Harry Levenstein Pottery
  • Home
  • Portfolio
    • Pots
    • Sculpture
  • Process
    • Studio
    • Wood Firing
    • Soda Firing
    • Documented Wood Firings >
      • Conrad's Kiln Shed
      • Chinnagama X
      • Chinnagama XI
      • Chinnagama XII
      • Ishler on Whidbey
      • Mill Creek Train
      • Mounds Anagama
      • OkiDoki Train
      • OkiDoki Anagama
      • Pigeon Point Fast Fire
      • Pixiegama
      • Princess Kiln
      • Santatsugama
      • Santatsugama 2019
      • Simon's Rock Train
      • Thunder Train I
      • Thunder Train II
      • Thunder Train III
      • Spitfire Anagama
      • Yamagama
    • Instagram
  • Shop
    • Shop Direct
    • Shop Retail
  • Writing
  • More...
    • Workshops
    • India
    • Red Lodge Clay Center
    • The Traveling Potter
    • Soda Fire Interview
    • Quartz Inversion
    • Contact

Chop Water, Carry Wood

Selected reflections on a life unfolding.
In pursuit of our goals we humbly chop our wood, and carry our water. But sometimes it's a little more fun to chop that water.

Humbled.

2/13/2018

1 Comment

 
An unplanned post, short and sweet, to get back in the swing of things...

In the studio today I was humbled. Sitting at the wheel for hours trying to throw a particular form; A pitcher that I deemed acceptable in its shape and weight. For the life of me, I could not do it. Too heavy, bad spout, too heavy, wrong belly height, too heavy, too heavy... On one attempt I even failed in centering the clay.

I've been making pots for the better part of 7 years now. I suppose I fancy myself a pretty strong thrower. Today I learned that sometimes when you think you know something, when you take for granted, it might be barring you from seeing the truth. I swallowed my pride and asked for help.

With a little guidance I was finally able to break my pattern of failure, see my technique with fresh eyes, zero in on my issue, and focus on fixing it. I was re energized and filled with gratitude for a new found excitement.

Today wasn't an isolated event. Situations arise quite often in the studio where the opportunity to cultivate humility is presented. The thing is, they're only of use if you let them be. Lately I haven't been letting them, not just in the studio, but in general. Today's event was a much needed reminder to nurture the habit of humility.

Picture
1 Comment
Oral Classifieds Yukon link
12/4/2022 11:42:26 pm

Great readinng your post

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2021
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    June 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

• Stay Centered •
  • Home
  • Portfolio
    • Pots
    • Sculpture
  • Process
    • Studio
    • Wood Firing
    • Soda Firing
    • Documented Wood Firings >
      • Conrad's Kiln Shed
      • Chinnagama X
      • Chinnagama XI
      • Chinnagama XII
      • Ishler on Whidbey
      • Mill Creek Train
      • Mounds Anagama
      • OkiDoki Train
      • OkiDoki Anagama
      • Pigeon Point Fast Fire
      • Pixiegama
      • Princess Kiln
      • Santatsugama
      • Santatsugama 2019
      • Simon's Rock Train
      • Thunder Train I
      • Thunder Train II
      • Thunder Train III
      • Spitfire Anagama
      • Yamagama
    • Instagram
  • Shop
    • Shop Direct
    • Shop Retail
  • Writing
  • More...
    • Workshops
    • India
    • Red Lodge Clay Center
    • The Traveling Potter
    • Soda Fire Interview
    • Quartz Inversion
    • Contact