Why Ceramics, Why Now?
A note before we start:
If you’ve the mind to add a little more creativity to your life but feel like you’re blocked in some way, I highly recommend the Book “The Artist’s Way” , by Julia Cameron. Her book is the reason that I, amongst thousands of other Artists, have recommitted and reconnected to their art. Alongside the many who’ve started a new hobby, changed their career to pursue their art, become successful artists in their craft, and unblocked themselves from years of struggling to pursue the creativity they’ve always wanted to, I have read this book to reclaim the title of Artist and realign with my “why”.
Everyone, be they artist or not (though I do believe every single person has an inner artist in there somewhere, even if it’s buried deep) has a “why”. It’s a big question, and one I’ve been trying to answer for myself for a long time.
I have a secret that I’m finally willing to open up about, here on this little corner of the internet, probably because I know very few of you will find me... The truth is that YouTube, especially the way that I’ve been doing it for the past couple years, has pushed me farther and farther away from what I believe is my “Why”.
With the struggle to perform and evolve with an algorithm that often feels entirely outside my control or artistic dreams, and with the number of views per video directly correlating to both my financial stability and my feeling of self-worth (unfortunately), I’ve found that producing videos is less about the joy I find in creating, and more about a means to an end: The means to survive as an Artist, to work on my own terms, set my own hours, and to live a creative life. These priorities have outweighed the cost, which is why I’ve continued to pursue YouTube even though I don’t always find joy in production or being vulnerable online, but there came a time a few months ago where I grew dark and very unhappy, and I realized that I needed change.
If you’ve been around for awhile, you’ll know that I’ve spent a fair bit of time in the fine arts, especially with painting. I’ve released two small collections now, but even though there was a part of me that lit up with that creativity, there was always this spark within me whispering “but what if…?” Painting, though lovely, never quite cut it for me. I think it’s because once you’ve finished a piece, you can’t USE it. You can admire it, have it in a cherished place in your home, but there’s a level of practicality that I’ve always deeply admired in ceramics, and have ached for in my art. I want to create things that are both beautiful and also useful.
Ceramics was always an answer to that question but one I didn’t pursue until a couple years ago when I picked up a brochure for a month long course: 4 lessons plus unlimited studio time, all for $150. The pottery studio, Firestick Pottery, was a small, charming studio set behind the owner’s house in the idyllic town of Ojai, California. After one class, something clicked into place.
I went as much as I possibly could, knowing full well that once the month was over, I’d have to move on, especially since Ojai is an affluent town where van-dwellers are not exactly welcome. Afterwards, with a small collection of poorly made, (though beautifully glazed) bowls, ceramics once again shuffled its way to the archives of my mind, labeled “someday”.
After having sold my van, renovated a lot of our 70 year old house with my partner, Elli, it turns out that someday is now, in a rural town on the northern border of Germany. After months and months of journaling and trying to figure out what’s next for me, and where I’d like to see my life going, I’ve finally formulated a proper answer to my earlier question.
“Why?”
To Create MORE than I consume.
To enjoy the act of Creating more than the product.
To create beautiful, useful items to share with others and to enjoy ourselves.
To connect others and myself more deeply with the natural world through my creative work.
To deeply explore the world of ceramics: to try new things, to learn, to fail, and to try again.
To discover a clearer, more honest version of myself through the act of creativity.
To keep a promise to myself: to honor the creativity within me, and to act upon it.
