Tony Ferguson on wed 31 jul 02
I remember once thinking of waiting for inspiration when I was writing. It
seemed when I was in love I was inspired or when I was mourning over a
relationship I was inspired. It seemed in those moments there was clarity
where everthing made sense in the chaos, many things became clear as day,
what had to be done was to be done, what roads to avoid and new ones to
find. Of course, one could not depend on relationships if you wanted to get
anywhere with your artform--love and grief were not enough.
A great teacher/poet said to me, "you can't wait for inspiration to fall out
of the sky and knock you in the head. You need to create inspiration,
everyday, by working and eventually you will create inspiration and it will
show in your work." I have since learned as they say its 95% perspiration
and 5% inspiration with respect to my own work and I keep an open mind in
awe of the creation and find myself more inspired because of the enjoyment
of the process and not so much the notion of success or the desire to be
inspired.
Thank you.
Tony Ferguson
Stoneware, Porcelain, Raku
www.aquariusartgallery.com
218-727-6339
315 N. Lake Ave
Apt 312
Duluth, MN 55806
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cheryl Hoffman"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2002 4:54 PM
Subject: Re: Steak, eggs and homemade hashbrowns
> In a message dated 7/31/02 2:03:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> cindi@CINDI-ANDERSON.COM writes:
>
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Earl Brunner"
> > > I would respectfully suggest to you that the idea of sitting down and
> > > letting the clay "speak" to you and have it tell you what it wants to
be
> > > "when it grows up" is an excuse or rationalization of many less
skilled
> > > potters for not being able to make similar pots.
> > >
> > > To be skillful at something requires disciple and practice and effort.
> > > It is a struggle. If one can not and does not chose to pay the price,
> > > that's fine. Just don't make excuses. Everyone does not have to buy
> > > into the same ethic on this.
> >
> >
>
> Gee Earl, You really know how to encourage the creative juices in a
newbie
> potter. I'm not making excuses -- I stated right off that my skills were
not
> there yet. And I do pay the price...I'm out in my studio all day, every
day,
> 98 degrees in my makeshift studio...I'm paying my dues. I'm mostly self
> taught, aside from a few C.C. classes. The first electric kiln firing I
ever
> saw was my own, by myself, scared to death. But I did it. No, I can't
sit
> down and throw twenty bowls the same yet. Could you when you first
started
> out? I don't know what my style is yet, so I experiment a lot. Is that a
> crime? Some days I concentrate on a particular skill, like bottoms on
> different forms. Some days I concentrate on speed. Some days I just
enjoy
> the clay and play. Sounds like you need to lighted up and play a little.
> Cher Hoffman
>
>
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