Thoughts on motivation

[KC]

Some of you may recall my posting several times that a few years back I got pretty well burned out on woodworking. Didn't do anything AT ALL for probably two years, and nothing 'significant' in the last five or six. I just couldn't get excited about going out in the shop.

I was talking to a painter (artist) friend yesterday, a higher ed art instructor. I grew up in a family of accomplished oil artists, and am very particular about what's 'good'. I consider his work very good. He made the comment that he'd never been happy with anything he painted, and that's what motivated him, because he wanted to be better. That struck me immediately, because I used to be that way... until I built a dining room (table/chairs/benches/sideboard) that I was truly happy with. I felt at that time it was the best work I'd done, and even tho I'm sure there were a couple things I might've done differently, there wasn't anything I felt like I could've done better. It was right around that time that my mojo went south.

I've done just about everything I ever wanted to do with wood over the years, and honestly feel like technically I could build anything I wanted to do moving forward... but because I've already done so much, I don't see anything that excites me enough to get going.

This summer I finally built a bed set for US, after selling several over the years. Finally got the bookcases done that LOML has been hounding me for since forever. Bed and bookcases both turned out quite well, and Jean is happy. I actually enjoyed getting back into it... but it was 'mechanical'... and had I been able to convince her to pay the money for the Amish stuff, it wouldn't have bothered me a bit.

Last weekend I delivered two tall shelf units for a coworker. Nothing special...plywood carcass and shelves with solid trim. Functional, but very plain. She's over the moon with them. But it was drudgery for me because there wasn't a single piece of the 'process' that was fun... and the only sense of accomplishment I got from them (and the bed/bookcases, for that matter) is to be thankful it's over. That makes me sad.

I've been talking forever about making the Hal Taylor rocker. Had the plans for maybe 8 years now. But there's no part of that chair that will be a 'technical stretch' for me. That said, I realize on an 'artsy' piece like that, the challenge is putting all the pieces together perfectly and the finish work... and mistakes will be very obvious. I'm beginning to think I'm scared that I won't be able to say I'm happy with anything anymore.

Please discuss, and feel free to shrink me. God knows I need it!

[AgGEM]

I am often displeased because I know where all of the errors are.
I spend lots of time correcting them.
I thought, THAT was suposed to make me a better woodworker.
I'm still waiting for that......
Ag

[Superglide]

I took up this crazy hobby about 10 years ago. Made some cool and crazy stuff.
Right now, I am in a fudge and forcing myself to complete another rocking chair.
Not sure why, but spent a butt load on tools, and just don't feel motivated.
Do they make a Viagra pill for woodworkers?

[gMike]

I've never built anything I've been completely happy with. Most of the time I'm pissed off at myself for making mistakes on stuff I know how to do but get in a hurry and mess up. I get impatient for things to be going faster that they should.

I've taken some time to reorganize my shop and get it into better shape which has helped because, for the first time, I know where my stuff is when I need it. This has helped me slow down.

In your case I might take up turning or carving and incorporate those elements in my woodworking. There's always something to learn but you have to see it and want to do it or you'll blow right by it thinking you've done it all.

Carving
Turning
Bandsaw Boxes
Router bowls
Bending (steam, hot pipe)
Musical instruments
Models
Jigs/Fixtures to improve a process
Shop cabinets / toolboxes

Edit: One more I thought of, is there a workshop for handicapped folks in your area? There is a really rewarding area of woodworking making adaptive furniture, etc for folks that are physically challenged.

All kinds of ways to branch out and try new skills, but you have to look for the opportunity.

[wood2woodknot]

Maybe it's time to stretch a different part of your brain - find a different challenge, a different means of expression, a new medium. It's too easy. Time to move on. I felt that way about my jobs over the years. Ten years doing the same thing, getting better at it all the time until it got boring - time to change, move to a different department, learn a new part of the organization, find new challenges. Maybe welding, or chip carving, photography, teaching someone else your old skills and passing on the legacy. We all stagnate sometime and need to find a new breeze to fill our lungs and cool our brow.

[smithgl12]

My vote is to find an apprentice. Sometimes my shop is for alone meditative time but I also find I love working on a project with someone and teaching them. I'm a novice here in woodnet but an expert to them.

Two years ago, I met a retired SGM who was working his second career at my job. He wanted me to teach him how to turn pens. Then then two purple heart/maple Wood-whisperer cutting boards, then two of Mathias Wandel's box joint jigs. From there he built his own shop that rivals mine. Watching someone first hand get immersed in the hobby was really fun for me.

plenty of young people who don't have money for furniture or room for a shop but if you can plant the spark with them to help them build something they can't afford with them, not for them then that may be the motivation you need.

Just a thought. Sorry to hear you are in a fudge though.

[iublue]

My biggest reward in woodworking (outside of the money and of course the chicks!! LOL) is being able to see a piece in my head and then bringing that vision into the real world. I do all my own designs. Some work and some don't but it is my vision.

Do you design your own pieces? Maybe that would be a creative outlet for you. Many times my vision of the piece requires me to think outside of the box for a solution of how to build it.

[Boatman53]

I too am in a transition stage I like to call it. After finishing the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car I find myself somewhat out of work. Not completely, I've got two canoes to put new gunnels on for paying clients and another for myself since I'm doing them but they just don't excite me. In a couple more weeks I'll be hauling boats again and that is just routine but they pay the bills. I toy with the idea of building a traditional Adirondack Guide boat but keep putting off the lofting. I finished a couple shop projects (well almost), I'm usually booked way out, having some down time feels strange.
Jim

[EdL]

Just be happy you have TIME to work in your shop and build things.....I've had a pile of lumber for my hand tool cabinet, sitting there for 6+ months now. The time just isn't available for me to work on it, to much other shrit going on, with no end in sight. At the end of the day, when all is done, the only thing I want to do is sit down and drink a beer.



Ed

[KC]

EdL said:

---

Just be happy you have TIME to work in your shop and build things.....I've had a pile of lumber for my hand tool cabinet, sitting there for 6+ months now. The time just isn't available for me to work on it, to much other shrit going on, with no end in sight. At the end of the day, when all is done, the only thing I want to do is sit down and drink a beer.



Ed

---

Time is another thing! As we get older where the hell does the time go? We used to bowl 3-4 nights a week, do the kids thing, woodwork, etc. And we were in the car(s) 2 hours every day just getting to work and back. I built the country house during that period with all that other stuff going on. I don't know how I did it.

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses.