Slow down, you move too fast…

Not that I want to make the morning last but…slowing down can prove to have many benefits.  I’ve talked elsewhere, and with friends, about the one common denominator I’ve seen in intermediate to advanced classes that I’ve taken is the pace at which the teacher works.  Not being one to have patience when it comes to melting glass, I’m one that works really hot.  Gotta get it done, ya know?  I don’t have time to wait for that glass to melt slowly…why would I want to do that?

Well, I’ll tell you why…working more slowly gives you this:

• Precise designs on beads – lines, dots and other elements won’t smear and run into each other.  Layers will stay crisp and defined.
• Shiny surfaces without pock marks from over heating the glass.
• More vivid colors in the red range.   Working more slowly means you’re working in the flame more cool-ly (new word) and that means that your reds won’t get over cooked.
• Shapes will be better because you will allow the glass to move as it wants, not over-manipulating.  If you can get past the impatience of working slowly and waiting for the glass to melt, your shapes will be better and you won’t get frustrated trying to get the shape you want with a molten ball of glass.  It will happen gently and easily.  You might find less need for tools too.  (Did I just say that?)

Every time I’ve taken a class I’ve told myself that I need to work more slowly.  But every time I do that it doesn’t stick.  Somehow I think, well, if I CAN work faster, why DON’T I?  I have to remind myself that just because I can, doesn’t mean it will yield the best result.

This past weekend at my studio show I demo-ed throughout the day.  Usually at this show I demo, talk and describe what I’m doing…showing different techniques that can be done in glass.  At the end of the day I had a kiln full of beads I’d never use for anything.  Not even donations. This year, as busy as I have been and given the limited time I’ve had in the studio, I decided that my demos would consist of me working on pieces that would be useable in some form.  I wouldn’t rush to get a demo in and people could come and go as they please…if I went on too long, they could move on.  This is some of what I came up with:

When they came out of the kiln I was shocked.  Did I do that?  They were vibrant, crisp and shiny in a way that my beads don’t always reflect.  I wondered, what was the difference?  And, how could I do it more?  It hit me.  I had been working slow, as to let people see what I was doing.  I was also more playful because I didn’t have a set design I was working towards.  I knew the shape I wanted ahead of time and chose colors that I don’t normally work with.  Red.  Light pink.  Orange coral.

So, what does this have to to with my creativity?  (the theme of this blog, you know).  It was accidental creativity for me.  I worked in a different way than I was used to…a way that I’ve WANTED to work in but just haven’t focused on, and got a result that was unexpected.  This experience is pushing me in another direction, creatively.

Now, it might not seem much different to you since these may seem similar to other beads I’ve made. But they’re not.  Up close and personal there is a BIG difference in the surface shine and glimmer.

Lori Greenberg blogs about beads and the business of beads from her studio in Cave Creek, Arizona. You can see more of her beads at her web site: www.lorigreenberg.com