An artist’s unplanned pregnancy
To me, ideas are like little unplanned pregnancies. Often the seed for a concept is planted in my brain for no reason and with no foresight. It grows and festers and gives me pain (along with joy) and waits for the right moment to be born.
This process, unlike pregnancy, doesn’t have a telltale gestation period. Much of the time, these embryonic concepts wither and die before they even have a chance. But once in a while…an idea comes barreling out of my head whether it is fully formed or not.
These ideas, though conceptually solid, still need nurturing. They need experimentation and testing and patience. They need cajoling and pushing…and many times, a good deal of cursing.
I think many find this process frustrating, as if mistakes and failed tests are an overall sign of failure. Not so for me. They needle me, challenge me…shove me to go further, try it again. What about THIS way, THIS color, THIS material, THIS process. It is the way I learn.
My first mistake is usually caused by my excitement to try an idea. I rush the process, I cut corners, I fail to notice the nuances. The most common glass example is shattering. I open the kiln too early or I cool it down too quickly resulting in a shattered piece. I’m just so excited - I want to see it NOW!
Now, I know you can’t see it above very well…but the two top right pieces are shattered from me cooling this kiln down too early BUT conceptually…they are a success. They will push me tonight to experiment again, go further with a concept that, before last night, was just a teeny unexpected seed floating around in my head.
Eventually, I will have what I want and all the testing and pushing and broken glass and mouthfuls of “fucks” will have been for something - an end piece that illustrates what I was seeing in my minds eye.
Something from nothing. It is an exhilarating and addictive ride.
(*p.s. despite the 2 shattered test pieces, this kiln load also yielded one of my favorite “industrial” glass pendants to date. See the 3-geared white piece below. Process is good.)
