The Creative Journey of a Welder Fitter Turned Wood Artist

I make usable wood quality art. A bit about me first. In 2015 I was forced into retirement because of back problems, and keeping busy is essential. It’s been an incredible journey of rediscovery. 

Hence I’ve been a creative person my entire life, a welder fitter, small engine mechanic and everything in between, including artist and furniture maker – the latter turned out to be an offshoot of the former job because woodwork was intrinsic to all my jobs, being called upon to build things from time to time from all kinds of materials.



Finding the Right Work

It’s important to find work that you enjoy, but is also challenging. The first step in finding fulfilling work is getting clear on what your strengths are and finding areas that connect to those strengths. I love coming up with new designs, I’m an avid outdoorsman, and I have basic woodworking skills from growing up on a farm. All these factors led me to become a wood artist.


Tips for Working with Wood

Keep in mind that when working with wood, you’ll want to protect your hands from splinters. Also, always use eye protection and wear gloves (or buy gloves specifically designed for woodworking). When it comes to other parts of your body, make sure you’re wearing appropriate clothing and footwear. For example, avoid wearing sandals or flip-flops when working on carpentry projects. Doing so could leave you vulnerable to bacteria on wood surfaces. 

Always be mindful of sharp edges as well; they can easily cut through clothes and lead to injuries. If you’re not experienced with using power tools, ask someone who is for help. 

Even if you don’t plan on using any power tools yourself, it’s important to know how they work just in case something goes wrong while someone else is operating them. 

Lastly, remember that safety should be your top priority at all times while working with wood—especially if you have young children around.



The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Solid Surface Materials in Artwork

Although I have always been an artistic person, it wasn’t until I was forced into retirement did I start exploring my artistic abilities. 

Today, I make usable wood quality art using Solid Surface Material. Let me explain what it is and how it works. To begin with, most people are not aware that there are two types of solid surface materials available: Polyester Resin and Acrylic Resin. 

The difference between them is in their chemical composition. 

Polyester resin contains styrene monomer (SM) which when polymerized results in a hard plastic like material that has great impact resistance characteristics; however, SM has poor UV stability and tends to yellow over time.

A CREATIVE SOUL

Marcel Tardif, woodturning artist beyond ordinary, the workshop and studio, Sumac Hill Creations is in Neebing Ontario, a small district in Northwestern Ontario.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Marcel Tardif: A Creative Soul Who Transforms Ordinary Wood into Extraordinary Art

Image
Marcel Tardif lives in Neebing, Ontario, Canada with his wife Joyce and three daughters Elizabeth, Laurence and Olivia. He has been working with wood since 1978 when he was 19 years old. It all started when he would go to the Neebing Sawmill on Sundays to purchase scrap wood from them at discounted prices. It didn’t take long before he wanted to experiment with his new found wood so he went to school to learn how to work with it and create things from it. Turning Tables Marcel transforms ordinary wood into extraordinary art by creating elaborate, detailed designs and patterns. He says it’s all about being detail-oriented. With over 35 years of experience, Marcel is known for his innovative and high-quality craftsmanship. Each piece is different, he explains. I don’t make copies. If a customer places an order, I create a new design that fits their needs. The Studio Marcel's work shop, called Sumac Hill Creations , is located in a small district in Northwestern Ontario. When he goes...
Read more

Suma Chill Creations

Image
  A CREATIVE SOUL Marcel Tardif , woodturning artist beyond ordinary, the workshop and studio, Sumac Hill Creations is in Neebing Ontario, a small district in Northwestern Ontario. Well, what is It I do? I make usable quality art. A bit about me first. In 2015 I was forced into retirement because of back problems, and keeping busy is essential. It’s been an incredible journey of rediscovery. Hence I’ve been a creative person my entire life, a welder fitter, small engine mechanic. I started several businesses, very entrepreneurial, good work ethic, good values and motivated, very mechanically inclined, always learning, and my thirst for learning new things is so very strong. I am involved with amazing artist groups Like Artisan Northwest (Thunder Bay) and South Niagara Artists RECENT WOOD CREATIONS Black Ash Charcuterie Black walnut Charcuterie board with blue resin A creative Soul. Marcel Tardif, a woodturning artist beyond the ordinary level. The workshop and studio, Sumac Hil...
Read more