Tell About Me a Moment Your Life Changed...
This is usually a question people answer with a dramatic life moment, such as getting married, becoming a parent, etc.
However, for me... It was when I saw a post on Facebook for the Nature Coast Carving Club offering to teach wood carving for free. I didn't know it at the time, but stopping by after work for their weekly night open session changed my life.
I was greeted with friendliness, support, and excitement to share their love for wood carving. It was contagious and encouraging. It was the sort of place where you feel safe to make a mistake, and ready to carry on with the next cut.
Little by little, I fell in love with the idea of being able to create a shape just out of a block of wood. It felt like magic. Especially for me, who never dabbled in 3D because I never felt capable enough.
When I finished my manatee, it was exhilarating. It was one of my proudest moments. At the time, I thought it was beautiful, and I still do. I couldn't believe it was actually real and looked so much like a manatee. He's such a cute chunker.
He was everything I wanted and more. It gave me so much confidence in myself. It was a pivoting moment of realization where I thought, "Maybe I can do more than I think I can." And so with the rush of confidence, I signed up for my first craft fair, and started going full steam to pursue my art career.
It was nerve-wracking, and still is. The imposter syndrome is higher than I wish it felt like, but woodcarving changed my life. Regardless of where my art journey takes me, I'll always be grateful to woodcarving for giving me the confidence to try... And for showing me that there are so many great, wonderful people out there who love what they do, for the love of creating. That pureness to share a passion is contagious.
And while I might have started 3 in-progress projects, and switch up my projects because I get so excited with ideas too often, and maybe never reach master carver levels. Woodcarving brings me so much joy.
It allows me to focus on making one cut at a time without the pressure of being perfect or the best. It's challenging yet rewarding. It's the one thing in my life where my standard is to enjoy the process, not critique all the things I should have done.
I hope eventually I'll develop a style that helps merge my other art loves with carving, so I can help spread the word on how beautiful an art it is. These little birds feel like a good rabbit hole to go down in. Making them felt so natural.
There are still so many techniques and shapes explore, so I'm sure little by little I will find my style. For now, I'll keep on pursuing all the random ideas my heart calls out for.
I'm still not quite sure what I was looking for when I decided to show up for my first session, but I'm so incredibly thankful that I did.
If you're reading this, and you're in the West Central Florida area, please give Nature Coast Carving Club a chance. You'll make great people and hopefully find yourself falling in love with woodcarving, too.