WHY DO I CREATE?

The photograph shows one of my entries titled “Zoom” (no surprise there then!) which I made for this year’s exhibition by the Scottish Glass Society. It was to be a real live show in a real physical building in Glasgow where real people could really visit instead of being subjected to a virtual mishmash of technology wizardry through a computer screen. I was really looking forward to it and had booked hotel accommodation. Then the dreaded news that the exhibition was cancelled due to that’orrible virussy thingie which meant not enough staff to manage the show. Hey ho so its back online and the art of photographs really enter the arena with centre stage positioning. Seems unfair that great work can suffer through poor reproduction of imagery. This photograph was “snapped” by Stephen Lay and no doubt would win a photograph competition, but I am not sure the glassware would win anything?

After working through weekends and up til midnight to met deadlines for exhibitions that never take place I question myself why on Earth do I suffer in this way. I give myself so much stress and ignore all options to slow down or give up and stay in bed longer reading books! I make things out of glass for customers when they ask me but why do I make things that no one has requested or want? No Idea and seems a bit selfish as I have so much fun making glass items for me and after all am I not the most important customer of my creations? Glass Creations at that too of course!!!

With the reduction of exhibitions to almost zero then there is no point in making “stuff” to sell at shows. Or is there? Maybe now is the time to get ready, keeping one’s hand in (but not a flame please!) so that I am ready to show off when the time is right. More importantly I must take control and make that time now and of my own destiny. Hence my workshop door will be open to those walking by and may want to see me create or even buy something but then I don’t necessary create to sell. The downside with this approach is that my studio is full or work I have loved making but haven’t sold. I suppose I could give it all away but then that will be the subject of another Blog post!!