Hotter than a pistol

It's been awhile since I thought my wheel was hotter than a pistol. Fact is I think it may have been at Starworks in 2018 working along side my buddy Dan Finnigan. Dan had to do some repetition throwing to get ready for a big show and knew what he needed to make and take. Me,

I had nothing coming up other than a teaching gig in Italy the following winter. The thing about being a itinerant adjunct prof without tenure and without a school you are really never hot enough. You are only as good as your last kiln load, show, or workshop. Today I sat in the studio wadding some pots I've made over the past few months. The excitement of getting back in the ring was there big time. I thought about my circle of young potter friends. I thought I sure hope they play me Kenny Rogers "The Gambler" when my pots start to stagnate. Know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away and know when to run. Sometimes when I visit my daughter Robin I look at some of my old pots and think holy shit that is really good. That is better than I am making today. Robin has an amazing collection of my work. It is generally work that didn't sell and was probably the pick of the litter. What does that tell you? Looked at a hacksaw decorated jug that I used to do and the current ones that are marks with a brush. Still making marks just differently. Probably 40 years of making a jug. Pinched rim, twisted handle and few other refinements. Progress is slow after the first race up the hill in the first decade of your career. Happiness is a warm gun.