Adapt, learn and grow from your artistic mistakes.
How I turned a failed bird whistle project into one of my favorite small sculptures.
Several years ago I was inspired to make a bird whistle for my young daughter. Although I enthusiastically began the project, life got in the way, and I had to set it aside for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, when I finally returned to it, the clay had become too dry, making it less than ideal for carving and transforming into a functional whistle. Do you see the original bird shape above?
Repurpose and challenge your skills
My immediate reaction was to throw it in the trash. However, as I rotated it, examining it from different angles, I started to see something unexpected emerge. It was the face of a wise, old Asian man in deep meditation. I can't explain why that image appeared, but it intrigued me enough to begin sculpting his face. It was a challenging project since I had never sculpted a human face before. Despite the difficulty, I persevered, and now, after many years, I still proudly display this small sculpture in my home.
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