Cree?: Why I'm Here
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Hello 2022. I thought I'd grace you all with some blog posts this year. It'll be a great opportunity to get to know me on a personal level & in turn gaining a deeper understanding of my ceramics.
I wanted to start by saying that art has always played an important role in my life. Creative thinking is the only thing I know, I'd be involved in absolutely everything & anything crafty.
However, in 2017 I suffered possibly my worst and first ever bout of anxiety/depression. It knocked me for six, I was unrecognisable. I hated the sight of even a pencil, it made me feel physically sick. Sadly that reality sat with me for many years, I avoided the one thing that made me who I was, at all costs.
I studied Illustration at an arts university, it was the worst decision of my life. I don't totally regret it, I use a lot of the things learnt there in my ceramics today. My experience with higher education kick-started that darker period, a lack in confidence and low self esteem resulted in me alienating myself from the one thing I loved. It made me feel as if I wasn't good enough to create, I know how totally bonkers that sounds.
Ultimately I ended up studying for two horrendous years, even though I knew on day one it wasn't for me (sounds over exaggerated, but I'm heavily led by the way I feel & I tend to judge situations very quickly). I carried on and on because I felt I had to prove myself, but instead I temporarily lost sight of who I was.
Where the heck does pottery come into any of this?
Throughout education I spent many hours playing with clay, it was never my favourite medium. I think I just loved the way it took me away from reality, but I overlooked it. After 3yrs going completely cold turkey (in my case a complete withdrawal from all art related activities), I bought a bag of air dry clay and the rest is history.
It's been well over a year now since that momentous occasion, I'm enjoying the journey.
Gee x
P.S 'Cree' is my middle name