Lee, I like the notion of knowing that we are not alone. We can still be creative and support each other's journey. Finding ways to move forward despite the odds is acting creatively. Gabby's idea is a good one. Does someone teach pottery making in your area? A interested student may want to help just to add to their education.
Acceptance of the physical limitations that our bodies are putting on us is very difficult for me. I worked on the wheel for a short time several years ago but stopped because of the pain in my hands....ended up have surgery on my right hand...nothing as extensive as Mark C and Johnny K have had done...but serious enough for me to examine how I work with my hands. I still experience weeks of downtime if I overdo it. Was thinking for a while that I would not be able to make pottery. That was a depressing time. After feeling sorry for myself for a while...decided to figure out how to rearrange my life so that I can follow my dream of making pottery. Here's what I got so far: We have stopped taking large and heavy work in the restoration business ....yeah, we can do it, but the downtime needed to recover is not productive. When was doing my work at a local community art center, I started testing out using their big Bailey slab roller to help with wedging....works great....so I saved up and bought one of those. Also, I have chosen to go with a small kiln to start, it has 15" shelves (I don't always make large things...It will also challenge me to come up with creative ways to design and make something large. I have the name of a guy who can help with the big gardening things I do...like move the giant plant pots or big plants. I am even researching easier plants or shrubs to grow in the yard so that I can maintain the use of my hands.
Thanks to all for sharing.
lgusten got a reaction from Rae Reich in QotW: Either generally or specifically, what do you think, feel, and/or do when confronted with moderate to serious/severe limitations of some aspect of health that alters how you work in clay?
lgusten got a reaction from LeeU in QotW: Either generally or specifically, what do you think, feel, and/or do when confronted with moderate to serious/severe limitations of some aspect of health that alters how you work in clay?
