Authentic Nautical Accessories, and Custom Furnishings
I am sure that a visit to one of the big box crafts retailers will not be a disappointment. It might even astonish with the variety and amount of material to make unique with the paints, beads, putty, vinyl, or glitter you can find on the shelves.
It was one of those "Don't you dare, come any closer" situations. It was an after-the-show dinner at a restaurant set on a pier.
Most of what I do is obsolete; historical affectations. Wooden spoons and bowls? Quarterboards for sloops and schooners? Carved eagles for transoms? All joyously obsolete. And that's the point.
Like most carvers of my age, I laid out and drew lettering by hand when I started. I despised manual layout.
Craftspeople and artists repurpose industrial tools and materials for art and craft all the time. Some people hate it and protest that it's neither art nor craft. I'd point out that modern artist paints owe more than a bit of thanks to industrial chemistry.
Most of the ship's figureheads that have come down to us are anonymous.
Periodically carving becomes a fad and not a cheap one.
A funny thing happens as you develop a collection of books on your interests: your browsing habits change, and you begin looking to fill holes in your collection.
Pro Bono work, work you do for free or at a significantly reduced fee, can be rewarding; or not. It can depend on how entitled or grateful the recipient is.
For about six years, I made an annual pilgrimage from Massachusetts to Maine to teach marine carving at the WoodenBoat School.
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