‘work in progress’
I had a bit of an epiphany this morning.
Last night I sat in bed trying to come up with a name for my blog. I had a long list of ideas, but nothing just quite right. Then, just as I was about to put my notebook down, turn off the light and go to sleep, I wrote ‘Work in Progress’. Don’t know where it came from, but that was it - the perfect description.
This morning I’m even more convinced. This little phrase, used by accountants to describe stuff in the factory of value but as yet unfinished, a phrase we use all the time, is actually loaded with so much meaning.
On the face of it, it just means ‘Unfinished - Lots to Do’. Look more closely. But there’s that little positive word ‘Progress’ which hints at a better future. And it’s not just a description of an unfinished state, it’s can be a statement that action is taking place - Work is in Progress, we are doing something - developing, improving, moving forward, moving on. It’s the perfect ‘strapline’ - not only for what’s on my bench right now, but for my ceramic practice as a whole, for Life, The Universe and Everything! If we’re not Work in Progress we will have come to a big fat FULL STOP.
Why is this important to me? Well, I have come back to ceramics after a long break. That brings with it a lot of self-doubt. In my head I have always been a maker and a potter, but life, practicalities and other choices got in the way. Now that I can begin to build my practice again it is progression with continuity. Strangely, after such a long break, I’m working with greater confidence and clarity. You can’t be tentative with clay or you end up with tentative pots.
My new work is the polar opposite of the pure white porcelain I used to throw on the wheel. I will go back to porcelain later because I love its qualities, but I will approach it in a new way. For now, I love what I am doing and the pieces I am making, and I love the freedom to experiment.
For me it has been a long time coming, but for anyone else teetering on the ‘should I, shouldn’t I?’ see-saw I’d say ‘Just Do It and see what happens’. If I can pick up my passion again and get so much joy from it, anyone can. Good luck!
