Creative conquering

      

    The hardest part of wood carving and doing crafts is “what to make.” Especially when you don’t want to make “everyday things.” I know there is nothing wrong with that. But for me I love unique and different challenging factors. I also find that being different gives me different capabilities and a way of looking at things. It helped inspire me to explore options which could help create endless possibilities. Researching for inspiration and opportunities to learn and try.

    Each project has its interesting challenges, necessary evils, and of course problems to solve. Which yes, can change fun into stress. From the start people have tried to convince me that I should sell my work. I was surprised considering I had just done one project and had not even finished it yet. I knew I still had plenty to learn. I knew that selling my work was not on the table and would not be for a while. I needed to first figure out if this was “something serious,” and “If I really loved wood carving.” I have learned and come to appreciate the core value this adventure has brought to light. The value of my time, enjoying the craft, art of creating and trying, and being patient with the work and myself. People have been shocked to also learn “I will not make multiples of the same thing.” Because there is value in uniqueness.  

   When I have been asked how long projects take me, my answer is usually an estimate. Responses are usually the same of “I wish I had 10 hours to do something like that.” I remember when I first was starting out and it still happens “I lose track of time.” I would start working on a project in the morning and then the next time I see the clock it’s six hours later. I found I am enjoying the moment and seeing what is being created. I came to appreciate that while I am working on a project “it’s just me and the wood.” My mind gets to work in a different way that’s not related to everyday struggles. Some people might say you’re avoiding your problems. However, for some people that might be true for many reasons, especially how you prioritize things. I have found a different way to look at it. Through my hobbies core values, it has opened and helped my way of thinking. Taking a few hours to help your mind relax, be in the moment, and challenge your mind in a different way, has helped manage my everyday stress levels and improve my problem-solving skills. Because it can help improve critical thinking, relax your mind by challenging it differently, and helps with courage to work through challenges instead of avoiding them in hopes they “will just go away.”

   Creativity can be very intimidating for some people. Because the answer is usually the same of “I am not creative.” Creativity however for me is, “wanting to bring to life an idea, or finding a solution to a roadblock.” Everyone has different talents and abilities. I believe that being creative is using your different talents and abilities to try. I believe that being creative is your “willingness to try and challenge yourself to be better.” I know that there are times “you might not know where to start.” I have had plenty of projects with this hiccup. The answer came in two different ways. One I took an educated guess and went for it, or I asked for help. There is nothing wrong with combining different skills and resources to create things. I have siblings who love to write. They help me with different word choices to keep my writing interesting. I love creating and building things, which they ask me. When I had just started, I was at a friend’s house showing her my work. She and her husband were impressed with what I was able to do. She was telling me about her daughter’s accomplishments and how she wanted a unique trophy. She said the magic words and I expressed my random idea, and I was willing to try. She loved it and gave me the go ahead to make it. Her and her daughter loved it and even said “it’s even better than the picture made it look.”

     Enjoying the craft, is seeing it from the perspective of “what’s being created,” and the journey from start to finish. I have found enjoyment with working through the process, to give life to an idea. I will say that it’s hard to visualize a two-dimensional idea and how to translate it into three dimensional. For me it requires a lot of staring at the project which helps to create a plan. Keeping in mind the overall look I am envisioning.

     Clocks are a timeless piece of work and have been an interesting project. Especially because of the many different styles. I have always loved the look of a pocket watch and how much character they have. When I created this pocket watch wall clock, the first step as always is background. I only had chisels because I was on a trip and kept my tools simple. Limited tools don’t change what’s possible, it only made me choose not to remove the entire background, mainly because it would take forever, and I wasn’t initially sure what look I was going for. I started with carving around the boarder to give a chiseled look “like it was molded,” out of the piece of wood. I then had to figure out the difference between the body and the top clasp. The top part was hard to separate each part to give depth and dimensions. Carving a piece of wood to look like a round object is difficult. I can’t explain how and don’t know if I would be able to create a round look again. 

    The body of the project needed to be divided into sections. The first was to determine what will be the focal point of the project. Which for a clock is obviously the numbers. Remembering that the center point, and the numbers need to be even and at the same level so it will work correctly. I added a boarder which helped give a three-dimensional look. I then gave a divide and tapered towards the border to make the numbers stand out better.

            As I was showing people pictures of this project at different stages. I got asked the same question multiple times of “what are you going to do in the center.” In the moment I didn’t know if I would. But as it was getting closer to the finish, I determined it would make the project “to busy,” and honestly didn’t have a clue what I would add. It’s one caution to be aware of, its really easy to add too much detail.

            This project of course came with its own frustrations, especially all the tiny spaces between the numbers. Looking back at this project, is it perfect? No, and it shouldn’t be. I could look and critique my work for everything that I could change or should have done better. That is if I forget the phase I was in when I made this project. If I look at projects with the same experience and skill I have currently, I will not like my work. I have learned to see things differently; I look and see investment and a timeless treasure. Treasure which has character and elegance.

      This journey has shown and taught me many things. Especially “what I am capable of?” Looking back at my work has helped me to remind myself that being patient is important. Being creative is a marathon which has endless possibilities and things I can learn / try. Each idea has different requirements to reach a completed project. I know as I finish projects over the years, they are not perfect. I am not striving for a perfectly finished project. For one, I don’t know what exactly a perfectly finished project is. I fell in love with the craft because of the endless possibilities and potential. I don’t strive for a perfect project, because perfection is not perfect, especially while you’re still learning. A perfect project is seeing what you’re able to do, making an honest effort to give your best work, and continuing to strive and challenge your skills. I love creating treasures, which have elegance and character. Yes, people who buy artwork expect perfection for the price they pay. I would as well. As my experience and skills have improved, I still don’t “rush to start actively selling full time.” Because I love creating priceless treasures which I feel is impossible to add monetary value.