I was finally able to get back out to the studio today. I am waiting for knee surgery to be done in a few weeks. In the meantime I have learned that being in pain greatly diminishes my creativity. I can force myself to make pots, but creativity cannot be forced. Two artist friends have recently shared that they have been experiencing the same thing. One of the ironies of getting older is that we tend to have more time, but aging bodies are not always able to keep up. I am looking forward to being able to resume physical exercise like walking and yoga, things that allow me to enjoy long hours in the studio.

Yesterday I attended the annual Catawba Valley Pottery and Antiques Festival. Daniel Johnston http://danieljohnstonpottery.com showed a video about his Large Jar Project and demonstrated skills he learned in Thailand. I was not planning to buy anything at the show, but I fell in love with Charlie Tefft's work and brought home one of his pieces, a lovely platter with two Carolina Wrens, my favorite bird. http://ctpottery.com/. One reason I went to Catawba was to pick up some inspiration for my own work. Having a studio at home can be isolating, so I have to make time to stay in touch with other potters and their work. I am grateful to live in a community with so many extraordinary artists.

Today I started a fountain inspired by one I recently saw. Making a fountain which works correctly is a feat of engineering. I want this one to make enough noise that I can hear it in several rooms, but not splash enough to make a mess. The design I am working on requires at least five pots which are then assembled into the finished product. Halfway through today's work, I wondered why I did not just buy a ready-made fountain and spend my studio time making something else. Stubbornness, I suppose.