Yesterday was my first day back in my home pottery studio in almost a week.  And wow, a fresh set of rested eyes on my worked lead me to realize some things I didn't notice previously.  

The process is time.  

Time to make the vessel.  

Time to let that vessel dry enough so it can be trimmed.

Time to trim.

Time to add, slip and score a handle, embelishment a carving.

Time to add any underglaze.

Time to dry some more. 

Time for the first firing. 

Time to wax the bottom of the vessel.

Time to determine how you will glaze this vessel.

Time to let the glaze dry between coats.

Time to glaze fire.  

One mistake at any step in the process can ruin the entire piece.  One mistake not even in the process, but a bump or a slip can make this fragile piece of mud crumble to the ground.  There are always consideration factors, and many that are completely out of our control.  But there are no shortcuts in the process.  The process takes time.  Rushing the process will inevitably put you back at the drawing board.  AND, back at the drawing board is okay, because that's part of the process, too.  Learning from our mistakes is what makes the next piece better and better.  We are always learning ways to improve our process, but we are never able to skip the steps within the process.  

I never thought I would have patience, until I became a potter.