Hi everyone
One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn't exist. Without imperfection neither you nor I would exist.
Stephen Hawkins
A beautiful thing is never perfect.
Egyptian Proverb
Have no fear of perfection. You'll never reach it.
Salvador Dahli
The other day I waited impatiently that my kiln dropped the temperature enough to get a glimpse on my new pieces (vessels, wakas, boats, Boote) for Burning Issue Gallery. I experimented with different clay (black, grey, cream, with grogg and no grogg) and with different glazes. It was a painful wait.... each time I had a look, the kiln dropped only a few degrees. Think every potter experienced how SLOW time seems to drag on when you wait to open the kiln.
Finally the moment arrived to inspect my new work. Doing pottery, you never can tell how the pieces turn out! Its each time a little bit like Christmas or Birthday, opening a gift. Pure excitement.... that could turn quickly to disappointment as the work usually doesn't exactly comes out like you imagined. It depends on so many things: on the clay, the chemicals in the glazes, where the pieces are positioned in the kiln, the temperature you choose..... In other words, it is nearly impossible to reproduce a same piece again for the artist or tell ahead how it turns out. Even if you do "exactly" the same....
First I was thrilled. The wakas/boats looked great! I took them in the studio to work a little bit more on them and then my greatly annoying critical voice came out. They weren't exactly symmetrical, the glaze was not EXACTLY like I have planned....on and on and on.
Then in a moment of clarity I reasoned with it. Stop critic voice! I remembered my last project, the Circulums. The more I made, the closer I got to my picture of perfection. But to be honest: the first ones with all the imperfection just had a bit more character and where a bit more unique.... Is it really like the old Egyptians learned us: A beautiful thing is never perfect?
So I think doing pottery is a really superb exercise to work and finally hopefully get rid of my inner critic!
The boats/wakas are now in the Gallery and they look great!
Maybe, you might be also too critical with something you do..... nobody's perrrfect!
