October 15, 2025

I have never liked referring to myself as an “artist” because I don’t believe I am one, I’m more of a craftsman which is a word that has a slightly blue collar ring to it. I have calluses on my hands from the tools I use to make my living. I work with my hands, shoulders, back, abs. I stab my fingers with diamond files, burn them with torches, squash them between steel surfaces. There’s nothing glamorous about it at the end of the day. I swing hammers for a living. I’m a brute. I wanted to take a moment to define (and maybe defend) the term craft for myself and for you, if you are interested in reading my thoughts on the matter.

Craft is:

Discipline.

Dedication to practice.

Commitment to truth and beauty.

Practicality and function married to good design and quality fabrication.

Stewardship of time and resources.

Collection and categorization of inspiration which, when done properly, leads to aesthetic and style.

Upholding the human tradition of displaying and curating truth and beauty in meaningful and functional ways on the body, in dwellings, in spaces adjacent to dwellings, as well as in public spaces.

Spiritual when it stems from awe and wonder.

Intended to humble, intended to promote personal growth.

A celebration and exploration of the holy mysteries.

Worship, liturgy, praise — a hammer strike is prayer, a hammer strike is joy, a hammer strike is grief, a hammer strike is song, a hammer strike is thanksgiving.

Natural to man — to not make tangible objects with your hands is unnatural to a human.  We make to understand our place in the world, our habitat, our selves, our lineage.

To learn from mistakes.

To invent.

To recreate.

An exploration of the limitations of a medium in the physical realm.

A sense of humor — if we cannot laugh at ourselves, at our failed attempts, all is lost.

Temporary success — there’s always the next idea to try and every morning is a fresh beginning.