haha :) they are all great!
You are my idol really about art!

I’m glad to read about your ‘beginnings’ (the hand-held vessel is beautiful!) and am awed at how your art has evolved over the years!

Oh how I wish I still had my originals from Mrs. Wheeler's art class in 8th grade. Or at LEAST photos of them.  Not exactly on par, but hey, they were my first.  Wonder what Mom did with them all? Probably put them out of their misery..."Isn't it BEAUTIFUL, Mother?"  Wonder how many pounds of clay has gone into THAT statement in the last 50 years.   Do you have any of your original works?   The tricycle is amazingly cool. 
I think it's so great you still have your beginnings recorded, it's all part of the process. And a reminder of how far you have come, to be putting installations in folks homes. (Not that your originals weren't way cool too. Just sayin')   Thanks for sharing more of your 'journey' of life in art.

I was without internet over the past two days and feel so out of the loop!

I love seeing these older works of yours and certainly speaking of a time that was open to creative flow and experimentation, a place you might also be moving to, even though it is not a physical place it is indeed a destination worth the trip. :)

My good friend who lives in London and used to be a potter/ceramist (she sadly no longer does it due to arthritis and has moved onto painting) did amazing Raku pieces. 

I hope you are packing stress free and getting excited for your new place to work and dream.

Thank you for sharing those early works of yours which played an important part in shaping who you are as an artist. To think you were one of the first North Americans to use the Raku technique is absolutely mind blowing. I love the story of the tricycle and how the fearlessness (and luck) of your youth played a part in building confidence in your craft. I am so happy for you for taking the time to revisit those important moments, thank you for being such an inspiration.

Those are really cool... I love art, and I wanted to study art, but none of my family agree with the idea... I wish I could produce some fine art as you do... I've been following your post for awhile  and I always like it.

@natureofbeing ~Just stopping by to let you know I tagged you in a comment on my post here: https://steemit.com/blog/@hempress/pdx-drum-circle-513-1526353728 
I know Steemit doesn't let you see who tagged you via the website so I wanted to make sure you saw :-)
All the best ♡

I absolutely love the hands around the pot! And I can relate to the way a landscape gets into your soul and coaxes forth inspiration. This is such a neat post, to see some of your beginnings, and to read about how clay and sculpting helped you feel more alive. You know you've found your purpose when... ;) Much love!

I like it

wow i absolutely love this! it is so sweet to return to our the work of our earlier selves, to remember, to feel it again, to see our idealism in place without the things we know now stopping us (like your asphalt piece). i adore the kissing piece and the hand sculpted pot with the hands- wow that one is really cool! 
i can also really relate to this: 

> having this sense of purpose put my feet more solidly on the earth.

what a blessing when we find it... we have a place, an attention to put our energies and skills into. for me it drew my energy in and eased my wandering/wondering heart. what a blessing and gift to have something to love and gain skill in over the years! xx

You are right, I loved that one! Dead trees on one hand are sad but even then they often look cool and even foster new life. Quite amazing I think. Thanks for the mention! I enjoyed seeing the first baby steps you took!!!

My good friend @worldtravelpro told me to check out your page, some great work. I really love the pots with the hands wrapped around, as well the tree with gold luster. If you get a chance check out my blog @slowcookingchef I have some great recipe's coming.

good art my brother @natureofbeing

Hi Ruth, it is always interesting to see your art works but with this post you opened a window in the background, the way how you came to your calling, your life energy, I think many of us who have this opportunity to combine their hobby, tehir work and bring it to the perfection of being one, their life they are very lucky people. 

You made me curious about Scripps in Claremont, CA, so I went to explore what is that, I was surprise to find that Ellen Browning Scripps founded the college and I love the motto of the college is "Incipit Vita Nova". I can imagine it influenced you very much and you found you way. By the way there was a tree in front of Balch Hall courtyard , when I saw it I thought probably your idea about the ceramic tree came from been seen that tree :)

I love your pottery with hands, that is my favorite. I am wondering do you still keep your first works, I would probably do, just as a reminder.

Enjoyed your post and was glad to know more about you and your art :)

strange pitchers, but the quality of art is what this platform needs. great stuff.

humbles beginnings @natureofbeing ! I love how deeply you have evolved !

You are very gifted, just wonderful to observe the progression of your art. I have a raku fired pottery piece and it smells of the smoke till this day.

Good to learn of how you got your start.  Your early, soulful and unusual art puts me in the frame of mind of Omar Khayyám's, **Rubáiyát**:

<center>*As under cover of departing Day
Slunk hunger-stricken Ramazán away
     Once more within the Potter's house alone
I stood, surrounded by the Shapes of Clay.*

83
*Shapes of all Sorts and Sizes, great and small,
That stood along the floor and by the wall;
     And some loquacious Vessels were; and some
Listen'd perhaps, but never talk'd at all.*

84
*Said one among them – "Surely not in vain
My substance of the common Earth was ta'en
     And to this Figure molded, to be broke,
Or trampled back to shapeless Earth again."*

85
*Then said a Second –"Ne'er a peevish Boy
Would break the Bowl from which he drank in joy;
     And He that with his hand the Vessel made
Will surely not in after Wrath destroy."*

86
*After a momentary silence spake
Some Vessel of a more ungainly Make;
     "They sneer at me for leaning all awry:
What! did the hand then of the Potter shake?"*

87
*Whereat some one of the loquacious Lot –
I think a Súfi pipkin – waxing hot –
     "All this of Pot and Potter – Tell me then,
Who is the Potter, pray, and who the Pot?"*</center>