Spoons and bowls carved by Cliff Hurst
from native woods
About Me
I am a professor of entrepreneurship by profession. And I carve wooden spoons and bowls on the side. It's a great way to get out of my "head" and into my "hands."
Four values guide my work.
1. Choose form over function. I aim to carve wooden spoons and bowls that are functional as well as beautiful. I am driven to reveal the natural beauty inherent in wood and strive to evoke what boatbuilders call"fair curves" in all that I carve. If ever push comes to shove, though, I will opt for beauty over function.
2. Embrace imperfection. The most beautiful wood comes, often, from the crooked parts of trees. I shun the industiral notion of perfection that is exemplified in milled lumber. Likewise, I embrace the imperfectons inherent in my own skills as a woodcarver. Perfection is a compass, not a destination. I strive to acknowledge the beauty in my current state of craftsmanship while simultaneously striving always to get better.
3. Share the learning. I want this craft business to be a living laboratory that gives me real-world experience in mastering the arts of social media and online marketing. I do this in order to bring current "street cred" into my classrooms where I teach entrepreneurship and startup marketing principles.
4. Have fun. I stared carving as a hobby. Gradually, it morphed into a business idea. Business is fun; carving is fun. Sometimes, though, the demands of both may collide. When they do, I will opt for fun. After all, it's a side gig; not my full-time job. I remain a professor by vocation; a woodcarver by avocation.
See my other professional websiste at: www.cliffordhurst.com and look for my Carved By Cliff store coming soon to Etsy and more photos on Instagram.
