2012.

It's been three months since I last posted, some friends started to ask what I've been up to, so here I am. I must say I've been busy all this time. I've gone through a learning process  that takes most of my energy and attention, the chair. 


It has been amazing learning from this project. Every part of the process is bringing my mind into deeper levels of the understanding of this craft, this profession that I'm choosing to live and to work. As I am going deeper into my self knowledge as a woodworker, I have changed my way of understanding and respecting wood. 


At the beginning it was an attractive material to work with, you know, it makes a place look warm, it brings life into projects of any type. Then I have been understanding the patterns, the grain and the characteristics of wood from another angle, I gained the respect it deserves, not just as a material, but as a "living material" that is in constant dialogue as you work with it.

Wood teaches as you learn. Sometimes we think we are working with wood, but wood is working with us, shaping our character, our skills, the way you need to approach certain kinds of wood in order to succeed. 


I am glad to be part of this generation here at the school in which we all show the respect James Krenov deserves, I can see his spirit and his approach in every member of the class. 


I am close to completing my chair project, and will look forward to start my next piece, a true reproduction of Mr. Krenov's work back in 1970's. An opportunity to make the foundations on my education even stronger in the way that woodworking means to me. 

Thank you and have a busy start of 2012!


Cheers!


Raul