That sir..... was quite a ramble. In a world where incessant, unmitigated BS and egocentrism has been normalized, it is extremely refreshing to encounter such humility and authenticity. A real person in a fake world - seems your wife has been blessed as well. Finally, the opportunity to have a real relationship with your children rather than just providing for them.......priceless.
I spent 30 or 40 years working as a carpenter. Over that time, I did a wide variety of carpentry work, but it was all production work, and all done with power tools. I've since retired from that, and now work exclusively with hand tools, and from wood that I get for free - from trees cut down in our urban forest, and from the driftwood that we are blessed with here on the west coast. I thought that going from power tools to hand tools would be an easy transition. Boy, was I wrong. Every day I am very much aware of how much I've had to learn since making the switch to hand tools, and how much I continue to learn. I realize now how little I understood wood when I was working with power tools. I've always loved wood, but I'm only now starting to know wood. I believe a proper woodworking education would begin with mastering hand tools, and only then perhaps integrating some power tools to take care of the "donkey work". I think the skills and knowledge learned from using hand tools is everything you need to know to use power tools, but the skills and knowledge you learn from using power tools are pretty much irrelevant to learning woodworking with hand tools. Working with hand tools has also really made clear to me how power tools have influenced design - most notably how the availability of industrially flat sawn lumber, and the manufacture of plywood, resulted in "modern design". Modern design isn't a result of what what people wanted or what people found pleasing, it is a product of what mechanized processes are most efficient at. Looking forward to seeing your finished Bargueno desk.
As someone who has consumed hours of Utube to educate myself in hand tool joinery (and power tools) you are a rare specimen! It’s REALLY hard finding quality content, mainly because it is HARD to learn and takes patience and perseverance doing what you do, Of which you should be proud, sticking to your principles and values is not easy, you don’t strike me as someone who’s going to waiver either, as long as the enjoyment is in whatever you’re doing then the rest will fall into place 👍
Speaking from the perspective of a 70 year old woodworker, at 45 you have, God willing, many years of productivity left. Your creativity and skills are awesome, fame and fortune may or may not come but you can be very proud of your accomplishments.
RC, keep doing what you do and, especially, HOW you do it. I have unsubscribed from a number of channels because they play to the camera or are too infatuated with their own persona. That's not you or your channel. I'm in your shoes as a craftsman. You are just farther along than I am.
"I don't feel like I have a lot of productive years left in me." That really resonated with me. I picked up wood working as a pandemic hobby and have embraced mostly hand tool work and furniture making. Currently 39 and can't help but think the same thing from time to time. I don't think you'll have to worry about your follow up comment (creativity running dry) because we aren't inherently born with a finite number of good/creative ideas, even if it might feel like it. Love the channel and your work. Thanks for sharing.
Your candid description of both the practical and existential struggle of an artist and furniture maker was impressive. I hope (and am predicting) that the Bargueno Desk is going to be the point at which your career begins to ‘soar’ as a furniture maker. Selfishly, I want that to be the case as I enjoy your channel and your work immensely. Wishing you the best. (And don’t cut off your ear… your work is inspired enough as it is!)
Wish you the best. Love your work and sense of humor. Have you considered combining your woodworking and your still photography? That might be a way to make a supplemental income for your one off furniture.
James Krenov confessed that his wife made the family income as he only acquired the fame. Words to this effect…… perhaps if you cut an ear off and profess your madness, you will fast track your rise to prominence in the art of furniture making……
Krenov and Wendell Castle owe much of their fame to geographic proximity to wealth. And Castle considered himself foremost a sculptor. Most of his woodworking demonstrated a lack of understanding of wood movement, but he was featured in early issues of FWW. As long as these two are idealized, the craft will remain a game of knowing the right patrons
I think the arts in general have always been and always will be a game of knowing the right patrons to some extent, regardless of who gets idealized, so I don't really see that as a consequence of their fame as much as a causal link to it. That said, the biggest reason their fame endures isn't that but rather the fact they designed and made inspired wood furniture. Just my opinion.
That sir..... was quite a ramble. In a world where incessant, unmitigated BS and egocentrism has been normalized, it is extremely refreshing to encounter such humility and authenticity. A real person in a fake world - seems your wife has been blessed as well. Finally, the opportunity to have a real relationship with your children rather than just providing for them.......priceless.
I spent 30 or 40 years working as a carpenter. Over that time, I did a wide variety of carpentry work, but it was all production work, and all done with power tools. I've since retired from that, and now work exclusively with hand tools, and from wood that I get for free - from trees cut down in our urban forest, and from the driftwood that we are blessed with here on the west coast. I thought that going from power tools to hand tools would be an easy transition. Boy, was I wrong. Every day I am very much aware of how much I've had to learn since making the switch to hand tools, and how much I continue to learn. I realize now how little I understood wood when I was working with power tools. I've always loved wood, but I'm only now starting to know wood. I believe a proper woodworking education would begin with mastering hand tools, and only then perhaps integrating some power tools to take care of the "donkey work". I think the skills and knowledge learned from using hand tools is everything you need to know to use power tools, but the skills and knowledge you learn from using power tools are pretty much irrelevant to learning woodworking with hand tools. Working with hand tools has also really made clear to me how power tools have influenced design - most notably how the availability of industrially flat sawn lumber, and the manufacture of plywood, resulted in "modern design". Modern design isn't a result of what what people wanted or what people found pleasing, it is a product of what mechanized processes are most efficient at. Looking forward to seeing your finished Bargueno desk.
As someone who has consumed hours of Utube to educate myself in hand tool joinery (and power tools) you are a rare specimen! It’s REALLY hard finding quality content, mainly because it is HARD to learn and takes patience and perseverance doing what you do, Of which you should be proud, sticking to your principles and values is not easy, you don’t strike me as someone who’s going to waiver either, as long as the enjoyment is in whatever you’re doing then the rest will fall into place 👍
Speaking from the perspective of a 70 year old woodworker, at 45 you have, God willing, many years of productivity left. Your creativity and skills are awesome, fame and fortune may or may not come but you can be very proud of your accomplishments.
RC, keep doing what you do and, especially, HOW you do it. I have unsubscribed from a number of channels because they play to the camera or are too infatuated with their own persona. That's not you or your channel. I'm in your shoes as a craftsman. You are just farther along than I am.
"I don't feel like I have a lot of productive years left in me." That really resonated with me. I picked up wood working as a pandemic hobby and have embraced mostly hand tool work and furniture making. Currently 39 and can't help but think the same thing from time to time. I don't think you'll have to worry about your follow up comment (creativity running dry) because we aren't inherently born with a finite number of good/creative ideas, even if it might feel like it. Love the channel and your work. Thanks for sharing.
Your candid description of both the practical and existential struggle of an artist and furniture maker was impressive. I hope (and am predicting) that the Bargueno Desk is going to be the point at which your career begins to ‘soar’ as a furniture maker. Selfishly, I want that to be the case as I enjoy your channel and your work immensely. Wishing you the best. (And don’t cut off your ear… your work is inspired enough as it is!)
Love your content and have been missing your posts. Thank you for taking the time to share your musings and your process while away from your shop!
Really enjoyed that ramble whilst your rambling Ryan , stay strong and keep at it 💪💪🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Awesome. Loved hearing about the other side of the struggle. Even starting my projects is a struggle in my head.
Excellent!
Great video! I have so many projects I want to build, but only so much time. My hand tool preference doesn’t help neither.
Wish you the best. Love your work and sense of humor. Have you considered combining your woodworking and your still photography? That might be a way to make a supplemental income for your one off furniture.
💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
James Krenov confessed that his wife made the family income as he only acquired the fame. Words to this effect…… perhaps if you cut an ear off and profess your madness, you will fast track your rise to prominence in the art of furniture making……
Krenov and Wendell Castle owe much of their fame to geographic proximity to wealth. And Castle considered himself foremost a sculptor. Most of his woodworking demonstrated a lack of understanding of wood movement, but he was featured in early issues of FWW. As long as these two are idealized, the craft will remain a game of knowing the right patrons
I think the arts in general have always been and always will be a game of knowing the right patrons to some extent, regardless of who gets idealized, so I don't really see that as a consequence of their fame as much as a causal link to it. That said, the biggest reason their fame endures isn't that but rather the fact they designed and made inspired wood furniture. Just my opinion.
The ear cutting is overrated. Plus it does not work. I know, I tried.
TH-cam take a long time to build up followers if you have the time they will come, 😮or build it and they will come 😂.