No Longer Member Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 How often do you get get in a rut where you don't feel like or just can't make anything? The past two months I've been taking care of everything else and it just killed my momentum. I'm refiring some raku pieces right now and that's only because I just got a check in the mail for some other stuff that sold about two weeks ago which gave me a little motivation. That ever happen to you guys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 Start looking at pictures of pots. That's what always gets me jazzed up about making again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 I look back at my work in progression, then realize I can't get any further if I dont keep going. Plus when you look from start to now you see what youve accomplished and your like WOW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.M.Ernst Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 I visit a favorite gallery which features a wide variety of pottery. It always inspires me. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Longer Member Posted August 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 One had great color and cracked, the other looks terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 Dirt: I understand that place well; finding myself there often lately. Although my lack of motivation stems from other causes. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 the bad pieces go into the pile of typing paper that say "the qwikc borwnb fax jimpde ovre the laazy dogg." they will still be going there after 50 years. it is the cost of trying. but it is really hard to pick yourself up after a string of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 It happens to me All. The. Time. If I loose momentum, it can take me a long time to get going again, and it's painful. I have a million and one ways to avoid doing what I love the most. I tend to wind up in a dirty shame spiral that I either have to ease myself out of, or trick myself into doing some work. Some methods I've used include: -Having a commission to work on (nothing like a deadline) -doing studio housekeeping, like reclaim or cleaning, leading into wedging clay -sitting in my studio, and just listening to the inside of my head, and staring down the discomfort -blocking social media with an app (it's my favourite avoidance mechanism.) -turn on a good playlist with headphones and go make mugs -make mugs! (Edited to add: mugs are a cylinder with a handle. I can do these easily, and they are my comfort zone.) If I'm balking at a huge list of work to be done, I'll do the smallest, easiest thing because work begets more work. - I forgive myself for whatever my inner critic is mad at me for. I do not refer to other people's work when I'm feeling like this: it can lead to comparisons, and cripple me further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberta12 Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 Yeah, what Diesel said. I do find if I step away, as in leave home for a couple of days, that also seems to help. But cleaning the studio and reorganizing seems to help. And then like Diesel said, just make some easy "knock it out quickly" stuff. What's the quote?? "Inspiration exists but is has to find you working" Picasso. Another thing that will help me is a collaboration with another maker. Or even an adult beverage with another maker..... Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewV Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 The biggest hindrance to creativity is tacking the cost. Make it so that your supplies won't run out. The next is thinking about how much money will be made when the chickens hatch. And finally there are ideas. I am the sort of person who likes to make each piece different. But there is quite a strain in coming up with good ideas. So learn to recycle the old. Especially if your are selling your work. Right now I am putting chickadees and leaves on pieces. I can do it to mugs, vases, bowls, wall hangers... each shape will have different limitations and challenges to keep my restless mind happy. The key is I don't have to come up with a new idea to make work that makes me happy and will probably sell just fine when I am ready for that. If I get bored I could go back to making iris flowers. Or move onto ducks and lily pads. Or back to tiny cats. Oh, and a pug mill has really really helped me not care about throwing pieces knowing they will go to reclaim. This makes it possible for me to continue to throw pottery while depressed or unhappy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jawpot Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 My grandfather thought me to throw when i was 12, but he thought me more of the art side of pottery. When i was 15 my dad was running a production pottery business and i had to go work for him. I spent 19 years throwing production and did some art type stuff in my basement. When i get in a rut i see something and throw it a hundred times, because i have a block and can not vision something else to throw. I have a slide show of pots that i like set at about 30 seconds each so every time i look up it's something different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 Fishing or diving usually gets me going Since I'm heading out the door now to ocean fish for halibut I'll see how this translates into clay tomorrow . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 I'm like Mark. When I feel unmotivated, I take a few days and do something completely different. Before long I miss my studio and want to go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddartist Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 All I have to do is go out and clean up my work area. Once I'm handling my supplies the ideas roll in. Same thing with my kitchen - as soon as it's nice and clean I HAVE to go make bread or something! And a little wine to loosen up doesn't hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxden Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 I seem to go from rut to rut, with moments of inspiration between them. I do find that cleaning up the studio is a way to get me around the materials and get me kick started. Deadlines always help, not the self-imposed ones but the real ones. I enjoy the process of making things and then go brain dead when it comes to glazing, which explains why I seem to go back to my dependable favorite glazes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 Pres: I smell a QQW here. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRankin Posted September 2, 2016 Report Share Posted September 2, 2016 I'm inspired by so many other potters' work, whether from books, magazines, Internet or museum and gallery pieces and I take a lot of photos of things in daily life that I want to incorporate into my own work. I never feel I'm in a rut because there is always something I want to make or experiment with a new technique. It might help you to research other potters' work for inspiration. Others here have said to step away but you should always be open, aware and looking while away and taking notes and pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted September 2, 2016 Report Share Posted September 2, 2016 Pres: I smell a QQW here. Nerd What's a QQW ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted September 2, 2016 Report Share Posted September 2, 2016 Are you a part or full timer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted September 2, 2016 Report Share Posted September 2, 2016 What's a QQW ? The "Question of the Week". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Longer Member Posted September 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2016 Are you a part or full timer? Depends on what and which part you are referring to. Clay is the only way, however; production isn't my primary function. I managed to get in the studio today and make a project she's been wanting me to do for about 6 months. Our main source is teaching and she wants me to start teaching project classes. I'm down with doing it, I just need to get in the right place. I handle "everything else" and had a lot of that I had to deal with lately. Things are definitely moving in the right direction, just not fast enough for my liking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted September 3, 2016 Report Share Posted September 3, 2016 What's a QQW ? The "Question of the Week". Ahh, it was the two Qs that got me. suppose it should be QOW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted September 3, 2016 Report Share Posted September 3, 2016 Are you a part or full timer? Depends on what and which part you are referring to. Clay is the only way, however; production isn't my primary function. Yeah that's what I was getting at. If you earn your living as a full time production potter then ya might have a bit more urgency to get back on track making pots. Either way if making pots is important to you I would just work your way through it but keep making pots. A week or two away from the clay can turn into an extended break pretty easily I would think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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