Long ago, there was the master and his apprentices. One of the apprentices would show talent and become an artist. Talent, you understand, is not something you inherit or learn. You either have it or you don't. But to discover that, you first have to become a good artisan.
Pottery is like poetry.
Youssri Ibrahim will tell you that the basic ground work is done by the artisans. We do the big work, then the artist comes and puts the artistic touches. For 42 years, my hands have been in the mud. As the debate rages on, hard work continues inside the dawalib. Although the work at the potters' table may look like fun, it is a tedious job.