Mining for Ideas
It’s weird how ideas form. Every once in a while, my brain will take hold of a tiny kernel of something and then it starts evolving and growing and won’t get out until I listen to it. I’ve learned to browse Pinterest. I call it “mining.” I’m mining for random ideas and thinking about how I can combine one idea with another in a new way. I can spend hours doing this and have to sometimes remind myself to go TRY some of them.
This little veggie stack idea was a kernel. It started with what originally was going to be an angry radish. The narrative in my head was that he was angry because he tasted bitter and not many people liked him and he was often just a garnish on a salad. I certainly thought it was funny. This idea begged me to see it through. It just kept bouncing around in my head. So, I started thinking up other vegetables that could be with the radish to make a stack out of. I love making stacks. From 12 inches to 5 feet, I’ve made many. I love linear things.
From an Angry Radish to a Grumpy Beet
I began sculpting and started with the radish. Weeeell…the radish ended up being on the larger side. So, he became a beet. The narrative still fit. I just tweaked it a bit. He’s grumpy because not many people like him and he tastes like dirt.
After that the others just came to me. Silly carrot hasn’t a care in the world. Everyone loves him. Goofy garlic with his grin because he knows he makes your breath stink and he thinks it’s hilarious. Then there’s sad broccoli. When I was in the classroom and would survey my students on their least favorite food I swear to you, 4 out of 5 would say broccoli.
I loved the process of sculpting each one. I bisque fired them and then hoped I wouldn’t screw them up glazing them. I posted a little bit of the process on Instagram and a few people thought they were fun.
Putting It All Together
After I glaze fired them I had to figure out how the heck I was going to stack them and what base to use. I found a heavy stone base on Amazon and got a long threaded rod from Lowe’s.
When the Work Is Seen
Once I decided what order I wanted them in, I made a short Instagram reel of me stacking them. I also shared it in a few pottery groups on Facebook and was overwhelmed by the response. When you work in a home studio and don’t do art shows or festivals you don’t get a lot of feedback or validation. In a way that’s nice because then you just do what makes YOU smile, but wow…it’s also nice to have something you created from a thought kernel be so well received. It’s humbling and validating and helps to keep the creative spark burning. There were so many amazing comments like:
- You seem fun 🥰. Beautiful and meticulous work!!
- I love this so much! Made me smile😃😃😃
- Such a wonderful piece ❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
- Beautiful design and execution!
- Well done you! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻super fun.
- Absolutely wonderful!!
The carrot! The garlic! Grumpy beet! I can’t decide on my favorite…maybe the grumpy beet!
Thanks for sharing!! - I’m obsessed
- This is incredible. I’m in love😍😍
- I would pay stupid amounts of money for this!!!!!! Love it!!!!
- How do people even come up with these ideas
Wow. I was speechless. My ultimate goal when I create is to make something that will make someone smile. A chuckle is a bonus! These veggies apparently did both and that makes ME smile and chuckle too.
Heres the reel I posted.
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