As a kid, I had NO artistic talent whatsoever. God gave it all to my little brother. Even my mother didn’t put my stick-figure paintings on the fridge (actually an icebox in those days).
As an adult, my neighbour asked me to join her in a class teaching clay. Little did I know I was hooked for life. Looking back, it was a lot of hard work – practicing as much as possible with clay – no artistic talent was needed but a lot of patience.
Working on the wheel or making slab plates just releases your mind, you relax, you forget about the latest news on the TV, paying bills, making dinner. A life-long love of clay has brought about many rewards for me. One of them is sharing my pots with you. Next time you enjoy a coffee in a handmade mug made by your local potter, think about how much he/she enjoyed making this lovely piece for you. Share your enjoyment by buying a mug for a special friend.
Oh, and my brother? He became an Engineer and never pursued his talents. My Mother, on the other hand, collected as much of my work as I was willing to spare – even my rejects. I guess that was her form of encouragement after I failed ART in school
Lillian Forester