[Clayart] Cookie cutters and commercial stamps

[David Woof]

Hi Carolyn,
Your lack of a studio is frustrating, I'm sure.  But you have your hands, your wits, and creative thoughts.........don't give in, don't give up....you are an inspiration!!!

Regarding what you and others have said in these recent posts, I note that the Education System, the Political Powers, and the Trinitarian Hell and Damnation Purveyors, are all working to bring the Masses to a de-educated state of controllable ignorance.

Our dear Lili Krakowski used to call these ignorant Masses the "great unwashed" in her writings and the ignorance is exponentially now expanding in all spheres.
Oh! I can feel a "Rant" building steam so will just say "I'd rather die than give in," and I will continue to trust that the truly appreciative and discriminating wise ones are still out there seeking my work as they have since the 70's.  They prove me right each show, or time they call.!!!

To stand out, I don't crowd around the fishing hole where the newest lemming rage is selling to folks that I would not wish for my work to be in their uncouth hands anyway.

Creativity and Art refuse to be forced.
The key to long term survival in the Arts and Crafts is to let actual sales set the lifestyle one can afford to live.  And not chose an expected standard of living and then attempt to cut ethical corners to afford that choice.

Life suffers, Creativity suffers, Health, Emotional and Mental problems proliferate.

Interestingly, tests have shown that the fluids of the spinal chemistry in an artist when creatively working, are similar to those rocking in the "Rubber Rooms."

Must be that some of the "Nut Cases" and "Lunatics" are having as much fun as we are. Ya suppose? The lines do get blurred, don't they.

Rock on!!!

David Woof................................................................................................................................................................................
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_________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: Clayart <clayart-bounces at lists.clayartforum.com> on behalf of Carolyn Curran via Clayart <clayart at lists.clayartforum.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 11:47 AM
To: Clayart international pottery discussion forum <clayart at lists.clayartforum.com>; Carolyn Curran <cncpots2 at gmail.com>
Cc: Carolyn Curran <cncpots2 at gmail.com>
Subject: [Clayart] Cookie cutters and commercial stamps

I guess the internet and other almost instant forms of communication have
increased the number of.people who try their hand at marketing pottery
while using someone else's motif on a cookie cutter and someone else's
design done with a purchased stamp or roller.  The availability of
inexpensive microwave kilns and mini potter's wheels is also a factor in
the abundance of  what I might call simple  bread and butter items found at
many craft shows.   Yeah,  I  myself have used  "boughten" cookie cutters
for ornaments and so have many other clay artists,  but all of a sudden I
am seeing a TON  of these  look alike ornaments appearing on Ebay and Etsy
and at shows.   I may be a clay snob,  but I bristle  when someone  shows
me a "mass produceable" ornament or other small doodad  they have purchased
at a craft show and compares it   favorably with a truly individual item.
I don't begrudge them their inexpensive Christma tree decoration, but it's
getting so that  the general public is beginning to think  of these items
as examples of  creative craftsmanship.  They may be "handcrafted", but
most of them are not examples of creativity  but of simple copy work.  Did
ancient potters think this way when the potter's wheel came on the scene?
And how about commercial glazes or other supplies  that are not made from
scratch?  Plaster molds?  Laser cut  designs and 3D printers?   Thoughts
from Carolyn, the potter currently. without studio
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