The stirring started months ago. It was a creative stirring that I didn't expect. It beckoned me to get my hands dirty again, to use tools again, to explore again. Why now? I asked myself. What's the point now? But it's best not to question the intent of a creative stirring. It's best to just go with it. And besides, why not now? And that is why I let the stirring lead me to the ceramics studio, the likes of which I hadn't seen in over twenty years. I haven't thrown a pot in twenty years, I thought to myself. So WHAT?! I barked back. (Inner struggle can be exhausting.)
After I found a local open ceramics studio, I bought a bag of clay and I sat down at the wheel and I actually centered that clay and threw a pot. I was highly encouraged by this act and was no longer questioning my need to be there or why— I was simply enjoying myself. Uncharacteristically undeterred by failing to center another ball of clay for weeks, I didn't throw a fit or slam my clay on the ground. Instead, I watched clay-centering tutorials on YouTube until something clicked. And when I went back to the studio the next day something really did click because I totally centered that clay. Fantastic! I thought. What next?
I played around with slab forming and hand building and things started to get even more interesting to me because I was no longer limited to what I could throw on the wheel. And then other ideas came for things that weren't ceramics. And then other ideas came from those ideas. And then I was inspired to make jewelry. And before I knew what was happening I was back in the making. And I still am.
I've been making things like crazy and it feels like art school again.
More to come…

