I
spend a lot of time doodling especially while watching TV or a movie at night,
it's all about multi-tasking. The other night I was doodling an idea for a vessel
form that I thought was a winner when my wife suddenly pointed to what I was
doing and simply said, "nope". I was a little miffed, didn't say
anything and decided to prove her wrong and the next day threw two stoneware
cylinders to cut and reassemble and rolled out some slabs. The next day I set
about constructing my Frankenstein monster of a piece and after two hours of
work realized this was not ever going to work. Before someone points out that
you are not going to necessarily succeed on the first attempt let me reassure
you, it was 110% clear this idea was not going to work as the basic premise was
to defy gravity and that never ends well. In the end I cut the piece up, put it
in a bag, sprayed it down with water hoping to salvage the 8 pounds of clay and
over two hours of time. Illustrated is
the results of the reclaimed clay a few days later, stoneware covered jar with
two lids and then with impasto applied slip. I ended up making two versions of
this jar, one a bit more slender and taller than this, the other a bit more robust as well as
three teabowls so I was able to redeem at least the materials by applying them
to forms and idea I am used to and would like to think I have mostly worked
out. I guess the moral of the story is a bit murky; I stand by the decision to
go ahead and try to see if an idea has any merit but when the finger of providence
reaches over and plunks down on your doodle, maybe you (I) should pay more
attention.
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