We had the good fortune of connecting with Paul Jasper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paul, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
For many artists, starting one’s own business is primarily about making money. However, given that I am a full time scientist for a living and pursue my artistic work at night at on the weekends, starting Copper Pig Woodworking was more about the following personal questions I had for myself:

1) What will I do with all of the things I want to make? (There certainly isn’t room enough in my house for all this!)
2) Validation, is my art “good enough” or sufficiently appealing to be bought by the general public?
3) Could I affect the lives of my fellow humans by making things that bring them joy and meaning through my business?

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Woodworking is really difficult. Thus, it probably comes as no surprise that we spend most of our career learning HOW TO DO IT. How to use the machines properly, how to construct proper joints, how to make boards flat and square, how to use hand tools, how to build things that can accommodate the seasonal fluctuations in humidity that make wood swell and shrink. But do you see what is missing here? DESIGN. We are often so hyper-focused on the difficult HOW of woodworking, that we forget the WHAT. What is it you want to make? Are you content to copy the designs of the past or do you want to take the leap to exploring your own original design ideas?

About 6 years ago, I began Copper Pig Woodworking with the singular goal of exploring original design and art in woodworking. The problem was though, I had been so focused on learning how to do woodworking well, that I hadn’t the faintest idea of how to approach design. It was clear to me that I would need a lot of trial and error to figure out what designs appeal to me, and equally important, what appeals to all of you. I remember a coach telling me once, that to get good at a sport, you need a lot of “touches” with the ball, and I think the same things applies with design. You need a lot of iterations to try ideas out, and then evolve them forward all the while realizing that many will end in failure; all an integral part of the learning experience. In order to get more “touches” with design, I pivoted from making a few furniture items per year to making 50-100 smaller items; serving boards, tea boxes, jewelry boxes, and the results have been extremely rewarding. I have begun to build a style that is uniquely my own and I have had a steady stream of commission requests ever since, with my website completely sold out.

Design. Is. Everything.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, I thank my wife Victoria for her unwavering support for my woodworking life and all of her brilliant design ideas she has giving me over the years. Second, I thank my late woodworking mentor Hal, who at 80 years young, introduced me to woodworking, lighting a creative fire in me that I anticipate will burn bright for the rest of my life, Third, all of my woodworking friends in the Instagram community who constantly stoke wonderful collaborations and excellence in the craft.

Website: www.copperpigwoodworking.com

Instagram: @copper_pig_fine_woodworking

Image Credits
Jennifer DiArenzo

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