Rant: My stubborn solo studio ethos shattered over a wedging table conversation
I used to think that managing my own ceramic studio meant avoiding all input, fearing it would dilute my artistic vision. This belief was ABSOLUTELY entrenched until I overheard a discussion about reclaim clay efficiency at a community studio where I was renting kiln space. Someone mentioned a method using plaster bats that cut their waste by half, and I was skeptical but intrigued. After trying it myself, I not only saved material but also discovered a smoother consistency for my hand-building projects. That single exchange opened my eyes to how isolated I had become, clinging to inefficient habits out of pride. Now, I schedule weekly drop-ins with other potters just to troubleshoot issues like glaze fit or kiln loading patterns. The collaborative energy has TRANSFORMED my productivity and even sparked ideas for a new texturing technique. Letting go of that rigid self-reliance was the best career decision I've made in ceramics.