Making art- wants not needs

The 2022 Mentorship Stuck in the Mud Mentorship at Claykitchenportugal with Tony Clennell and David Trueb has come to a conclusion. It was indeed intensive and exhausting but I'm feeling good that the participants have plenty of tools in their toolbox to keep them busy for some time now. Now they need time alone to reflect on all they were taught and to practice it. I was told a few years ago that you can teach skill but not Art. My answer of course was "bullshit!" When do children stop making Art? I think it is when they are told they can't make Art. Would you say to your child draw within the lines and not over them? It takes skill to draw within the lines. It takes an artist to explore past the line. Drawing inside a box. Life within a box. Hmmmm! I figure if you can hold a pencil you can make Art. It has been 4 days since the mudslingers left. I spent 2 days in and out of sleep. They are all home now in their comfort zones, their homes, studios and hopefully in the company of loved ones. They are a great bunch and I think life long friendships were formed. Here is some of the work.

What I'm pleased about is the variety of signatures. That is what it is about. Making Art. Making work that is identifably yours. After a few days rest David, Alix, Natasha, Irene and I are onto a new woodfired earthenware project. No rest for the wicked.