The hardest thing I have to do is write this article so I
will begin by acknowledging all the unknown people who have inspired
me in some way or another, And the teachers who set projects
that set me thinking. One such teacher, an arts mistress, suggested
the class design a personal monogram. This I found difficult
to do because I had three initials A.I.A. which would not blend
well together. The alternative project was to create one's own
book plate (I didn't succeed with that one either - yet). After
marrying I had just as much difficulty because my initials had
become A.I.F. and only when bidding in a packed auction room
did I think I sounded like an army recruit.
It now became obvious to me that I still wasn't satisfied
but now I know why (some 50 years after the auction room incident),
it was because I didn't need to use a monogram: or in other words
a need to make my mark.
The next chapter in this saga was when I had a class of very
enthusiastic mature age students, all exploring their latent
creative potential. The project was Make a cushion for
a much loved person. The following dialogue ensued:
Me... "The cushions are all very exciting,
of course you have dated and initialled your piece".
Students ... "No????"
Me... "Well now is the right time for
you to make your mark and that will be your homework for the
next week."
The following week various designs appeared but one student
in particular advised me that she would not be continuing. She
had decided to return to her pottery, as she had at last created
her own mark; her inspiration had returned. Shortly after a strange
thing happened. I was finishing a letter and suddenly my pen
went flying across the page, and then as now I made my mark.