Chase the “Artisan Muse”

Guest blogger Randall Bowling, wood artisan, of Go Figured Fine Furniture.

Has the Artisan Muse ever toyed with your emotions? You become distracted and feel driven with a passion to create something useful, but it must have that certain, special look – nothing else will do. And then you’re left procrastinating your project from a loss of direction. That’s her game. The Muse can be elusive and cruel.

Curly Cherry Demilune by Go Figured Fine Furniture at CustomMade.com

Surf the galleries on CustomMade.com and you’ll marvel at the treasures of bright colored jewels. You just feel that you’re on a threshold certain to discover something that’s gonna ring your wood bling chime and offer a path to follow. As artisans peruse their competition (only with “professional curiosity”) looking for inspiration, we’re often struck by an overwhelming quandary.  Where do so many artisans find the ideas that make them strive for and accomplish such stunning, unique designs and works of quality craftsmanship?

Harlequin Cutting Board by Go Figured Fine Furniture at CustomMade.com

How does this vast divergent collective of artisans with totally different backgrounds and skill sets come up with such a diversity of creative products while consistently sharing several common denominators in their work with the pleasing forms serving utilitarian function while celebrating the beauty of Natures’ building materials?

Certainly, the answer to the query is what any designer or marketing guru would call, “one of those million dollar deals.”

Media Console by Go Figured Fine Furniture at CustomMade.com

The Artisan Muse knows. But, she’s coy and doesn’t give help unless you willing to pay her due. She shamelessly flirts with me – flashing only peeks and hints to pique and inflame my undivided attention, while never exposing a viable and complete solution to this dilemma. The hint of swirling grain hidden beneath the dirt and rough hewn cut of a raw board distracts me from mindless stacking and I’m off visualizing a table top to a piece yet designed and wondering how that look might pop beside a contrasting wood.

She’s sneaky too. Fall asleep solving a construction challenge on a project and wake up with an entirely new solution that increases your work by hours and hours. She doesn’t seem to care a whit about our added toil. Often, she shows up in the guise of a customer with a need and a thought for a unique commission. And sure enough, when I finish the piece and everyone seems happy and proud of the results, I’m struck with, “Wow, that’s a really neat look and, why didn’t I think of that?” Or, did I? Too heavy.

Zen Sake Table by Go Figured Fine Furniture at CustomMade.com

I need to know and I’d love some help. How does the Artisan Muse sneak up on you? Ever had a design epiphany? Any insight you’d be willing to share might be the key for us all in unlocking the mysteries of the Artisan Muse. Please send me your thoughts and comments to reb@gofigured.com.

The preceding publication was written by our own Randall Bowling of Go Figured Fine Furniture.  Do you have a project, shop, technique, idea, or video that you think would make a good blog publication? Contact us! We’d love to feature you!