Looking Back
How often do we take a moment to look at the past designs we have made? The only time that I do this is when I’m getting ready to build my portfolio. Even during this time, I’m usually rushed and already now what I’m looking for. Everyday I think about the future and find myself forgetting about the past.
Lately, on my bus rides home I’ve been taking the time to look at my sketch book. It’s been kinda enlightening to see which Ideas have made from the page to real life. Or even to see the ones that didn’t make it. It has also become apparent that I’m still working on the same ideas, but on different projects. Looking through my sketch book has been like looking through a photo album of my mind. You can see where I was inspired and quickly jotted down that idea I had on my way home from the bar, or the times I was just sketching and didn’t have a specific idea.
I think this recent experience has caused me to pay attention to my past designs. And in a weird way look back at my life. Like this morning, while getting ready for work I had a brief moment of this appreciation. This is a time when usually I’m rushed and wouldn’t notice if my house was on fire, but this today was different. I was standing in front of my armoire, buttoning my shirt and noticed the beautiful patina on a brass leg. The patina had an uneven green shimmer from being handled. I had never taken the time to polish it in hopes that this would eventually happen. Over time it had happened and I was too busy to notice. There is a compelling quality to things we can’t reproduce and even if I tried I wouldn’t be able to get that same quality. This leg is then attached to large walnut fist and tappers back to the top rail. Then it reconnects to two brass legs through the help of two slender shoulders. Standing there my eye had followed this sequence, stopping at each connection. I remembered how excited I was about hand cutting each joint. It was also a feeling of fear that if I had rushed and made too large of a cut I would have to start again. In the end my experience today has made me start to look around again. Until today, I have forgotten to look at the things I have made and reflect on the past.
