Variation on a technique

Every now and then the need to diversify your product and step out of the box of my comfort zone to use a ceramic technique of firing to make new products that help attract new customers to my following.  Pictured (above) is a client’s necklace which I just finished hand knotting and posted on my blog to give her the heads up that the item in question is ready for pick-up.  Potters and artisans alike some times get comfortable into to a certain way of producing wares and sometimes the “focus” can be a bit narrow. After years of making wares for home accessories, I decided to branch out and try my hand at hand made jewelry.  Same clay and materials but a new set of rules to follow and respect when making wearable art. My focus was more minute in detail , though some of the motifs are the same. I found that working on small pieces like beads was the same amount of work as decorating a small bowl or square dish.  Happily after endless times of trails and errors I have gotten it down to a science where I can produce small amounts of beads to supply myself with a decent amount to mount 3-4 necklaces at a time. In the end we must challenge our capacity and creative endeavor to try and fail in order to master the various techniques of ceramics and explore new markets for wearable art.  Sometimes our efforts do not come to the ideal that we have set in our minds, as to what we would like to accomplish. Trying and getting closer to” that “ideal will help each one of us master our craft whatever the medium. Too many times artists like to stick with what they know best and I feel that there is no growth in exploration of materials and technique. We as artists need to step it up and learn the craft from classes and workshops and books and the web, then tweak and turn the techniques on their heads so we can see all the possibilities that are out there for  personal satisfaction in what we create. It depends on the personality of an artist… Many  prefer to remain  safe in the things that they produce and have no foresight into how to keep repeat customers and art advocates involved and interested with new products that are not only mugs, cups bowls and vases. I prefer to keep my customers and followers guessing…. It is a way to keep you audience engaged  in your creative process.and always has them coming back for more……..