Wednesday, February 20, 2008

when to stop?


this is my dilemma right now. i am trying to make work to apply to a wholesale show, and coming up with a line of work has been a difficult thing for me to do. usually i make what i want, when i want, without thinking too much about it. but now, i have to make things that match, that other people will like and want to buy. but i can't seem to settle on my designs...i can't stop thinking of better ways to decorate...testing, testing, with no end in sight! i know i am putting too much pressure on myself to make it perfect, and that i'll just have to pick a stopping point because i could go on like this forever!! but this is one of the hardest things as a maker not to. so, when do i stop? when is it done?
so far i am making luminaries with vases and small picture frames to match, and the images are of work in progress. the shapes are simple which is ok...a basic hurricane design. the good part about the shape is that they leave lots of room for decoration. maybe what is difficult here is that i feel like i am making for someone else, and that is hard to do. should i add some color? probably, people like color, but how can i do it without compromising the translucency? should i make them castable? will i kill myself if i get a lot of orders for them? so many questions, and i guess i won't know the answer until i go to the show and see what happens.

its hard to be working in a vaccuum sometimes, with little or no true feedback on my work. i am having a hard time coming to terms with making all this stuff and then hoping that people like it. kind of like working without a net.
ah well, guess i've no choice but to keep on keepin' on! i will have to pick a stopping point for these soon, because if i don't i'll never move forward. i'll just have to be where i am. could be worse....

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