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let's look at the positive side (was: pricing. can we talk?)

updated mon 12 jul 10

 

Jennifer Boyer on fri 9 jul 10


HI Fabienne, even though I'm one of those grumpy old timers, I need to
answer this...you asked in your original post, for feedback on whether you
could make money getting back into clay. You got some reality check type
answers. If you had asked " what keeps you in clay despite all the
negatives" you would have gotten a different answer. If I take the money
making necessity out of the equation, clay is what I love to handle, pots
are what I love to make, kilns are what I love to fire....no need to every
question whether I LOVE clay: I do. The problem is whether I'm PAID
adequately when I pursue clay as a money making job...the economy we are
face with right now doesn't help...
Jennifer

>
>
> 1. Despite the negative aspect of the business, many of you are still
> in it, why? I'm assuming that the positive still outweigh the negative
> if you're still potting. 2. What made you start the business? Same as
> 1. or have your reasons for staying in changed?
>
> Thank you for your time,
>
> Fabienne
>
>

May Luk on sat 10 jul 10


Hello Fabienne;

I am in my third year of my part-time pottery business. I started from
nothing with only 1 box of my favorite pottery tools, some stains and
one glaze book I brought back from London, UK. And my limited ceramic
knowledge I have from going to school and having a studio in England
for 4 years. I did have a semi-body of work in my portfolio and my
professional design and graphic skill

1- I like the challenge and all the problem solving. Not everyday i do
not think about if I quit, I can save loads of money to go on a cruise
every 6 months (or, more importantly, pay for medical assistance for
my old and sick mum). But I'm in too deep financially and emotionally.
My husband gives me all the moral support and he enjoys it when I make
some designs and work that I am excited about. This is from my bio: "I
loved the medium, the combination of art and science, hours of
experimentation mixing glaze and colors, each resulting piece a series
of creative decisions and technical endeavors."

2- I found painting too straight-forward and I am crap at photography.
I am also too old to learn to play music or dance. I'm not into Fine
Art because I don't have the space and the connection.

Something catastrophic just happened to my studio equipment and my
pottery is essentially closed as of yesterday. I have to re-do my
business plan and I am going access what I am going to do next.

Regards
May
Brooklyn NY

"1. Despite the negative aspect of the business, many of you are still
in it, why? I'm assuming that the positive still outweigh the negative
if you're still potting. 2. What made you start the business? Same as
1. or have your reasons for staying in changed?"




--
http://twitter.com/MayLuk

May Luk on sat 10 jul 10


Due to being over-worked, a series of weird coincidence and a kiln
with a bad history, my kiln over-fired. I have no kiln. I just about
to pay off my credit card for my pottery debt. I'm kind of tired of
the production related stress right now.

Also I am organising a big-to-me pottery show (20 potters!) tomorrow.
so I'm riding the adrenaline from the show preparation. Hopefully when
I get some rest next week. I can think a bit clearer.

Thanks for asking

May

On Sat, Jul 10, 2010 at 5:46 PM, Snail Scott wr=
=3D
ote:
> On Jul 10, 2010, at 10:06 AM, May Luk wrote:
>>
>> Something catastrophic just happened to my studio equipment and my
>> pottery is essentially closed as of yesterday....
>
>
> That sounds like a helluva thing!
> What on earth happened?
>
> =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =
=3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3D
=3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0-Snail
>



--=3D20
http://twitter.com/MayLuk

Snail Scott on sat 10 jul 10


On Jul 10, 2010, at 10:06 AM, May Luk wrote:
> Something catastrophic just happened to my studio equipment and my
> pottery is essentially closed as of yesterday....


That sounds like a helluva thing!
What on earth happened?

-Snail