Subconcious awareness comes floating in as I think about what has & continues to inspire my art. Everyday mindless encounters with quiet nature surrounds me. Put the tools, technology, and mechanics before deeper thinking, and more likey it will block the creative thoughts and deflate the subconcious awareness.
Yes, even I have grown to respect tools which make my job faster and easier. It would be insane to remove technology that has enriched my life. After all, it has allowed me to ramble on and put my thoughts out there. My life has been made easier with the mechanics for building kilns, mixing glazes, and understanding the firing process. Mechanics of clay work have their place.
However, if technology is clung to, worshiped, and put on a pedestal, I personally might forget to open my creative mind. I believe that creativity in art, poetry, music, and dance needs a restful, clear mind.
Next, I must use the spark of imagination to feed the creative spirit. So I put away my tools for today. My glaze formulas can wait while I ruminate: "Why I create". Thinking back to my early begginings, a visual memory comes forward. I recall the texture, lines, & color of the desert's dry, dusty, cracking soil. As the hot dirt waits for a little rain, I see a connection between my pevious experience and being drawn to clay work. Clay is dirt. So I put away my tools for just a little bit, so that I can tap into my creative spirit. The child who loved to make mud pies had been busy having fun, yet was also forming a future in clay art. I still appreciate current technology, but need to stop and tap into creative thinking.