CLAY LIBERATION!
By: Randy Gillis
At the age of 51, this is where I find myself. I'm working a job that is becoming increasingly unsatisfying, strapped to a house that's locking me in place, and in a seemingly inescapable cycle of work, mope, sleep, mope, work......
So, Randy makes a decision.
I've decided that I would rather die poor but fulfilled, doing something that gave me tremendous pleasure in the past. I've decided to open a pottery shop of my very own.
I figure that, at my age, I'm good for one last hurrah, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make a go of it. That will include, but is not limited to the following:
1. Enroll in the RCC continuing Ed night course in pottery to refreshen my skills (it has been about 8 years since I've turned).
2. Sell my house. My brother has generously offered me a portion of land on his property to place a mini-mobile home, next to a beautiful, cinder-block building that another brother has graciously offered to let me use as the shop.
3. If my house can't or won't sell, I'll continue with this as a 'weekend' business until such time as I can sell.
4. Find a mentor in the form of a Seagrove potter willing to let me hang out and ask tons of questions.
5. Over a period of 6 months, generate an inventory of pottery items and see if they sell.
6. Maintain a herd of perfect goats to sacrifice to any dark lord that will offer a helping hand.
7. Find my niche. At one point I was able to claim bowls, vases, lidded vessels, mugs, and teapots in my repertoire. I would like to add burial urns (for people and pets) and whimsy pieces with a decidedly homoerotic flavor, for the LGBT market.
8. Learn as much as I can about small business management, marketing and internet sells and create a website for CLAY LIBERATION (god only knows how I'll accomplish that, but see number 6 above).
9. Maintain this blog about my experience in the hopes that it will keep me inspired to struggle on. And provide some laughs along the way.
10. If things progress according to my pact with whatever demonic influence (with enough power to make it happen) I make, I would like to make a slow transition from a low-rung corporate drone to a full-time potter!
11. Live happily ever after!
So, there it is. The next six months are going to be CRAZY! But I feel more alive at this moment than I have in a long time.
So, come with me. It will at least be entertaining.
Randy
So, Randy makes a decision.
I've decided that I would rather die poor but fulfilled, doing something that gave me tremendous pleasure in the past. I've decided to open a pottery shop of my very own.
I figure that, at my age, I'm good for one last hurrah, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make a go of it. That will include, but is not limited to the following:
1. Enroll in the RCC continuing Ed night course in pottery to refreshen my skills (it has been about 8 years since I've turned).
2. Sell my house. My brother has generously offered me a portion of land on his property to place a mini-mobile home, next to a beautiful, cinder-block building that another brother has graciously offered to let me use as the shop.
4. Find a mentor in the form of a Seagrove potter willing to let me hang out and ask tons of questions.
5. Over a period of 6 months, generate an inventory of pottery items and see if they sell.
7. Find my niche. At one point I was able to claim bowls, vases, lidded vessels, mugs, and teapots in my repertoire. I would like to add burial urns (for people and pets) and whimsy pieces with a decidedly homoerotic flavor, for the LGBT market.
8. Learn as much as I can about small business management, marketing and internet sells and create a website for CLAY LIBERATION (god only knows how I'll accomplish that, but see number 6 above).
9. Maintain this blog about my experience in the hopes that it will keep me inspired to struggle on. And provide some laughs along the way.
10. If things progress according to my pact with whatever demonic influence (with enough power to make it happen) I make, I would like to make a slow transition from a low-rung corporate drone to a full-time potter!
11. Live happily ever after!
So, there it is. The next six months are going to be CRAZY! But I feel more alive at this moment than I have in a long time.
So, come with me. It will at least be entertaining.
Randy
I love #6. I'm thinking you may should include a line of homoerotic pottery inspired completely by Harrison Ford. I'm so excited to follow your journey.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU! Of course Harrison Ford inspires me all the time (hehe).
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