Creative Daydreaming

[Tom Supensky]

The idea for any work of art is the beginning point.  Ideas come in many forms.  They are not always great, but they can grow if given space and options.  Once I have a fundamental idea about the next piece I want to make, I try, what I call, creative daydreaming.  The best time is when there are no distractions and that usually is that time when I first wake up in the morning.  I have already initated a concept and now I can casually daydream about how that idea can turn into a piece of clay sculpture.  The growth of that idea will continue even while I am making the piece.  Keep your mind open to change and alternatives and you will be surprised at the end result.  I should add that lengthy inactive periods to not necessarily bring about new ideas.  Think about the world around you, go to the studio and start something.  

[Brigitte Martin]

Interesting that you mention that, I work very similarly. I have many ideas, which I store in a mental idea bank. I usually don't start working on a piece until I have thought it through, the whole process, from how I will work it step by step through to the look of the finished piece. Only when I am sure that I have managed to visualize the steps I need to take and have overcome the technical hurdles (at least in my mind) will I begin -- leaving myself just enough wiggle room to change course if I have to.

Preparation is key to me. I think that because my materials tend to be rather expensive, I hate the thought of ruining a piece simply because I failed to think of the problems that I may encounter.

As my 11 year old son famously put it: Remember the 6 P's:
Prior preparation prevents piss poor performance.