Elca Branman on sat 9 dec 00
I was thinking about money and pots.
We all know that money isn't just about money, right?
I used to support myself as a potter and when I made pots, the intent was
twofold; to make money and to make good pots.
Good pots very often take longer to make, because they start out one way
and then you continue to work on them till they evolve in the direction
that you and they want to go. Also, there are only 20 working hours in
the day(just kidding) and sometimes you need to spend the time making
mugs..good mugs, nice mugs, but with far less a challenge than something
else that is niggling on your inside begging to come out.
Sometimes you find the means to satisfy customers and make good pots,
but my true pleasure is exploration and my blessed personal gift is
unlimited creativity..You all know how you start with one idea and then
develope it and then another comes..right?
Anyhow, my adjustment to the realities of commercial life had me at
about 80% stuff that i knew they would buy, and 20% exploration and
play...and it worked well for that time. I was gratified that i could
really support myself doing what I love. I did the Jacobsen thing,
developed a local following and never did anything about developing a
rep via juried national shows...The money was a terrific vote by the
public and
my standard stuff sold well . The one of a kind sold at higher prices but
less frequently...but I always sold everything, eventually.
Then,tired of woodstoves and icy roads, and plain getting old too for the
life we were leading, we moved to sunny Sarasota.
Now I am 74 and I make pots every day. I sell them at private sales.
My 2nd one is coming up..Each sale is a total benefit for a specific
charity. My last sale was Planned Parenthood and the Thanksgiving one is
for Doctors Without Borders.
My reason for telling you all this is that we all grow old and there is
great richness after retirement.
I found a wonderful new freedom.Every pot I make now or at least 85%of
them, is an exploration and there is a new joy in my work. It is a
different experience from having a $ goal in mind and I feel so
fortunate . It feels the way kindergarten should, all joy and exploration
and newness. I go to the studio every day with anticipation.What shall I
make today and what will it look like ?
..It took me 2 years to figure this as a way out of the two issues,;why
make more pots and what to do with them. I guess it takes that long to
figure out how to keep working and be retired simultaneously. It also
takes enough retirement income so that money is not an issue and I am
lucky enough to be in the situation of havinmg enough money for my needs.
I have to admit to being pleased if there is a big bunch of dough for
a cause, but it no longer is the starter to this old clay engine.
I love my clay life.
And yes, before each sale I still obsess.....will I have enough pots
....and what if nobody comes?!!
And when I sell my sculpture, I keep that money and I don't know why!!
Elca.. at home in Sarasota,Florida,USA
elcab1@juno.com
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Cheryl L Litman on sun 10 dec 00
Elca,
If my beloved dinnerware set is an indicator, you managed to go the
production route without compromising :<)
Glad you're enjoying the next adventure in your life as well.
Cheryl Litman ---------- Somerset, NJ --------- email:
cheryllitman@juno.com
On Sat, 9 Dec 2000 17:33:11 -0500 Elca Branman writes:
> I was thinking about money and pots.
>
> We all know that money isn't just about money, right?
>
> I used to support myself as a potter and when I made pots, the
> intent was
> twofold; to make money and to make good pots.
>
> Good pots very often take longer to make, because they start out one
> way
> and then you continue to work on them till they evolve in the
> direction
> that you and they want to go. Also, there are only 20 working hours
> in
> the day(just kidding) and sometimes you need to spend the time
> making
> mugs..good mugs, nice mugs, but with far less a challenge than
> something
> else that is niggling on your inside begging to come out.
>
> Sometimes you find the means to satisfy customers and make good
> pots,
> but my true pleasure is exploration and my blessed personal gift is
> unlimited creativity..You all know how you start with one idea and
> then
> develope it and then another comes..right?
>
> Anyhow, my adjustment to the realities of commercial life had me at
> about 80% stuff that i knew they would buy, and 20% exploration and
> play...and it worked well for that time. I was gratified that i
> could
> really support myself doing what I love. I did the Jacobsen thing,
> developed a local following and never did anything about developing
> a
> rep via juried national shows...The money was a terrific vote by the
> public and
> my standard stuff sold well . The one of a kind sold at higher
> prices but
> less frequently...but I always sold everything, eventually.
>
> Then,tired of woodstoves and icy roads, and plain getting old too
> for the
> life we were leading, we moved to sunny Sarasota.
>
> Now I am 74 and I make pots every day. I sell them at private sales.
> My 2nd one is coming up..Each sale is a total benefit for a specific
> charity. My last sale was Planned Parenthood and the Thanksgiving
> one is
> for Doctors Without Borders.
>
> My reason for telling you all this is that we all grow old and
> there is
> great richness after retirement.
>
> I found a wonderful new freedom.Every pot I make now or at least
> 85%of
> them, is an exploration and there is a new joy in my work. It is a
> different experience from having a $ goal in mind and I feel so
> fortunate . It feels the way kindergarten should, all joy and
> exploration
> and newness. I go to the studio every day with anticipation.What
> shall I
> make today and what will it look like ?
>
> .It took me 2 years to figure this as a way out of the two
> issues,;why
> make more pots and what to do with them. I guess it takes that long
> to
> figure out how to keep working and be retired simultaneously. It
> also
> takes enough retirement income so that money is not an issue and I
> am
> lucky enough to be in the situation of havinmg enough money for my
> needs.
> I have to admit to being pleased if there is a big bunch of dough
> for
> a cause, but it no longer is the starter to this old clay engine.
>
> I love my clay life.
>
> And yes, before each sale I still obsess.....will I have enough pots
> ...and what if nobody comes?!!
>
> And when I sell my sculpture, I keep that money and I don't know
> why!!
>
>
> Elca.. at home in Sarasota,Florida,USA
> elcab1@juno.com
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
>
>
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Cheryl Litman ---------- Somerset, NJ --------- email:
cheryllitman@juno.com
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