutations of the glazes you work with, turn the familiar pathways off by just doing the objective testings and tell your brain, it doesn't know it all.You don't need to think of what if. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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