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Interview Questions
THE CRUCIAL JUNCTION
GEOMETRY = LIFE
Q: I HEAR YOU DID NOT DO WELL IN SCHOOL?
A: That's correct, when I was in grade school the only classes I liked and therefore excelled in were in Geometry and wood shop. Today these two subjects are the foundation of coopered patterns.
Q: YOU MUST DRAW VOLUMES OF PLANS AND PATTERNS?
A:You might think so, but no, I might make only one or two sketches and only when clarifying an issue that I cannot see clearly in my imagination. I do play around with a program called "3D Pro" to help me visualize how new shapes look in 3D space.
Q: HOW IN THE HECK DO YOU PROCEED WITH OUT PLANS?
A: Basically I start with the body of the piece then the rest is sculpted and it evolves until it is completed. Sometimes I reach a block where I will not know how to proceed technically or artistically. When this happens, I shelf the piece in a location where it can be seen all the time. See, I believe your brain never stops trying to solve problems, day and night it works on many levels no matter what you are doing at the time.
Q: HOW DID YOU STUMBLE INTO THIS STYLE OF WOOD WORKING?
A: It was more like I leaned away from everything traditional. Every time I confronted something I liked contructed of wood, I would completely redesign it in my head. I would take all the flat square sides making them curved and shapely. But I lacked the necessary skills to move forward. Even after obtaining the required skills it took me another 5½ years to learn the processes involved. Over the 5½ years of small discoveries each would lead me closer and closer to my goal, and the compilation of all these discoveries allows me to proceed. Like most other trades every day you add to the list of discoveries.
Q: YOU MUST BE TOTALLY INTIMIDATED BY THE COMPLICATED MATH REQUIRED TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT THESE PIECES?
A: No I am not, but if I had to do the math on paper it would scare the crap out of me. I only use basic measurements and those loosely at that. The more complicated plain geometry I use is a thought process and is a deep part of me I can't explain. I utilize the geometry and common sense to solve most of the problems that arise.
Q: HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THESE DESIGNS YOU USE?
A: They come from shapes and images I see in my environment then it evolves until it is finally completed.
Q: THIS WORK LOOKS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO CONSTRUCT. HOW DO YOU PUT IT ALL TOGETHER?
A: Once I have the basic design in my head, I try to geometrically render a solution. But that is only the beginning. From there it has to be proved or proofed. That's where I prove that a particular shape can be made. In the proving process, the construction process reveals itself. Eash piece has its own inherent construction process that must be discovered before I can proceed.
THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR NEW CREATIONS. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK WITH ME.
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