When something gets unlocked & the sparks fly

It has been a summer of teaching. I have been to Berea College, Peters Valley School of Craft, the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, and Port Townsend School of Woodworking. I have taught printmaking with the lathe (Turn/Ting), woodturning, and instrument and stool making.

What I love most about teaching is the moment I know someone has been empowered by a skill, or idea. Sometimes it is a whoop out loud, and sometimes it is a quiet moment that is described to me later. It is so great to see when something gets unlocked and the sparks fly. I believe we are all capable of making anything--with time and persistence.

It's important to constantly challenge yourself and work through the fear of machines and tools, as well as creative doubts and insecurities. This summer I have learned animation on the computer. I am such a non-tech person I never imagined it as a medium I could harness. But now I use it not only to create graphics and animation for the new website, but for my design process as well.

Our lives are short. We have nothing to lose by testing our skills and creativity, expressing our ideas (small and big!), through art and object making.

This was published in the Studio newsletter. You can read more here.