CHOICES SHAPE YOUR FUTURE
By Judith Ashton
Last week, Kilkenny and its surroundings overflowed with creativity during Arts Week. There was so much to see and do, with creative energy flowing in every direction. It is a wonderful annual event for both artists and the public, and it is deeply inspiring to see so many different forms of creative work on display.
Whenever I look at a creative work, I am aware that many steps are taken before the finished piece finally emerges into the world. Because I make things myself, I have some personal insight into the creative process and the steps I take to reach an end result, one that is often very different from what I first imagined.
I would never describe myself as an artist. I have no formal training in any particular genre, but I have been making all manner of things since childhood, so perhaps craftsperson is a better word. Like all children, I had an instinctive ability to create from bits of fabric, wood, stones, shells or whatever was available. I have always recycled, upcycled, repurposed and repaired as long as I can recall and love to create beauty out of otherwise discarded objects.
Many years ago, I started to work with mosaic tiles and had inner visions of creating beautiful tabletops, so I had to find table legs! I used to haunt car boot sales and scour Done Deal. I sought out Singer sewing machine bases and cast or wrought iron legs, most of which were extremely rusty and needed much preparation with wire brushes and many coats of metal paint. I paid local welders to make me steel tops, some round, square or rectangular.
All this physical preparation is a satisfying process and comes long before any thoughts of design or colour are entertained. I never use broken crockery; instead, I choose tiles of the same depth to create a smooth, even surface. I favour brightly coloured Spanish or Italian tiles, cutting each one by hand with a small cutter and shaping it with a snipper. All this is very time-consuming.
What often absorbs me for hours, or even days, is planning the colour combinations and shapes of the cut tiles. I can pace around, laying out different possibilities until I intuit what feels exactly right.
The next thing I do is glue each tile individually on the tabletop with special adhesive. When I’m in full creative mode, I often work in silence and fall into what is called “Flow state” where time disappears and the feeling of wellbeing is enhanced. I have often been known to lose track of time and suddenly realise that hours have passed and the sun is rising!
After the gluing phase there is a waiting period of a couple of days to ensure that every tile is properly stuck. Then comes the grouting. For me, this needs to be done outdoors as it’s very messy. The grout can set quickly so speed is of the essence and once it’s set the polishing starts… layer upon layer of grout needs to be removed with a damp cloth until it’s just in the spaces between the tiles and no excess remains on the surface, which needs to be completely smooth.
I use different feather dusters and cloths for polishing; this is the thrilling stage when the whole piece comes together and begins to shine. I can then stand back and look at the finished tabletop and marvel at its existence, because it did not exist before. It has emerged out of the materials and my mind! It’s arrived in a new and beautiful form. It has been revived from its worn-out state into something beautiful and joyful to behold.
For me, this is a metaphor. Many people are worn down by life, and with the right help and support, we can all be restored – no longer merely surviving, but thriving. Creating beauty is joyful, and it brings joy to those who see it. For me, it’s a labour of love and part of my meditation practice. The true privilege lies in the experience of the process itself, the feelings and the satisfaction. When you realise all the steps that are needed to create something beautiful, you have a deeper appreciation of it, and how can you ever put a price on such a unique thing? What’s the definition of “value” or “worth”?
The inner process is priceless. Focusing quietly on an activity nourishes both mind and body, reminding us that we are all creators at heart.
You can see my tables in “Unwind Café”, Thomastown.
