Vent: My wife said my finished pieces looked 'too perfect' and it threw me.

She was looking at a maple dresser I just cleared and said it looked like it came from a factory, not like it had a story. I realized I'd been sanding out every tiny character mark for years. Anyone else ever get that feedback and dial back the perfectionism?

4 comments

4 Comments

max2233mo ago

Yep, that's a real compliment.

faith_shah881mo ago

I'm curious though, how does a flaw like a rough edge or a slightly off angle actually make something feel more real? In my experience, it is a fine line between "character" and "just messy." Your wife's comment must have really hit on something specific about the piece you were working on.

thomas_sanchez3mo ago

Ever think a perfect finish was the goal? I did too, but @max223 is right, and your wife's comment really changed how I see my own work.

murphy.tessa3mo ago

Yeah, it's a good point. Sometimes the little flaws are what make a thing feel real, you know?