Savenwood?
\ sav-en-wood \ (I say, “sav” like it’s pronounced in “savvy”) Having six older siblings, I am the seventh-born in my family. Saven sounds a bit like seven but “saven” or “sav” has some germane translations such as saw or save in various Scandinavian languages. For me, the name Savenwood felt just right.
On Creativity
I share my perspective on art and creativity in this interview with Bellefonte.com.
Some Influences
While a résumé can tell part of a story, and a curriculum vitae can tell a little more, they can be sterile, and are (by design) incomplete. Here are some additional experiences and influences I consider worth mentioning:
Chris Staley. Chris is a potter, an educator, and an intensely thoughtful artist. His curiosity and contemplative approach to the world have had a transformative effect in my life. I am grateful that our paths intersected at a meaningful time for me.
Seth Godin. Highly recommended. Subscribe to his daily blog. Read some of his books. Listen to Akimbo. Participate in one of the programs he founded, like The Marketing Seminar or the altMBA. Your life will change for the better. Your perspective will change. Seth is maximally generous with his knowledge and his efforts to help people make the positive change they seek in the world. One of Seth’s influences is Zig Ziglar, so it makes sense to mention him, too.
Cristin Millett. Alison Luoma. Bonnie Collura. Sarah Knouse. Francesco Lombardo. Nolen Strals. Work ethic. Grit. Endless drive. When my momentum slows, I think of these artists and I get back to work – if not by way of inspiration, then by guilt.
NPR. My father used to listen to National Public Radio in the mornings, and I have many childhood memories with an audio backdrop of Car Talk, A Prairie Home Companion, Weekend Edition, and the news. I'm not sure how to quantify the effect, but it seems like a memoir soundtrack of sorts.
Archdiocese of Baltimore Youth Ministry. Public grade school. Catholic high school. It was during high school that I met some educators and youth ministry titans who would change the trajectory of my life. John Mojzisek. Ruth Puls. Patty Donohue. Mark Pacione. Carol Pacione. Chris Ashby. Tony Tamberino. Pat Sprankle. Others, too.
Kevin Kallaugher: Better known publicly as the editorial cartoonist KAL. When I was young, I used to copy KAL’s drawings. I was fascinated by the crosshatching, the wonderful caricatures, and the political poignancy. At the time I was drawing from these newspaper clippings, George H.W. Bush, Gorbachev, Clarence Thomas, Saddam Hussein, and Bill Clinton dominated the top-right corner of the third-to-last page of the front section of the Baltimore Sun.
Friends, Family, and Others. It seems strange to list the influences above without mentioning names like Erin, Jason, Dan, Jack, Clay, Kevin, Tim, Ryan, Mr. J., Angie, Allegra, Stephen, Kayle, Ajike, Sharon, and my parents. So now that I've mentioned them, even without context, I feel a little better. I owe who I am to them too, and to many more.
A 1986 Ford Ranger and a $65 Craftsman band saw. Learning to replace a dead alternator in a Baltimore City parking lot. Loading tools and materials into a truck not sized for the job. Trying to cut 3/4-inch plywood with a smoking blade on a flimsy band saw under-built for the task. These experiences (and similar situations) gave me an appreciation for tools and equipment. The first time I fired up the smooth-sounding motor of a new Delta Unisaw in 1997, I felt the thrill of using a tool that made the task at hand seem effortless.
Just around the corner from Bolton Street, sometime in the year 2000.
Favorite Tools
In no particular order, I’ve listed some of my favorite small tools. While I enjoy using a variety of different tools for different tasks, I find myself using these items again and again. Note that the images are not to scale.
Fabriano A5 Notebook
For a long time, a 5-5/8 by 3-5/8 in. squared Moleskine was my notebook of choice. These days, I use an 85 g/m2 Fabriano spiral-bound. It’s a nice proportion, and it lays flat. This is especially useful when making references to drawings while in the shop or in the studio.
Evernote
While I keep a paper notebook, I also use the mobile notebook app Evernote. Daily notes, to-do lists, articles, plans – all of it is in my Evernote notebook, synced across multiple platforms. I rely on it many times, every day.
Check it out for yourself at evernote.com.
Prismacolor Premier Fine Line Marker (01)
I’ve used these pens for about four years, and I really like them. In addition to being lightfast, they claim to be acid-free and archival. So far, so good. I started out using the 03 (and I still use that size sometimes) but I’ve begun to use the 01 more often because of its delicate, accurate line.
3M Ear Soft Yellow Neons
These earplugs are amazing, and essential if you use machinery. 3M’s Soft Yellow Neons offer a noise reduction rating of 33 dB (the highest NRR available). Love them.
Bosch Laser Distance Measurer
Super handy. The DLR130 uses a laser beam to measure length - and it has simple buttons to specify functions such as area and volume. It’s very simple to move between fractions, decimals, US Standard, and metric. I like using this tool when I have to take inside measurements, or when I need to take measurements that exceed 12 feet. This particular model has been discontinued, but similar new versions are available.
Pelican 1020 - Micro Case Series
I use this waterproof, rugged case to hold anything I want to keep dry, or from being crushed. Lots of times, that's a mobile phone, wallet and keys, or an external hard drive. The latch is simple to use, and the inside is padded. A few sizes are available, but I like the 1040 because it fits most of the latest smartphones.
Staedtler Lead Holder
What’s nice about this tool is that you can quickly retract the lead and keep the pencil safely stored in a pocket. It includes a built-in sharpening device.
Hultafors Folding Rule
German tradesman are big fans of folding rulers, and so am I. There are two camps on these tools – those who like them, and those who don’t. I think they’re great, and Hultafors makes a tip-top version. I picked up mine from Dave Street at Big Bear Tools. Good guy – good company.
Veritas Saddle Square
A saddle square helps in transferring a mark to a perpendicular face, or for marking two sides of a piece at the same time. It’s nice and sturdy, so it won’t be out of square if it gets knocked around.
Vix Bit (self-centering drill bit)
Whether it’s drawer glides, hinges, or brackets – a self-centering drill bit is indispensable. It has been a long time since I’ve used a pencil and awl for marking circumferences and centers.
Woodpecker 1281 Square
This square is solidly built, and I use it nearly every day. Because of its design, it is able to stand upright on its base, or to sit on the edge of a board hands-free. The 1281 is very accurate, and Woodpecker offers a lifetime guarantee of squareness. The version I use has a metric 1 mm scale. Note that I don’t use it for layout since the thickness of the blade keeps the markings 4 mm off the surface of the work.
Festool Systainers
Tool organization means efficiency. If you’re compelled to be organized and you’re a fan of amazing German engineering, these tool storage systems are second to none. The units stack together easily, and have modular interior dividers and compartments. Festool is a high-quality manufacturer, so be prepared to use the term investment instead of bargain.
W. L. Fuller Taper Point bit with Countersink
I’m a big fan of this tapered drill bit’s resistance to wandering when you put its point on a surface. The adjustable countersink keeps everything clean when it comes to screw heads or plugs.
McFeely’s Square Drive Fasteners
These fasteners will take a lot of torque without breaking. Plus, there aren’t driver cam-out issues with the Robert's (square) style.
Lloyd’s Akempucky Fastener Lubricant
This waxy lubricant is really handy. In addition to lowering the torque necessary to turn fasteners, it eliminates the squeaking and creaking that can occur when sinking a screw into hard materials.
What the paperwork says
MFA The Pennsylvania State University - University Park, PA (2007)
BFA Maryland Institute College of Art - Baltimore, MD (2002)
Studio Art Centers International - Florence, Italy (2001)
Calvert Hall College High School - Baltimore, MD (1998)
Other notables
The Creative’s Workshop (2020)
Seth Godin’s altMBA (2019)
The Marketing Seminar (2018)