So you want to be a Potter? watercolor and poem

Here is a quick little watercolor.

5" by 8"

I was inspired to paint this when I read this poem by

Alice Beer.

 So You Want to be a Potter?

Here are some rules:

nose above the centre of the wheel
to find the centre of your pot.

The wholeness of your pot

depends on being centred.

Shape your pot from the inside.

It’s not what people see

but it’s what matters.

Once you have got it right inside

the rest sees to itself. Well, more or less.

Balance your hands, make them a team,

one inside, one outside your pot.

While one hand pushes up,

the other gives support,

one as important as the other.

And keep a steady pace,

although your speed must vary.

There should be nothing sudden

to upset the growth.

I wish you joy!

                                        ---Alice Beer

I think she's talking about more than pots don't you.

You may want to read Alice Beer poems,

as her words take on a special meaning in each one.

She did not start writing until she was in her later years.

Another poem about growing old has these words...

"The ruts get deeper,

 the woods more dense,

 the bright star

 before us brighter."

Alice shows us that

 aging is not a closing down,

 but an opening up

 of visions and opportunities.

Savor the Day!

Yvonne