Do Something

I graduated with an Art Minor Deluxe from Berry College. I call it Deluxe because I was a mere two classes away from it being a complete second major. That deserves extra verbiage.

So, if you didn't major or minor deluxe in visual arts, you probably wonder what we learn beside how to paint, pot and draw. Of course we learn those things, but there are learned processes that teach, push, encourage and provoke us as emerging artists.

I was thinking about one of these in particular today as I enjoyed a second marathon pottery day on my parent's lovely screened in porch. (20 pots in 2 days, woot woot!)

I'm making a slew of mugs for next weekends Christmas show at Earthworks Pottery (note to self, never wait this late to get started on the bulk of your showing!!) So, I challenged myself to make these mugs individual and unique and not just pump out some handled cylinders. So, in order to accomplish this, I put into practice one of my Berry College Art Department techniques, the "Do Something" technique.

Here is how it works:

1. You take something. This something is your base. So I took a simple circular form as the starting figure for my mug.

2. Now, you do something to it.

And you get a more interesting piece.

3. Now, you do something else to it.

So I added some new dimensions to the mug.

4. And then, do something else to it.

More fun than the basic straight and narrow mug? I think so! I do love simplicity in art but creativity is the key so applying this technique tastefully, creatively and in a fresh light makes all the difference in my work.

Here are some more mugs the went through the same process.

Now I have to figure out how to squeeze in drying, firing, glazing, and firing again before Friday. Come see how it works out at the show!