Staying Motivated

[ihsfab]

I have a question. What do you do to keep yourself motivated about your engraving?

I am in a spot where the motivation to engrave has just not been there and it bothers me to be in such a place.:thinking:

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Passion and income. Not sure what drives which. Maybe it's a chicken and egg question.

We all get this from time to time in any profession. The best way to get through it in my experience is to put the head down and bum up and work your way through it. It's a bit like an army route march. Just keep going by putting one foot in front of the other and don't think about it to hard..........sooner or later you are on the horizon line and at your destination.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[silverchip]

I have an extreme case of TAA(Tool Acquisition Addiction).The more I can engrave ,the more tools I can acquire!!!!!!!!

 

[scott99]

HI, motivation, wow what a question. I certainly don't have the book of answers but I find that being spread out a bit in what I do helps me a bunch. I carve Netsuke and took up engraving to see if I could use both jobs to meet a single end. So far I still carve and am still trying to fit engraving into my carvings (lots to learn), this adds an extra dimention to engraving for me, a bit more intrest if you would.

Engraving is a demanding job and those who are good at it spent many years learning their art, I think the things they do are amazing. I bet everyone who starts such a journey will ALL find days of no or reduced motivation or despair because they have hit some hard spot or another. Try and look at the art from different angles. Everyone does not engrave guns or knives, some do jewlery or almost photographic Bulino.

It might be if you expand your view of what you are up to you will see a blanket spread out before you of unlimited possibilitys.

I hope some of this made a bit of sense.

Have better days.
scott99

 

[rod]

It happens in many pursuits,

Most talked about is our old friend, "writer's block".

Nothing wrong with downing tools and going out to smell the roses, or equivalent, it often empties the brain, dusts out the cobwebs, creates 'space', and perhaps you come charging back filled with new ideas and energy to spare.

Things not to do .... reach for a six pack

Rod

 

[Terrezar]

I usualy try to do something new. If you are tired of making the same cuts again and again, then try to learn yourself a new style, or maby pick up woodcarwing. Anyway, no matter what you choose, there are always things to learn, and these things may come from the strangest of places. Sometimes a trick picked up from a blacksmith may be applied to the art of engraving, and when this happends to me, I se a bright light and a ton of new ideas starts to dance around in my head. Anyway, in a dry spot, try something new, and see where it gets you.

The other good side of trying something new it that I get an excuse to purchase new tools that I moust deffinitly do need, and thereby fuling my TAA or "Tool Acquisition Addiction" (yes Silverclip, you are not alone!)

Best of luck

 

[DakotaDocMartin]

Things not to do .... reach for a six pack

I hope that doesn't include my Lamb's Navy Rum! :biggrin:

 

[atexascowboy2011]

.ranch out! Challenge your mind!
Combine your engraving skills with knife making, spurs, jewelry, Miss Rodeo tiaras!
The art of fabrication can expand your mind as it finds new challenges to conquer.
For me, designing, building and then engraving the finished product gives me a HUGE shot of adrenaline !
Again for me, engraving by itself would not be enough to keep my mind occupied.
Casey Jordan builds HIGH DOLLAR miniature saddles, coated in silver. To complement his work he learned to engrave.
Yeah, Casey, I'm braggin on ya!
Google his site for some eye candy.
There are numerous saddle makers in Missouri to learn saddle making from.

Climb out of your RUT!

 

[Roger Bleile]

Kulley,

The best motivation I get is to attend the annual FEGA show. If you are unmotivated after a FEGA show, you are in the wrong trade.

RB

 

[rod]

"I hope that doesn't include my Lamb's Navy Rum!"

A 'doc' is allowed to write his own prescriptions!

 

[monk]

i don't know for sure. i will say i do so many different things, there's always a fun thing to start when i become bored with the present job at hand. i'll also say a passion for what's at hand is a prerequisite to doing this work. for those newbies just starting-- there's a ton of work you'll never get a red cent for. with not much reward, it's difficult to prevail. this is where the passion better kick in.

 

[DakotaDocMartin]

"I hope that doesn't include my Lamb's Navy Rum!"

A 'doc' is allowed to write his own prescriptions!

Whoo Hoo! :clapping::banana:

 

[take-down]

Block or stress is like a 1/2 filled cup of water hold it arm out stretched for 10 min no problem, hold it for an hour the arm starts to ache, hold it for a day and it is painfully, but funny thing is the weight of the glass of water hasn't changed
So put it down!!
When I coached competitive shooters I taught them to pull back from the focus and go to a safe place in their minds, that one place that they felt the most at peace, a vision & experience or even an emotion, After each shoot release then do a full body muscle relaxation exercises, then pull their focus back in, in their case the central bull
I still do it myself at work. As i work more than I want to but the banks own my butt so when I get tied or frustrated I go to my safe place, which today is designing in my mind ideas I want to engrave.
Even though I'm still learning to draw again & only scratch practice plates, It is my safe place
Your mind once you control it is the most powerfully tool on your bench.
Properly sounds like a lot of gibberish to most but if only 1 person understands then it was worth writing
Cheers

 

[rayf24]

Are what a question for me it’s the love of a good woman who stands by your decisions follows you around the world and seldom questions your tool addiction and loves ever thing you engrave no matter how crappy it is in reality and is there supporting you even when you motivation is low .
Ray
God that should get some brownie points and some new diamond laps

 

[Willem Parel]

Your mind once you control it is the most powerfully tool on your bench.

I think we may call this " The qoute of the week" !!!

 

[BrianPowley]

"Raise your prices!"

 

[DakotaDocMartin]

Your mind once you control it is the most powerfully tool on your bench.

I think we may call this " The qoute of the week" !!!

A.K.A. The "Zen" of engraving.

 

[dlilazteca]

maybe even finding an apprentice?

 

[Brian Marshall]

Finding an apprentice will definitely complicate your life... it is not a solution for "motivation" unless you enjoy watching their learning process.

I have had over 30 of them, so I am used to it by now.

The newest one is from Sonora, Mexico. Started this week.


AND you have to face the facts:

Some just don't work out for various reasons.

The really good ones ALL leave just about the time you start to recoup your investment in time teaching them...

IF you did a good job - they will eventually be better than you.


Brian

 

[Southern Custom]

Roger is correct. I have found that being around other engravers, seeing astounding work that I can aspire to, and seeing things I would have never thought of doing leaves me extremely inspired with a new sense of drive and purpose in my work. Attending a convention, whether for jewelry or engraving has never failed to leave me in an inspired state of mind. Classes too will do much the same thing.
If none of those are available to you, then pick up a book. My go to engraving book is British Gun Engraving. I can't turn those pages without the urge to sit down and draw.
Layne