I find it interesting how much my environment can influence my artwork. I seem to be in a “primitive” phase right now. Perhaps it is because I have been listening to “The Land of Painted Caves” audio book by Jean M. Auel for the past number of weeks. Maybe that book has been influencing my muse while I wasn’t paying attention. You saw my Tiki #1 piece last week, and I have been turning green wood Norwegian Beer Bowls (it will be months before they are dry), and yesterday I finished another simple primitive bowl form. Something about it made me want to decorate it will reproductions of cave paintings.
Funny how I did not even think about the relation to what I have been listing too until I started thinking about what to write about. It’s also ironic that when I am feeling most burned out from all my work, my muse is pumping me hard with ideas. I have only taken one vacation day in the past fourteen months, and I am simply exhausted (and very irritable), but all I want to do is be left alone in my shop to work.
Do you remember when you were a kid and you got to go to camp? Boy do I wish I could go to a camp for grownups. I’d like to spend a couple of weeks surrounded by artists in an inspiring environment (with abundant good kosher food). When I used to go on multiday hiking trips, I always made time to work on some type of craft. When we camped near the beach, I would weave baskets or mats. In the foothills, if we found good clay, I would make small bowls and fire them by burying them in our fire for a day or so. In the woods, I might find something good to whittle, but no matter where I was I could always find some artistic outlet.
I sometimes wonder you spend all your time in your shop/studio, you lose out on other artistic vibes. I think I need to get out of here and let my muse spread her wings and see what I kind of new ideas I can come up with. It’s time to let a new environment inspire me.
Anybody feel the same way?
Artisan's Call 
Yaakov, get out of the big city. Go west to the wide open country where the wind can blow and your mind can expand. Come watch the eagles flying into Jackson Canyon of an evening. And see what happens. I would be interested to see the results.
No eagles like Ellis, but we have raptors of several sorts, the river with the work and pleasure boats, water meadows and heaths, the coast ten minutes away, woodlands and wide open sky. I think I have enough environmental influences here, but what I do miss since leaving the craft centre is the exchange with makers from other disciplines. That was always interesting and gave you a fresh perspective on what you were doing.