Leland G. Hall on sun 20 apr 03
I was browsing the archives when I stumbled into this crap which is quoted
in full below. The person states that "they don't know any (potters) who
don't have a suplemmental income" Come on. Then they don't know any
proffesional potters at all. I know of a bunch of proffesional potters who
make a living. Some who make a darn good one too. And talented at what?
If you have skill, guts and put the time into it, you can't lose. This a
just a big copout I think. Ya gotta put the hours and the blood and heart
and sweat into it like anything else. The reasons for failure are obvious
if you ask me. But to make it sound like it's impossible is doing a dis-
service to truth and to all aspiring artists. I can't believe more people
didn't jump on this and discredit this preposterous line of thinking.
PS Ok, I just reread the origional posts that got me going, and am willing
to back off partially, and apologize a little. I guess most of it is
regarding "rich" potters. But the last part, about knowing people who have
retired, devoted full time to pottery, but still have an income, inplies
clearly that the second income is needed. If they are giving full time to
it, and can't support them selves, then they don't know what they are
doing, or they have'nt enough skill/talent. It's true that some of the most
talented artists are lousey salesmen. I think that they usually don't last
long. They run out of room to store their unsold, but perfectly marketable
art. It piles up in there studio untill there is no room to work.
A true artist can do noting else. Create he/she must. Whats the
population of the planet? 6 billion? America? I don't even know. It's
lots though. The market is there. I believe that if you create beautiful
art, and present to the people, it will sell. But you gotta get it in
front of the people. If you do it full time, you create a lot of stuff. I
mean FULL TIME! If you present to the public, and you can't get rid of it,
maybe ya oughta rethink your talent notions. Though talent is pretty
useless with out skill. Well, I'm ranting, but that last post pissed me
off. It's not too hard unless your lazy or delusional. Thats my story and
I'm stickin' to it!
Now I suppose someone (lots?) of folks are going to feel inclined to start
pointing out the numerous artists of history who produced tons of art, yet
died dirt poor, only be collected after their lives were over. The stuff
is worth millions now. But I'm talking about todays economy. Theres tons
of disposable income now. So before you start hammering on me, please keep
it in the contect of now. Today. Sure, ther's a slump, but I still know
personally a bunch of folks making it as potters just fine. If your stuff
is good, and it doesn't sell, your not reaching the right customers. Am I
makeing it? I got a broken spine and work REAL slow. But I sell what I
make, no problem. No crybaby peepeepants here.
Regards
Leland Hall
La Pine, Oregon
where I am braced and grinning for the rebuttals
In a message dated 3/25/03 2:50:04 PM, redpot1025@AOL.COM writes:
<< >
I'd like to add, as I have learned the hard way, that any personal
info is free for the looking. When I went to court for my support hearing,
Ex's Atty. had copies of all of everyone's posts regarding a potter's
income.
As a matter of fact, I believe he's a regular subscriber now, monitoring
every word I post...Everyone say "Hi Dave".
Cher Gauvin
>>
ROTFL! There may be a few rich potters but I certainly don't know any. In
fact I don't know any who don't have supplemental income of some kind. I
know
people who have retired and devoted their time, full time to pottery, but
they also have a retirement or pension income and wouldn't be able to
survive
just on their pottery.
It's such a shame. Everyone I'm thinking of is so talented. So ... Dave ...
if you're reading this... pottery is not the goose that laid the golden
egg!
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