Opening doors
Education, be it in the classroom or an extension of a curiosity, should be ongoing. I was listening to a talk show radio program the other day, and the host said she paid for both her daughters to go to Ivy League schools. The host, Dr. Christiane Northrup, was encouraging the caller to tell her daughter to learn a trade because college and university can leave graduates with crushing debt after four to seven years. The host’s daughter has a successful online business which had nothing to do with the art history major she completed at college.
My niece was once contemplating her decision going into health sciences when she saw me buy three pairs of expensive designer shoes on a shopping trip. Knowing she would be locked into a government job for the rest of her life, making a limited amount of money, I said, “I can still teach you CAD. It is not too late.”
At the end of the day, learning a new skill can create new opportunities for you and your business.
Trying never hurts
Remember how hard it was to ride a bicycle or learn to play a musical instrument at first? Odds are you weren’t an expert at the beginning. Success takes time and practice. Learning CAD is no different.
Yes, anyone can become a skilled CAD designer who is eager to learn. And yes, a little bench knowledge is good, but it’s not vital. This is a team sport, after all, and you’ll be working with other players with their own special sets of skills.
I truly believe if you will travel in bad weather or long distances or give up a new car, then you have the drive and determination to master CAD. Addy Hung, a very talented bench jeweller, owner of Toronto’s Standard Addy Jewellers, used to say, “magic” whenever I was showing him a new strategy or technique. Indeed, CAD is magical.
So, you still want to try CAD? I say go for it, and surround yourself with a good team because it takes many hands to create a beautiful piece of jewellery.
Shele Letwin is a graduate of the jewellery arts program at Toronto’s George Brown College, an award-winning designer, and a CAD/CAM instructor. She has been a regular guest speaker at trade shows in both Canada and the United States. Her online classes for Matrix 3D can be found www.jewelrydesignonline.com. Letwin can be reached via e-mail at design@shelesjewelrydesignfactory.com.
