As a woodworker, one must decide early on in the pursuit of learning which direction you are going to take. Are you going to focus on very traditional styles? Are you going to specialize in chair making or finely crafted intimate jewelry boxes? Are you going to be a one person shop, or will you have a whole production crew under your supervision?
The directions to choose seem as endless as the ever – growing piles of scrap wood and sawdust. Also, just because one direction is chosen in the beginning, certainly doesn’t mean another one can’t be undertaken later. Clearly, though, the methods and techniques of how you work will be determined by the direction you choose for your work.
In the midst of all this, there exists an element of separation between good furniture and very great furniture. It is, simply, the human element. Toshio Odate refers to it as the “Human Nuance” in woodworking.
In a world of mass-produced everything, we constantly see products of all shapes and sizes that are void of this element or “nuance.” We are used to it, quite frankly. If fact, when the rare occasion occurs that someone is exposed to a product that contains this human touch, most people wouldn’t even be aware of its presence within the piece! And if they were aware of it, they probably wouldn’t know how to respond to it. Lack of understanding is not a reason to eliminate this element from your work, however.
This Human Element can take many forms, even within a single piece. Intuitive design, material selection, the use of certain hand tools, even the finish, all can translate this element of separation between hand crafted work and simply “produced” work.
The inclusion of the Human Element involves the hands, the eyes, the mind – the person. Therefore, when you include these elements into your work, you are simply including yourself. It suddenly becomes more than a cabinet or table. It’s an expression of your being, your existence. You are communicating your core beliefs about the craft through your pieces. It’s inevitable.
So, no matter which direction you have chosen for your woodwork, there is always room to introduce this element in to your pieces. If you are going to call yourself a “Craftsman” or “Artist” I challenge you to include the Human Element in everything you undertake. I challenge you to include Yourself.
How do you do this in your woodworking?
Let’s discuss.
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