Danny D's Mud Shop Late March Newsletter

By Daniel DooreckMarch 20, 2024

Finding Peace in the Volume

Finding balance is one of my top goals in the next few years. Everything I've approached in my life thus far, between school, wine, restaurants, and now pottery, I've dove head first and committed every ounce of my being into. For myself, I believe it's all based on taking on risks in my life. It's a blessing and a curse. A blessing as you push hard and hit those goals earlier than you plan. A curse because the realization of how many things have been neglected on that journey hits you all at once. You enter a vortex and once you finally exit and have a moment to breathe it all in, you haven't poked your head out of the window once.

When I first began my journey with Danny D's Mud Shop, I quickly understood in order to create a sustainable monthly business. I would need to diversify my product range and offer cups in different sizes - products not focusing on a "drop", but a free flowing inventory system. Vases were important to me, and nowadays I find huge satisfaction with hanging lamp pendants. But ultimately, if my lights are to stay on, cups need to be moving. The style I chose to pursue, a carved illustrative design on every single piece, hand thrown, and hand trimmed, completely without molds, proved to be extra time consuming and sometimes tedious. These tangible features of my work are so important to me though, and if I ever catch myself pouring sludge into molds for a living I'll drop the whole thing. I fight for this sense of sustainability and creating something consistent, so perhaps theres irony in this sentiment.

In order to keep things fresh and invigorating, I still have to itch that nerve of exploring designs and shapes on lamps and vases - its critical to the development of me as an artist and keeping things alive in the shop. Last week I spent two days hand building and painting a serving platter resembling a pool table, why not. Anyone in my industry or on a similar creative path hopefully can relate - don't forget why we are here. The volume of cups cant change - perhaps the complexity of designs will, but the show must go on! The end result is that the artist and producer just work more and more. It's part of this cycle that im interested in poking at. Im not sure of the solution, maybe its scaling back the production - its not clear.

What I do know is that in the current moment, finding peace in the volume is so important. Never in my life would I have assumed so many people use my cups on a daily. I was explaining to my partner the other day that it's been such a blessing to get brand partnerships and companies interested in your work - they pay well and you don't break your back. The paycheck is undoubtably easier. But the moment I get an email about an order off my website or a new wholesale inquiry, the satisfaction quadruples, and theres a moment of immense pride knowing an individual values my work so much to stumble through my clumsy checkout on my web store. (Im sorry my website looks like it's from 2010, we're working on it). It's such an interesting relationship because those small orders are the true backbreaking work, and incredibly less valuable in terms of money, but weigh so much more. These moments of gratification, and the frequent message I receive, help me find a peace in this volume. And this peace is what invigorates me everyday, developing me as an artist, and a better person. I realize I won't ever achieve perfection, but having the strength to pursue perfection knowing I will never achieve it - I think thats a great path. Don't forget though, its just clay.

Thank you for reading!

Heres a little discount code if there was something interesting you!

"howisitmarch" for 20% off :)