LeeU

Lee, Thank you!  Good topic.
Lenore

Lee, in reference to your speculation that creative people may suffer more than their share of bedevilments, you might find interesting the book Touched with Fire, by Kay Renfield Jamison.  She is a scholar, clinician, and master storyteller whose own bipolar disorder brought her to study the relationship of mental disorders and creativity.  She also looks at the predisposition to the abuse of alcohol and other substances.
There is a strong correlation between great creativity and some mental disorders as well as alcoholism.  In bipolar disorder it is the hypomanic state, the transition state, rather than the poles that connects closely to creative achievement. 
I don't think research suggests that creativity and physical illness or creativity and more general suffering are strongly correlated though. Said differently, people with physical illness who are highly creative would likely have been just as creative had they stayed well. Life hardships in general can cut either way in terms of creativity and creative productivity, sometimes enhancing and sometimes stifling.
( I was a teaching fellow for a course on this subject some years ago when I was doing research in this area).
 

I was the Spotter for Modernage Labs in NYC in the late '60s, spotting high quality mural prints for the museums and lottsa other cool stuff (& silver prints).  Still have some discarded (or so they thought LOL) prints of historic photos of  subjects like Jack Johnson (boxer), pics by "Weegee", right after he died, and the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. The night crew was me, my x-hubby--he was a developer/printer extrordinaire--and a United Nations assortment of Chinese, Armenians, Polish, Germans, etc. Lemme tell ya---the bring-a-dish parties on the 4-12 shift were awesome! So was the bootleg Chinese whiskey, at 200 proof.  My "ex" ended up losing a quarter of a lung due in part to the formaldehyde (and the insane amount of roach spray we were subject to in our little downtown NY apartments).  Wow--Johnny-did you spark some memories! 

Not so easy to take pics of your own hands! My 4th of July glitter polish looks OK tho. 
 
 

I have to organize my organizers, making sure they match:  a studio calendar for clay stuff, an electronic calendar that includes the studio  stuff plus the rest of daily living events, a studio white board with certain contents that "should" (never do) match the wall calendar, a set of electronic folders and files, and the inevitable bright sticky notes scattered throughout, directing me to do my thing before I forget. 
The first  screen shot is a folder with web-ready pics of my catchalls, ready for online insertion. All my photos are in folders by type, with subfiles for web-ready; the second screen shot is my file system. Too bad the file lists can't be read-I was hoping the titles would be helpful. The folders listed far left are my Art Biz, and the subfolder shown is Office and Operations; then the Master Inventory  tracker on the right is a file within that.
Works for me! The photo file name is also  the inventory code which is also the website product or item number, and is written on a piece of tape on the back of the piece. The drawers or bins the pieces are stored in are labled as well.  And, I also save certain CAD pdfs and "how to and tips" from this forum.  It's not OCD, it is organizational survival!!  The only way I can function is by having "A place for everything and everything in it's place", as my dad taught me. That, and the Blessing of the Day that I write on my whiteboard (from various sources). 
If anyone is interesested in the folder names--the categories of information and resource materials for Art Biz-- that I am using to develop my hobby biz, just msg. me.
 
 
my 

Crocs!!! Classic clogs w/back strap. Luciously comfortable, long lasting, inexpensive (go for the sales).  I paid a little more and scored myself a Limited Edition of Jackson Pollack Studio clogs--how very artsy of me LOL

Sparked by my intention to make a clay toy for an event, how about a question about making clay toys? And for those  who have made them, pics please and some comments about their construction. 
 

Nothing on the work tables---  ...but  lots of shop prep goin' on in the office.

From back to front, left to right--my entire collection to date. The penquin is by Liz Fletcher, NH, the miniture porcelain collored clay, crafted in the neriage technique is by Karen Orsillo, NH; the slip trailed little vase is by Maureen Mills and my all-time-favorite coffee mug is by Steve Zoldak, both of NH; the two mini jars are by Joseph Painted Bear, PA.  My previous art budget went into paintings, but now I am setting aside some spendoolies for my next few acquisitions, from clay people who have been/are active on this site. Oh, and I forgot--I have a lovely porcelain water pipe by Ray Aldridge (who used to be on here). 

It is a priority for me to surround and indulge myself with items/activities that bring me pleasure (other than people)----be it fresh flowers, great music,  little collectables,  making great mushroom soup-whatever. Usually "working" in any capacity is quite satisfying, but sometimes I go inert and the "juices" seem to dry up. Metaphorically, that indicates a lack of hydration & a need to overcome the perverse, self-defeating struggle to resist the intake of sufficient water.  When it's hard to force it down, it's important to sip slowly until the self begins to reopen.  
 So, I have this posted on my studio wall, and I just do what it says. I then get some meditative breathing (energy work/heart breaths) going.  A few sessions of staring at the wall (over days, weeks, whatever it takes)  and eventually I'll get  twitchy/thirsty enough to start doing something-anything--in the studio, as other people have mentioned--ex. cleaning, organizing, reclaiming clay.  That will lead fairly quickly to picking up a hunk of clay and getting back in gear.
I guess that is a ritual. It clears my mind---calms the static--- and eventually gooses the neurotransmitters to squash the inertia and reboot the "get on with it" system. Who knows? Works for me, strange as it may seem.  I think it's in the vein of "energy breeds energy", as GEP/Mea sez, or "You can act your way into right thinking, but you can't think your way into right acting".  "Act as if." "Walk the talk." "Easy does it, but do it." , and so forth. 

It is a priority for me to surround and indulge myself with items/activities that bring me pleasure (other than people)----be it fresh flowers, great music,  little collectables,  making great mushroom soup-whatever. Usually "working" in any capacity is quite satisfying, but sometimes I go inert and the "juices" seem to dry up. Metaphorically, that indicates a lack of hydration & a need to overcome the perverse, self-defeating struggle to resist the intake of sufficient water.  When it's hard to force it down, it's important to sip slowly until the self begins to reopen.  
 So, I have this posted on my studio wall, and I just do what it says. I then get some meditative breathing (energy work/heart breaths) going.  A few sessions of staring at the wall (over days, weeks, whatever it takes)  and eventually I'll get  twitchy/thirsty enough to start doing something-anything--in the studio, as other people have mentioned--ex. cleaning, organizing, reclaiming clay.  That will lead fairly quickly to picking up a hunk of clay and getting back in gear.
I guess that is a ritual. It clears my mind---calms the static--- and eventually gooses the neurotransmitters to squash the inertia and reboot the "get on with it" system. Who knows? Works for me, strange as it may seem.  I think it's in the vein of "energy breeds energy", as GEP/Mea sez, or "You can act your way into right thinking, but you can't think your way into right acting".  "Act as if." "Walk the talk." "Easy does it, but do it." , and so forth. 

It is a priority for me to surround and indulge myself with items/activities that bring me pleasure (other than people)----be it fresh flowers, great music,  little collectables,  making great mushroom soup-whatever. Usually "working" in any capacity is quite satisfying, but sometimes I go inert and the "juices" seem to dry up. Metaphorically, that indicates a lack of hydration & a need to overcome the perverse, self-defeating struggle to resist the intake of sufficient water.  When it's hard to force it down, it's important to sip slowly until the self begins to reopen.  
 So, I have this posted on my studio wall, and I just do what it says. I then get some meditative breathing (energy work/heart breaths) going.  A few sessions of staring at the wall (over days, weeks, whatever it takes)  and eventually I'll get  twitchy/thirsty enough to start doing something-anything--in the studio, as other people have mentioned--ex. cleaning, organizing, reclaiming clay.  That will lead fairly quickly to picking up a hunk of clay and getting back in gear.
I guess that is a ritual. It clears my mind---calms the static--- and eventually gooses the neurotransmitters to squash the inertia and reboot the "get on with it" system. Who knows? Works for me, strange as it may seem.  I think it's in the vein of "energy breeds energy", as GEP/Mea sez, or "You can act your way into right thinking, but you can't think your way into right acting".  "Act as if." "Walk the talk." "Easy does it, but do it." , and so forth. 

A triple or double zero "spotting brush" for photography retouching (used for manual prints, to fill-in minute voids left by dust on a lens.) This for fine line work or narrow letters-not wide areas.

A triple or double zero "spotting brush" for photography retouching (used for manual prints, to fill-in minute voids left by dust on a lens.) This for fine line work or narrow letters-not wide areas.

I'm not ready to insert my 2-cents worth (or Lee's editorial rant of the day, depending on my mood and how much No Surrender REV coffee I've had) on this topic, but here is another interesting article. https://www.disegnodaily.com/article/gendered-objects
At the moment, I am working on marketing lingo and trying to not go down the rabbit holes of social psychology, anthropology, art-speak, gender-related assumptions and other pitfalls while trying to wordsmith text to "appeal" to men or women with particular pieces in my (soon, soon, someday soon) online Shop. Stereotypical or not, I perceive these two pieces to come across as more masculine and more feminine, respectively. Of course, the best question is, if the top dish looks like it belongs on a guy's dresser and the bottom one on  a lady's vanity, then "why" ? What say you? 
 

.

Nothing on the work tables---  ...but  lots of shop prep goin' on in the office.

this house in florida is strange.  i can get a classical music station from sarasota in the car even when it is parked in front of the house.  cannot get it in the house or studio.  i could not get it even before i baptized it with blue slip.  i listen to weta npr music from DC when i am in west va.   i live at the very edge of the listening area and if you TOUCH my radio i will break your finger because i cannot get it back without lots of trouble.   late in the day there is a church sponsored station that overwhelms it and requires a lot of adjustment.
mostly i like the birds, there is a mockingbird here who is trying out for the opera and doing very well.

I like the natural surrounding sounds of everything that is making sounds--birds, insects, street movements, house noises, cheap clocks, the construction yard behind me, with big vehicles going in/out & sometimes the distant sawmill, whatever music I am playing, either single CD's or a vinyl record, or a streaming thing. I don't get reception for radio in the house (dead zone between lake/mountain ridge) so I miss the NPR that used to have to keep me company when i lived elsewhere. I  especially enjoy the companionship of the studio environment itself and all the noises, smells,  and vibrations I generate by working in it.

"Politics: the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power."
I get dismayed when the misuse of the word and concept of "politics" serves to characterize a topic, about which there may be disagreement, as something that should be off-limits, which may serve to cut off the dialogue.  I am not trying to be "too"  serious or snarky---I just wouldn't want to see discussions of the new Forum features get jettisoned because of sensitivity about critique.
So far,  everything I have learned about the new system has come from folks who are providing us with tips and directions. Reading other people's experiences/questions is helpful as well. Without that input I know I would get frustrated, or lost, and end up feeling negative before giving it a chance. I hate having to learn new systems, it is hard on my remaining and aging brain cells, but upgrades are a necessity. I guess I'm saying I wish there was a forum topic on the pros/cons/"how to" of it--if not a Qotw--to ease the transition! 
OH GOOD GRIEF....I just remembered there IS a thread on the New Forum.  I'll leave my 2-cents  worth about content being (or not being) "political" here, since I don't know where else to put it. Moderator should feel free to remove it if (dare I say it?) it is too political LOL. 

I never hedge my bets by reading  (using) other people's answers but it makes me feel good when it looks like I am on the same page, even when just guessing.
So-- I am going with 3-2-1 and 2 & 3  Of course question #4 bothers me, because if 2 (anagama) is correct, then the sentence should begin with "An" , not "A".  

.

The day, through my own negligence, I dropped and watched all of a box of truly wonderful pieces smash to bits.  Each piece unique, no repeated forms, glazes really sweet,  forms useful and great looking, many made with a specific person in mind, some Palladium finish probably never to be seen again...oh I could go on and on.  My style is generally organic, rough, handbuilt, often based on serendipity, and as such, most pieces are not easy to replicate, nor do I want to.  So transporting/carrying the load the way I did was a grievous error of judgement which I shall not repeat! On the plus side, it did force me to take a look at  not trying  so  hard to make each piece so different from the next.  I am now making some forms-like a particular type of tea light holder-pretty similar in size, shape, glaze, and texture/stamp, and I am getting feedback that people like "them"-meaning the core design.  And if I drop and break one, I really can "just" make another. 

"Politics: the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power."
I get dismayed when the misuse of the word and concept of "politics" serves to characterize a topic, about which there may be disagreement, as something that should be off-limits, which may serve to cut off the dialogue.  I am not trying to be "too"  serious or snarky---I just wouldn't want to see discussions of the new Forum features get jettisoned because of sensitivity about critique.
So far,  everything I have learned about the new system has come from folks who are providing us with tips and directions. Reading other people's experiences/questions is helpful as well. Without that input I know I would get frustrated, or lost, and end up feeling negative before giving it a chance. I hate having to learn new systems, it is hard on my remaining and aging brain cells, but upgrades are a necessity. I guess I'm saying I wish there was a forum topic on the pros/cons/"how to" of it--if not a Qotw--to ease the transition! 
OH GOOD GRIEF....I just remembered there IS a thread on the New Forum.  I'll leave my 2-cents  worth about content being (or not being) "political" here, since I don't know where else to put it. Moderator should feel free to remove it if (dare I say it?) it is too political LOL. 

I felt like the results thread was a nice place to see all the work finished, but I also liked seeing the works in progress posted on the actual topic. I feel like the results thread was a lot of extra work for you Joel and we should have just posted our works in progress and final pictures as went in the same place.