I happen to like woodcarving. It has been a hobby of mine, ever since I first saw my grandfather take a piece of mundane wood and under his hands transform it into something amazing. The story of the old woodcarver, Geppetto, who brought a wooden son to life is probably something every wood carver subconsciously longs for, even on a subconscious level.
My grandfather has passed on now, and all I have to remind me of him are the few works that he has left, as well as the tools that he used. Since the day I inherited them, I maintained these carving knives, replacing the blades if I had to, but otherwise leaving them as they were.
Ever since I graduated from college, I have not been able to practice my hobby as much as I wanted to. My boss has been kind enough to let me carve on a piece of wood during breaks; but as I still had to eat and all, that really isn’t a lot of time. I still jumped on the idea anyway, even if it ends up with the rest of the office calling me the “wood girl”.
Recently, I met an old college friend from one of my art classes, and found out that she was doing a gimmick with charcoal on various fairs and festivals. Intrigued at the notion, I asked her if I could tag along; selling some of my work while she did her charcoal painting, and she happily welcomed the company.
I decided to take a short leave from office life to pursue this dream, and I must say; seeing people appreciate (and occasionally buy) my crafts invigorate me somehow. And as my works are sold, I tell them old stories of how my grandfather used to make sculptures in record time as I watched. Showcasing my craft made me feel like a real person again.
Recent Comments