Practice Makes Progress - A Maker’s Mantra
Practice makes progress. This is something I emphasize to my pottery students if I notice them getting discouraged about the outcome of their work. In pottery, there is no place for “practice makes perfect.” What would perfection even be? A thousand identical mugs? Being able to throw elegant vases with your eyes closed? Never having a failed piece ever again? A state of perfection is inconceivable, as art is subjective, and there is always more to make and learn. The false narrative of some perfect outcome freezes creativity. It does not allow the maker to explore freely and see where their intuition or interest takes them. It attempts to create narrow guardrails to protect from failure. And yet, every pot is a failure if perfection is your goalpost. This is why I like to shift the narrative away from an outcome-driven success measure and toward a process driven success measure.
If you are practicing - learning something new, trying a challenging technique, putting elements of a piece together in different ways- then you are succeeding. When we release the need for a particular end goal, whether that be perfection, notoriety, or mastery, we can simply enjoy the process. And the beauty is that there is always progress to be made in pottery and in any other pursuit. The work is never done, and you never have to stop making, learning, and enjoying the medium.
One way that I like to intentionally practice is by taking an idea or technique and playing with it, trying variations until I find something that resonates with me. This repetition builds skill and confidence. I don't have a particular outcome in mind, but rather see how different approaches appeal to me. I can observe and compare my work, refining my taste and artistic voice. I also sometimes challenge myself to stretch the process of a particular pot. Rather than rush a piece through each step, I take some extra time on the handle, add a decorative element to the surface, or maybe fuss with the shape. This is a reminder that the whole point of art is the process, so I actively try to elongate and savor it.
If we can remove our focus from a particular end-goal, we can find a flow state that brings us creative insight. You will know you have found that flow state when you lose track of time and seemingly without effort, you improve. And of course, this philosophy can help far beyond the studio walls. In exercise, cooking, communication, or work, we will never be perfect. But we can keep practicing. Through that practice, we make progress.
So I invite you to keep practicing with me.
Reflection Prompts:
What might change if you define success as taking the time to practice?
How could you enhance your experience and enjoyment of making?
What gets you most in flow - trying new skills, refining a technique you love, or something else?
