Resigned to Reality

One of my sculptures is thick, and it hasn't been drying as quickly as I'd like. The final bisque before the show needs to run tomorrow in order for me to get everything glazed on time, and I've been trying to hurry along this nice sculpture. Finally, however, I realized that there is no way it is going to dry in time. I had to talk myself into realizing that the omission of this sculpture isn't going to make or break my September show, especially since it is a higher-priced artwork and this is an arts festival rather than a gallery setting. I would rather have this sculpture for the December show than risk it cracking and ruining all my hard work.

Some things you can't rush. I have been restraining myself from hurrying along my kilns because I almost ruined a beautiful piece once by opening the kiln too soon-- I actually witnessed the crack form along the surface, and although I put the lid back down as soon as I realized what was happening, the crack was already there. Luckily it was a mural I had planned to mosaic, so I worked it into the piece, but it reminded me of the costs of being impatient.