The Apprenticeship Program - An
Extraordinary Program at Lake Tahoe
(As published in Chip Chats Magazine)
By Eric Butterworth

Every so often, one stumbles across something that makes an impact on their lives.  Once in a great while, one runs across something that changes their direction in life.  If one is really lucky,  one finds something that causes them to alter their perspective on how the world works and it causes them to permanently change how they look at the world -- for the better. I happened to be one of the lucky ones who this has happened to.  What I stumbled across was the apprenticeship program at Timeless Sculptures.

You see, I grew up on the east coast.  My entire formative years living in white, middle class suburbia in Maryland and Connecticut.  It was definitely a good way to grow up -- nice house, loving family,  good neighborhood,  the whole nine yards.  Now, I’m not complaining about it at all.  However, life as I knew it was almost preprogrammed.  There were certain expectations: go to school; graduate high school; go to college; graduate college; enter the work force; work hard and hope to make my way up the corporate ladder; find myself a wife; and start a family.  If all that went well, then I could hope to retire at 65 (if I had done everything else up to that point right) and I could spend my "golden years" enjoying the fruits of my labor.  That was my perspective on how life was intended to turn out, and for the most part that is exactly the way that it was turning out, with a one small deviation -- I moved to Lake Tahoe.

Having spent five long years working a ridiculous amount of hours ( staying up all night,  only getting two hours of sleep every 12-18 hours for weeks on end) just to finish projects.  I finally graduated with an architecture degree from the University of Maryland.  After graduating, I decided that I wanted to enjoy my life for a little while before I got sucked into the "rat race" and became trapped there by a mortgage and a need to support a family.  That's why I moved to Lake Tahoe.  Oh yeah, and I wanted to snowboard for a season.  I never would have predicted what would happen next.

On a bike ride, one day, from Tahoe City to Incline Village, I happened to look across the street and a very interesting shop grabbed my attention.  Little did I know, at that moment,  how dramatically that little shop would change my life.  However, I didn't stop right then.  I continued on my mission of the day.  After getting what I needed, I was looking at a kiosk and happened to discover a little flyer posted on that kiosk.  It read, "Apprenticeship Program -- Timeless Sculptures in Kings Beach is offering unpaid apprenticeships to selected individuals seeking the opportunity to work with masters in statuary, casting/molding, sculpted furniture and cabinetry.  Only serious, career minded applicants please.  Curious about what sounded like an interesting opportunity,  I applied to the program and was accepted.  That was over two years ago, now.

I started out as a novice apprentice only working two days a week.  At the time that was about all I could afford to commit to the program because I still needed to work my other job just to pay the bills.  Now, I am a Journeyman apprentice and have been working full-time at Timeless Sculptures for over a year and am quickly approaching master status.  It is quite a brilliant program.  Matt (the owner of Timeless Sculptures) would probably insist that his sculptures are his crowning achievement, but I honestly believe that this program is his most brilliant accomplishment.  It works as follows.

When a person is accepted into the program, they have to complete an initial investment period which can range from 2-8 days, depending on the skills that they already possess.  During the initial investment period, initiates will spend their time doing whatever we feel is the best use of their time towards accomplishing the overall goals of Timeless Sculptures.  It serves as a period for both us and the new initiates to see if they can integrate into our very unique and creative -- yet disciplined -- environment.

After the initial investment period, one becomes a novice apprentice.  As a novice, a person’s time is divided into three different parts -- investment time, learning time, and studio time.  

During investment time, novices spend their time doing various things around the shop doing whatever is necessary to help run and maintain the shop, the grounds and the business aspects of Timeless Sculptures.  It's not always glamorous -- and sometimes it's downright grungy -- but it's always necessary.  Chances are it's nothing all of us haven't done before in some way, shape or form.  Sometimes it's sorting and organizing.  Sometimes it's schlepping and agonizing.  Hey, we don't call it grunt work (as in the sound we make moving heavy logs around) for nothing!

During learning time, novices spend their time working on master or journeyman pieces learning the various techniques needed to produce that piece.  They may assist the master or the journeyman on any of the various areas that we focus on at Timeless Sculptures -- casting and mold-making, carving wooden statuary ranging in size from tabletop to monumental, and creating sculpted, organic furniture.  After the artwork is completed, the piece belongs to the master or journeyman responsible for it.  Since the master or journeyman is responsible for it, they are going to make sure that it gets done right.  This approach works out well for everyone involved.  Novices gain valuable knowledge and skills, masters and journeymen get assistance on their projects.  Seems like a pretty fair trade to me -- and I've been (and continue to be) on both sides of the scenario.  Oh yeah, and clients get projects produced more affordably.

Finally,  during studio time,  novices get to use the shop,  tools and materials to produce their own pieces.  Once they have completed their artwork, they’re free to do whatever they want to do with them.  They can put them on display in the gallery for retail sale, take them home or give them to a loved one (or someone they want to become a loved one).  It seems like another fair trade for the time that they spend doing investment time. 

Since joining Timeless Sculptures, both the program and I have continued to evolve to fit the changing needs of the apprenticeship program.  Many people have come and gone.  Those that leave usually do so with a smile, grateful to have learned some new skills, gained some knowledge and created something that they're proud of.  Those that do stay are the ones that have what it takes to meet the challenges necessary to succeed in our delicately balanced environment.  I've come to realize the characteristics that usually make or break a person here -- attitude, commitment, discipline, dedication, persistence and the ability to listen and follow directions.  Attitude, commitment  Every so often, one stumbles across something that makes an impact on their lives.  Once in a great while, one runs across something that changes their direction in life.  If one is really lucky, one finds something that causes them to alter their perspective on how the world works and it causes them to permanently change how they look at the world -- for the better. I happened to be one of the lucky ones who this has happened to.  What I stumbled across was the apprenticeship program at Timeless Sculptures.

You see, I grew up on the east coast.  My entire formative years living in white, middle class suburbia in Maryland and Connecticut.  It was definitely a good way to grow up -- nice house, loving family, good neighborhood, the whole nine yards.  Now, I’m not complaining about it at all.  However, life as I knew it was almost preprogrammed.  There were certain expectations: go to school; graduate high school; go to college; graduate college; enter the work force; work hard and hope to make my way up the corporate ladder; find myself a wife; and start a family.  If all that went well, then I could hope to retire at 65 (if I had done everything else up to that point right) and I could spend my "golden years" enjoying the fruits of my labor.  That was my perspective on how life was intended to turn out, and for the most part that is exactly the way that it was turning out, with a one small deviation -- I moved to Lake Tahoe.

Having spent five long years working a ridiculous amount of hours ( staying up all night,  only getting two hours of sleep every 12-18 hours for weeks on end) just to finish projects.  I finally graduated with an architecture degree from the University of Maryland.  After graduating, I decided that I wanted to enjoy my life for a little while before I got sucked into the "rat race" and became trapped there by a mortgage and a need to support a family.  That's why I moved to Lake Tahoe.  Oh yeah, and I wanted to snowboard for a season.  I never would have predicted what would happen next.

On a bike ride,  one day,  from Tahoe City to Incline Village,  I happened to look across the street and a very interesting shop grabbed my attention.  Little did I know,  at that moment,  how dramatically that little shop would change my life.  However,  I didn't stop right then.  I continued on my mission of the day.  After getting what I needed,  I was looking at a kiosk and happened to discover a little flyer posted on that kiosk.  It read, "Apprenticeship Program -- Timeless Sculptures in Kings Beach is offering unpaid apprenticeships to selected individuals seeking the opportunity to work with masters in statuary,  casting/molding, sculpted furniture and cabinetry.  Only serious, career minded applicants please.  Curious about what sounded like an interesting opportunity,  I applied to the program and was accepted.  That was over two years ago,  now.

I started out as a novice apprentice only working two days a week.  At the time that was about all I could afford to commit to the program because I still needed to work my other job just to pay the bills.  Now,  I am a Journeyman apprentice and have been working full-time at Timeless Sculptures for over a year and am quickly approaching master status.  It is quite a brilliant  program.  Matt (the owner of Timeless Sculptures) would probably insist that his sculptures are his crowning achievement,  but I honestly believe that this program is his most brilliant accomplishment.  It works as follows.

When a person is accepted into the program,  they have to complete an initial investment period which can range from 2-8 days,  depending on the skills that they already possess.  During the initial investment period,  initiates will spend their time doing whatever we feel is the best use of their time towards accomplishing the overall goals of Timeless Sculptures.  It serves as a period for both us and the new initiates to see if they can integrate into our very unique and creative --  yet disciplined -- environment.

After the initial investment period,  one becomes a novice apprentice.  As a novice,  a persons time is divided into three different parts -- investment time,  learning time,  and studio time.  

During investment time,  novices spend their time doing various things around the shop doing whatever is necessary to help run and maintain the shop,  the grounds and the business aspects of Timeless Sculptures.  It's not always glamorous -- and sometimes it's downright grungy -- but it's always necessary.  Chances are it's nothing all of us haven't done before in some way,  shape or form.  Sometimes it's sorting and organizing.  Sometimes it's schlepping and agonizing.  Hey,  we don't call it grunt work (as in the sound we make moving heavy logs around) for nothing!

During learning time,  novices spend their time working on master or journeyman pieces learning the various techniques needed to produce that piece.  They may assist the master or the journeyman on any of the various areas the we focus on at Timeless Sculptures -- casting and mold-making,  carving wooden statuary ranging in size from tabletop to monumental,  and creating sculpted,  organic furniture.  After the artwork is completed,  the piece belongs to the master or journeyman responsible for it.  Since the master or journeyman is responsible for it,  they are going to make sure that it gets done right.  This approach works out well for everyone involved.  Novices gain valuable knowledge and skills,  masters and journeymen get assistance on their projects.  Seems like a pretty fair trade to me -- and I've been (and continue to be) on both sides of the scenario.  Oh yeah,  and clients get projects produced more affordably.

Finally,  during studio time,  novices get to use the shop,  tools and materials to produce their own pieces.  Once they have completed their artwork,  they're free to do whatever they want to do with them.  They can put them on display in the gallery for retail sale,  take them home or give them to a loved one (or someone they want to become a loved one).  It seems like another fair trade for the time that they spend doing investment time. 

Since joining Timeless Sculptures,  both the program and I have continued to evolve to fit the changing needs of the apprenticeship program.  Many people have come and gone.  Those that leave usually do so with a smile,  grateful to have learned some new skills,  gained some knowledge and created something that they're proud of.  Those that do stay are the ones that have what it takes to meet the challenges necessary to succeed in our delicately balanced environment.  I've come to realize the characteristics that usually make or break a person here -- attitude,  commitment,  discipline,  dedication,  persistence and the ability to listen and follow directions.  Attitude,  commitment and ability to listen and follow directions are by far the three most important of them all.  The others can build over time,  but if the attitude,  commitment and ability to listen and follow directions aren't there then that person usually won't be here long.  It's Darwin's theory of eveolution applied to the business of art -- "survival of the fittest".
           
                                    We have all worked very hard to create a positive,  fun and pleasant working environment were ideas and knowledge are exchanged freely,  hence the phrase "Knowledge Exchange".  Since we have all worked so hard to create it,  we also work very hard to maintain it.  Everyone that works in this environment is expected to meet that same standard of positive attitude and to respect the other people here.  We are quick to ask those who do not meet that standard to change their attitude or leave so as not to disrupt what we have created.

                                    There are many aspects that make up that positive attitude that we insist upon:  professional respect for the studio,  the masters and all the apprentices in the studio;  enthusiasm and desire to meet and overcome challenges with a smile;  and humor (when appropriate). 

Commitment is equally important as attitude is.  The schedule seems to be the unifying standard that determines a person's commitment to the program.  Although a person is able to set their own schedule weekly,  once they have,  they are expected to meet that schedule with punctuality.  Those who can'tsimply aren't "fit" enough.

As it says on the first page of the apprenticeship application,  "Persistence is the only requirement for success."  This is true for most things in life,  but it is especially true for those pursuing a career in the arts.  In order to make it in this profession,  it takes great deal of dedication,  self discipline,  and persistence.  If any of these elements are missing,  one probably won't be able to succeed and maintain that success.

Most people that do succeed in this program truly appreciate the environment created by the "Knowledge Exchange".  As a result,  it tends to attract a wide variety of people from a wide variety of backgrounds.  Just to give you an idea of the vast array of people that have come to this program,  I've compiled some thoughts from various apprentices and others that know of the program.  Here they are:

"It is almost eight years since a friend said,  "Here's something for you," and gave me a simple of cedar and a sample of oak from his collection.  This start me collecting wood too,  pieces of all shapes and sizes from everywhere I went - and all beautiful.  My interest grew into a passion,  and I began to make things from my wood collection,  coasters,  lamp bases,  and sanded burls.  But I was working alone,  and missed contact with other woodworkers,  experience with power tools,  and some advice and direction.

Now,  suddenly - after 25 years in environmental research in the academic world,  acquisition of undergraduate and masters degrees in archaeology and work on botany,  climatology,  geology and zoology projects,  and a little teaching too - I'm taking a spell of voluntary unemployment.  And focusing on wood and my woodwork as an apprentice with the Timeless Sculptures studio and gallery in Kings Beach at Lake Tahoe,  near my home in Truckee,  California.  Two days a week I hurry to Kings Beach in the morning wondering if I'll be working with one of the other novices or journeymen on a learning project,  or doing some investment time in computer 'stuff',  or doing my own work in the studio.  Yes,  some days go more slowly than the studio days,  but I know I'm  contributing to the success of a unique organization and I enjoy that too.  And in the studio I rarely notice that I'm one of the few women at work,  and that at 50 I'm much older than most of the other woodworkers!  Sometimes I wonder if I'll go back to the 'rat race' - but for the moment I consider myself very fortunate to be doing something so different,  enriching my life,  and learning new skills."
Judith Lancaster - Truckee,  California

"After reading about Timeless Sculptures' apprentice program in the July-August 1999 issue of Chip Chats,  I was interested enough to call for more information.  The conversation with Matthew (the owner of Timeless Sculptures) answered all my questions and I made arrangements to go out and give it a try for a month.

Matthew is a master carver and patient and concise teacher.  I learned enough in that month that I'm making plans for an extended stay.  This is a unique place with many opportunities."
Tom Jenkins - Casa Grande,  Arizona

"Having recently started my apprenticeship at Timeless Sculptures,  I find that each day on my drive home through the beautiful Tahoe National Forest,  I often feel very privileged to be a part of such a wonderful program.  Each day I spend at the studio is filled with learning different techniques and terminology surrounding the development of one-of-a-kind top quality sculptures.  Each participant in the program,  whether a master,  journeyman or novice,  such as myself,  are more than willing to share what they are learning and doing with others.  Identifying not only the tools they utilize to create certain effects,  but also why they chose certain woods or techniques to create a given look.  Everything from sketching a preliminary design to studying how to create the look of real feathers on an eagle or fur an a raccoon to various finishes that are used and why.

I don't believe that I would get nearly the education in a classroom setting as I am able to receive in the studio and gallery setting here at Timeless Sculptures.  Being a professional woman forty years of age and having successfully a career in marketing and raised a family,  the apprenticeship program offers me an opportunity to pursue yet another dream I have of being a professional artist doing what I love and making a living at it.  I would recommend this program to anyone I know!"
Victoria Sweedler - Sparks,  Nevada
  
"Dear Mr. Welter,
I must let you know how I appreciated your article in the July-August 1999 issue of Chip Chats,  I also reread the two previous articles,  and I liked the first by your mother.  You have indeed been fortunate to have such a good start.

I must also commend you on the purpose and drive for your Timeless Sculptures.  Also for those who have the desire to become apprentices under such excellent conditions,  and where they have an opportunity to advance if they have the necessary talent to do so.

                                    I have been carving for about 20 years and had the good luck to start with a trained sculptor for a few years.  This gives a good grounding in anatomy,  and this led into doing a number of busts for museums in this area.  The war of 1812 also took place here,  and this is where the slaves came across to Canada.

I have had two trips to Europe.  They have good programs but not the opportunities that you provide.  However, as I have turned 79,  I will slow down a bit.

In closing,  I would wish continued success for your apprentice program,  and would love to visit if you were not so far away.

                                                            Yours truly,
                                                                              Grant Bone" - Amherstburg,  Ontario
           
"Since my arrival at Timeless sculptures in June of 1998, I have been working as a full time  apprentice. For a little over a year and a half, I have been focusing my attention in the wood sculpting arena, creating scaled up models of  animals in the attempt to learn natures proportioning, composition, and techniques in which to apply these in principles wood.  In my time spent here I have created scaled up models of a snail, a frog on a mushroom or toad stool cluster,  mushrooms, a number of bears cubs, raccoons, and a life sized portrait of a gray hound dog.  I am now in the process of starting a journey man commission of a 7' tall Viking carved in cedar.   Most of my focus has been on studying carving techniques with power tools in which most of our carvings are done.  As a Journeyman Apprentice I take on the responsibility of supervising new apprentices to the program ( this time is considered investment).

I moved to Lake Tahoe directly after graduating from high School, where I attended an Alternative school in Columbus Ohio.  My interest in the arts had always been attentive and showed promise but I never had any real idea of persuing an art carrier not to mention wood sculpting.  I was lucky to have the unique experience with my high school in which  I came to Timeless Sculptures in my senior year.  The program was designed to allow each senior the chance to persue a job area of interest.  For one semester I worked full time at Timeless Sculptures.  At the end of my stay I was able to try my hand to wood in creating a sculpture of a honey bee.  I realized that I had stumbled upon an extraordinary place of learning opportunity where ones creative ambitions could be played out.  After graduation from high school with no real art education and limited knowledge of the world, I set out to Lake Tahoe to see what I could learn , in this alternative setting at Timeless Sculptures. 
           
With the guidance of my mentor Matthew Welter, owner of Timeless sculptures, I have been able to produce more art works in one year and a half than I thought possible.    While few apprentices have endured the challenge and commitment of making Timeless Sculptures a full time job, most have left with a smile at knowledge gained.  Those of us who stay find that there are no limits to what can be accomplished with the will and intent to succeed." 
Adam Bradley - Kings Beach,  California

While there are many reasons that people join the apprenticeship program at Timeless Sculptures,  there is one reason that dominates all the others -- to learn.  They come to learn techniques,  to learn skills,  to learn composition and aesthetics and to learn how to run and maintain a working art studio and gallery.  All these culminate into learning how to make it as an professional artist in the "real world".  Now you may be wondering,  why not just go to college and learn all these things there?  Well,  I did go to college and they did teach me most of these things,  except for the last and most important one -- how to apply all these things to '"real world".  That's where Timeless Sculptures fills in the missing links.

Timeless Sculptures is a real working environment.  It's a business that designs,  creates and sells artwork in an organically evolving structured environment.  While the first two can be,  and quite often are,  taught in a university setting,  the last one is far too often neglected.  Any university can and does pump out many art students,  but what good does a diploma do an art graduate unless they know how to market and sell their artwork?  You can't afford to continue producing art unless you can sell your stuff.  There's only so much stuff that grandparents and friends can afford to buy. That would probably explain why the vast majority of fine art graduates never really pursue much of a career in the arts.  You have to "Make it Pay" (see __________).

There are many incentives built into the program in order to make individuals want to stick with the program and continue to progress through the program.  For me,  the most significant one continues to be to learn.  Being able to work in a creative environment doing something I love to do and to produce interesting pieces of my own design are also very significant driving forces behind my success in the program.  The ultimate goal of the program and for myself,  however,  is to train apprentices thoroughly enough to set them free and have them start their own studio.

The program itself is structured to make individuals want to progress.  Novices that have the desire to achieve and progress have several things to look forward to as journeymen.  As journeymen,  one's time is split differently.  Half of the time spent at Timeless Sculptures is spent in the studio working on their own creative projects.  The other half is split evenly between investment time and learning time.  In addition,  journeymen are also able to start taking commissions.  What a concept -- getting paid for doing something they love.  As they acquire more skills and more knowledge,  they can start using their investment time to teach novices the various things that they have learned over time (which I'll take over raking the yard any day).  They are also introduced to the business side of things:  marketing which includes our telephone and internet marketing systems,  as well as designing and taking orders for commissions;  making retail sales out of the gallery,  both of which enable them to receive a finder's fee for any sales made or commissions taken;  learning and assisting with the variety of office work required to keep a business running.  The business side of things is what is far too frequently neglected by the university education.

                                    Once an apprentice reaches journeyman status,  the standard and the rewards are then set higher and greater -- master status.  One of the main incentives for achieving master status is probably one of mankind's greatest incentives of all -- more money!  Because of their higher skill level and their increased knowledge,  masters can get a higher price for the commissions that they take.  There are more incentives than that,  but we can't reveal all of our secrets - yet! 

The apprentice program challenges each apprentice with "real world" constraints.  Learning to solve problems creatively while at the same time finding a niche in the marketplace.  One has to be able to produce something that satisfies the client and,  hopefully,  challenges and satisfies the creative desires of the artist.  It's quite a challenge.  In school one can push the limits as far as one wants and usually get some credit for the uniqueness and ingenuity,  but in the "real world",  if the client doesn't like how far the limits have been pushed,  they won't pay for it.  That's the ultimate challenge -- finding a way to satisfy both the client and the artist. 

Yeah,  I've had some unique opportunities.  I studied architecture in Paris for a summer.  I worked the Olympic Games in Atlanta.  I have traveled around the U.S.,  Mexico and Europe.  However,  no opportunity has been quite as unique and life changing as this porgram.

Mexico gave me my initial appreciation for traveling and new experiences.  Europe gave me my initial appreciation for differing cultures and perspectives.  The U.S. has given me a huge appreciation for the freedom that we have here.  Timeless Sculptures,  however,  has given me the creative problem solving skills to help me bring all of those wonderful things together -- and that's a beautiful thing! 
Eric Butterworth,  Jouneyman Apprentice - Tahoe City,  Lake Tahoe,  California

As it has evolved, we have become to call the program "The Knowledge Exchange"
nd ability to listen and follow directions are by far the three most important of them all.  The others can build over time, but if the attitude, commitment and ability to listen and follow directions aren't there then that person usually won't be here long.  It's Darwin's theory of evolution applied to the business of art -- "survival of the fittest".
           
                                    We have all worked very hard to create a positive, fun and pleasant working environment were ideas and knowledge are exchanged freely, hence the phrase "Knowledge Exchange".  Since we have all worked so hard to create it, we also work very hard to maintain it.  Everyone that works in this environment is expected to meet that same standard of positive attitude and to respect the other people here.  We are quick to ask those who do not meet that standard to change their attitude or leave so as not to disrupt what we have created.

                                    There are many aspects that make up that positive attitude that we insist upon:  professional respect for the studio, the masters and all the apprentices in the studio; enthusiasm and desire to meet and overcome challenges with a smile; and humor (when appropriate). 

Commitment is equally important as attitude is.  The schedule seems to be the unifying standard that determines a person's commitment to the program.  Although a person is able to set their own schedule weekly, once they have, they are expected to meet that schedule with punctuality.  Those who can't simply aren't "fit" enough.

As it says on the first page of the apprenticeship application, “Persistence is the only requirement for success."  This is true for most things in life, but it is especially true for those pursuing a career in the arts.  In order to make it in this profession, it takes great deal of dedication, self discipline,  and persistence.  If any of these elements are missing, one probably won't be able to succeed and maintain that success.

Most people that do succeed in this program truly appreciate the environment created by the "Knowledge Exchange".  As a result, it tends to attract a wide variety of people from a wide variety of backgrounds.  Just to give you an idea of the vast array of people that have come to this program,  I've compiled some thoughts from various apprentices and others that know of the program.  Here they are:

"It is almost eight years since a friend said, “Here's something for you," and gave me a simple of cedar and a sample of oak from his collection.  This start me collecting wood too, pieces of all shapes and sizes from everywhere I went - and all beautiful.  My interest grew into a passion, and I began to make things from my wood collection, coasters, lamp bases, and sanded burls.  But I was working alone, and missed contact with other woodworkers, experience with power tools,  and some advice and direction.

Now,  suddenly - after 25 years in environmental research in the academic world,  acquisition of undergraduate and masters degrees in archaeology and work on botany,  climatology,  geology and zoology projects,  and a little teaching too - I'm taking a spell of voluntary unemployment.  And focusing on wood and my woodwork as an apprentice with the Timeless Sculptures studio and gallery in Kings Beach at Lake Tahoe, near my home in Truckee, California.  Two days a week I hurry to Kings Beach in the morning wondering if I'll be working with one of the other novices or journeymen on a learning project,  or doing some investment time in computer 'stuff',  or doing my own work in the studio.  Yes, some days go more slowly than the studio days, but I know I’m contributing to the success of a unique organization and I enjoy that too.  And in the studio I rarely notice that I'm one of the few women at work, and that at 50 I'm much older than most of the other woodworkers!  Sometimes I wonder if I'll go back to the 'rat race' - but for the moment I consider myself very fortunate to be doing something so different,  enriching my life,  and learning new skills." Every so often,  one stumbles across something that makes an impact on their lives.  Once in a great while,  one runs across something that changes their direction in life.  If one is really lucky,  one finds something that causes them to alter their perspective on how the world works and it causes them to permanently change how they look at the world -- for the better. I happened to be one of the lucky ones who this has happened to.  What I stumbled across was the apprenticeship program at Timeless Sculptures.

You see,  I grew up on the east coast.  My entire formative years living in white,  middle class suburbia in Maryland and Connecticut .  It was definitely a good way to grow up -- nice house,  loving family,  good neighborhood,  the whole nine yards.  Now,  I'm not complaining about it at all.  However,  life as I knew it was almost preprogrammed.  There were certain expectations: go to school;  graduate high school;  go to college;  graduate college;  enter the work force;  work hard and hope to make my way up the corporate ladder;  find myself a wife;  and start a family.  If all that went well,  then I could hope to retire at 65 (if I had done everything else up to that point right) and I could spend my "golden years" enjoying the fruits of my labor.  That was my perspective on how life was intended to turn out,  and for the most part that is exactly the way that it was turning out,  with a one small deviation -- I moved to Lake Tahoe.

Having spent five long years working a ridiculous amount of hours ( staying up all night,  only getting two hours of sleep every 12-18 hours for weeks on end) just to finish projects.  I finally graduated with an architecture degree from the University of Maryland.  After graduating,  I decided that I wanted to enjoy my life for a little while before I got sucked into the "rat race" and became trapped there by a  mortgage and a need to support a family.  That's why I moved to Lake Tahoe.  Oh yeah,  and I wanted to snowboard for a season.  I never would have predicted what would happen next.

On a bike ride,  one day,  from Tahoe City to Incline Village,  I happened to look across the street and a very interesting shop grabbed my attention.  Little did I know,  at that moment,  how dramatically that little shop would change my life.  However,  I didn't stop right then.  I continued on my mission of the day.  After getting what I needed,  I was looking at a kiosk and happened to discover a little flyer posted on that kiosk.  It read, "Apprenticeship Program -- Timeless Sculptures in Kings Beach is offering unpaid apprenticeships to selected individuals seeking the opportunity to work with masters in statuary,  casting/molding, sculpted furniture and cabinetry.  Only serious, career minded applicants please.  Curious about what sounded like an interesting opportunity,  I applied to the program and was accepted.  That was over two years ago,  now.

I started out as a novice apprentice only working two days a week.  At the time that was about all I could afford to commit to the program because I still needed to work my other job just to pay the bills.  Now,  I am a Journeyman apprentice and have been working full-time at Timeless Sculptures for over a year and am quickly approaching master status.  It is quite a brilliant  program.  Matt (the owner of Timeless Sculptures) would probably insist that his sculptures are his crowning achievement,  but I honestly believe that this program is his most brilliant accomplishment.  It works as follows.

When a person is accepted into the program,  they have to complete an initial investment period which can range from 2-8 days,  depending on the skills that they already possess.  During the initial investment period,  initiates will spend their time doing whatever we feel is the best use of their time towards accomplishing the overall goals of Timeless Sculptures.  It serves as a period for both us and the new initiates to see if they can integrate into our very unique and creative --  yet disciplined -- environment.

After the initial investment period,  one becomes a novice apprentice.  As a novice,  a persons time is divided into three different parts -- investment time,  learning time,  and studio time.  

During investment time,  novices spend their time doing various things around the shop doing whatever is necessary to help run and maintain the shop,  the grounds and the business aspects of Timeless Sculptures.  It's not always glamorous -- and sometimes it's downright grungy -- but it's always necessary.  Chances are it's nothing all of us haven't done before in some way,  shape or form.  Sometimes it's sorting and organizing.  Sometimes it's schlepping and agonizing.  Hey,  we don't call it grunt work (as in the sound we make moving heavy logs around) for nothing!

During learning time,  novices spend their time working on master or journeyman pieces learning the various techniques needed to produce that piece.  They may assist the master or the journeyman on any of the various areas the we focus on at Timeless Sculptures -- casting and mold-making,  carving wooden statuary ranging in size from tabletop to monumental,  and creating sculpted,  organic furniture.  After the artwork is completed,  the piece belongs to the master or journeyman responsible for it.  Since the master or journeyman is responsible for it,  they are going to make sure that it gets done right.  This approach works out well for everyone involved.  Novices gain valuable knowledge and skills,  masters and journeymen get assistance on their projects.  Seems like a pretty fair trade to me -- and I've been (and continue to be) on both sides of the scenario.  Oh yeah,  and clients get projects produced more affordably.

Finally,  during studio time,  novices get to use the shop,  tools and materials to produce their own pieces.  Once they have completed their artwork,  they're free to do whatever they want to do with them.  They can put them on display in the gallery for retail sale,  take them home or give them to a loved one (or someone they want to become a loved one).  It seems like another fair trade for the time that they spend doing investment time. 

Since joining Timeless Sculptures,  both the program and I have continued to evolve to fit the changing needs of the apprenticeship program.  Many people have come and gone.  Those that leave usually do so with a smile,  grateful to have learned some new skills,  gained some knowledge and created something that they're proud of.  Those that do stay are the ones that have what it takes to meet the challenges necessary to succeed in our delicately balanced environment.  I've come to realize the characteristics that usually make or break a person here -- attitude,  commitment,  discipline,  dedication,  persistence and the ability to listen and follow directions.  Attitude,  commitment and ability to listen and follow directions are by far the three most important of them all.  The others can build over time,  but if the attitude,  commitment and ability to listen and follow directions aren't there then that person usually won't be here long.  It's Darwin's theory of eveolution applied to the business of art -- "survival of the fittest".
           
                                    We have all worked very hard to create a positive,  fun and pleasant working environment were ideas and knowledge are exchanged freely,  hence the phrase "Knowledge Exchange".  Since we have all worked so hard to create it,  we also work very hard to maintain it.  Everyone that works in this environment is expected to meet that same standard of positive attitude and to respect the other people here.  We are quick to ask those who do not meet that standard to change their attitude or leave so as not to disrupt what we have created.

                                    There are many aspects that make up that positive attitude that we insist upon:  professional respect for the studio,  the masters and all the apprentices in the studio;  enthusiasm and desire to meet and overcome challenges with a smile;  and humor (when appropriate). 

Commitment is equally important as attitude is.  The schedule seems to be the unifying standard that determines a person's commitment to the program.  Although a person is able to set their own schedule weekly,  once they have,  they are expected to meet that schedule with punctuality.  Those who can'tsimply aren't "fit" enough.

As it says on the first page of the apprenticeship application,  "Persistence is the only requirement for success."  This is true for most things in life,  but it is especially true for those pursuing a career in the arts.  In order to make it in this profession,  it takes great deal of dedication,  self discipline,  and persistence.  If any of these elements are missing,  one probably won't be able to succeed and maintain that success.

Most people that do succeed in this program truly appreciate the environment created by the "Knowledge Exchange".  As a result,  it tends to attract a wide variety of people from a wide variety of backgrounds.  Just to give you an idea of the vast array of people that have come to this program,  I've compiled some thoughts from various apprentices and others that know of the program.  Here they are:

"It is almost eight years since a friend said,  "Here's something for you," and gave me a simple of cedar and a sample of oak from his collection.  This start me collecting wood too,  pieces of all shapes and sizes from everywhere I went - and all beautiful.  My interest grew into a passion,  and I began to make things from my wood collection,  coasters,  lamp bases,  and sanded burls.  But I was working alone,  and missed contact with other woodworkers,  experience with power tools,  and some advice and direction.

Now,  suddenly - after 25 years in environmental research in the academic world,  acquisition of undergraduate and masters degrees in archaeology and work on botany,  climatology,  geology and zoology projects,  and a little teaching too - I'm taking a spell of voluntary unemployment.  And focusing on wood and my woodwork as an apprentice with the Timeless Sculptures studio and gallery in Kings Beach at Lake Tahoe,  near my home in Truckee,  California.  Two days a week I hurry to Kings Beach in the morning wondering if I'll be working with one of the other novices or journeymen on a learning project,  or doing some investment time in computer 'stuff',  or doing my own work in the studio.  Yes,  some days go more slowly than the studio days,  but I know I'm  contributing to the success of a unique organization and I enjoy that too.  And in the studio I rarely notice that I'm one of the few women at work,  and that at 50 I'm much older than most of the other woodworkers!  Sometimes I wonder if I'll go back to the 'rat race' - but for the moment I consider myself very fortunate to be doing something so different,  enriching my life,  and learning new skills."
Judith Lancaster - Truckee,  California

"After reading about Timeless Sculptures' apprentice program in the July-August 1999 issue of Chip Chats,  I was interested enough to call for more information.  The conversation with Matthew (the owner of Timeless Sculptures) answered all my questions and I made arrangements to go out and give it a try for a month.

Matthew is a master carver and patient and concise teacher.  I learned enough in that month that I'm making plans for an extended stay.  This is a unique place with many opportunities."
Tom Jenkins - Casa Grande,  Arizona

"Having recently started my apprenticeship at Timeless Sculptures,  I find that each day on my drive home through the beautiful Tahoe National Forest,  I often feel very privileged to be a part of such a wonderful program.  Each day I spend at the studio is filled with learning different techniques and terminology surrounding the development of one-of-a-kind top quality sculptures.  Each participant in the program,  whether a master,  journeyman or novice,  such as myself,  are more than willing to share what they are learning and doing with others.  Identifying not only the tools they utilize to create certain effects,  but also why they chose certain woods or techniques to create a given look.  Everything from sketching a preliminary design to studying how to create the look of real feathers on an eagle or fur an a raccoon to various finishes that are used and why.

I don't believe that I would get nearly the education in a classroom setting as I am able to receive in the studio and gallery setting here at Timeless Sculptures.  Being a professional woman forty years of age and having successfully a career in marketing and raised a family,  the apprenticeship program offers me an opportunity to pursue yet another dream I have of being a professional artist doing what I love and making a living at it.  I would recommend this program to anyone I know!"
Victoria Sweedler - Sparks,  Nevada
  
"Dear Mr. Welter,
I must let you know how I appreciated your article in the July-August 1999 issue of Chip Chats,  I also reread the two previous articles,  and I liked the first by your mother.  You have indeed been fortunate to have such a good start.

I must also commend you on the purpose and drive for your Timeless Sculptures.  Also for those who have the desire to become apprentices under such excellent conditions, and where they have an opportunity to advance if they have the necessary talent to do so.

                                    I have been carving for about 20 years and had the good luck to start with a trained sculptor for a few years.  This gives a good grounding in anatomy, and this led into doing a number of busts for museums in this area.  The war of 1812 also took place here, and this is where the slaves came across to Canada.

I have had two trips to Europe.  They have good programs but not the opportunities that you provide.  However, as I have turned 79, I will slow down a bit.

In closing, I would wish continued success for your apprentice program,  and would love to visit if you were not so far away.

                                                            Yours truly,
                                                                              Grant Bone" - Amherstburg, Ontario 
           
"Since my arrival at Timeless sculptures in June of 1998, I have been working as a full time  apprentice. For a little over a year and a half, I have been focusing my attention in the wood sculpting arena, creating scaled up models of  animals in the attempt to learn natures proportioning, composition, and techniques in which to apply these in principles wood.  In my time spent here I have created scaled up models of a snail, a frog on a mushroom or toad stool cluster, mushrooms, a number of bears cubs, raccoons, and a life sized portrait of a gray hound dog.  I am now in the process of starting a journey man commission of a 7' tall Viking carved in cedar.   Most of my focus has been on studying carving techniques with power tools in which most of our carvings are done.  As a Journeyman Apprentice I take on the responsibility of supervising new apprentices to the program (this time is considered investment).

I moved to Lake Tahoe directly after graduating from high School, where I attended an Alternative school in Columbus Ohio.  My interest in the arts had always been attentive and showed promise but I never had any real idea of pursuing an art carrier not to mention wood sculpting.  I was lucky to have the unique experience with my high school in which I came to Timeless Sculptures in my senior year.  The program was designed to allow each senior the chance to pursue a job area of interest.  For one semester I worked full time at Timeless Sculptures.  At the end of my stay I was able to try my hand to wood in creating a sculpture of a honey bee.  I realized that I had stumbled upon an extraordinary place of learning opportunity where ones creative ambitions could be played out.  After graduation from high school with no real art education and limited knowledge of the world, I set out to Lake Tahoe to see what I could learn, in this alternative setting at Timeless Sculptures. 
           
With the guidance of my mentor Matthew Welter, owner of Timeless sculptures, I have been able to produce more art works in one year and a half than I thought possible.    While few apprentices have endured the challenge and commitment of making Timeless Sculptures a full time job, most have left with a smile at knowledge gained.  Those of us who stay find that there are no limits to what can be accomplished with the will and intent to succeed." 
Adam Bradley - Kings Beach, California

While there are many reasons that people join the apprenticeship program at Timeless Sculptures,  there is one reason that dominates all the others -- to learn.  They come to learn techniques,  to learn skills,  to learn composition and aesthetics and to learn how to run and maintain a working art studio and gallery.  All these culminate into learning how to make it as an professional artist in the "real world".  Now you may be wondering, why not just go to college and learn all these things there?  Well,  I did go to college and they did teach me most of these things,  except for the last and most important one -- how to apply all these things to '"real world".  That's where Timeless Sculptures fills in the missing links.

Timeless Sculptures is a real working environment.  It's a business that designs,  creates and sells artwork in an organically evolving structured environment.  While the first two can be,  and quite often are,  taught in a university setting,  the last one is far too often neglected.  Any university can and does pump out many art students, but what good does a diploma do an art graduate unless they know how to market and sell their artwork?  You can't afford to continue producing art unless you can sell your stuff.  There's only so much stuff that grandparents and friends can afford to buy. That would probably explain why the vast majority of fine art graduates never really pursue much of a career in the arts.  You have to "Make it Pay" (see __________).

There are many incentives built into the program in order to make individuals want to stick with the program and continue to progress through the program.  For me, the most significant one continues to be to learn.  Being able to work in a creative environment doing something I love to do and to produce interesting pieces of my own design are also very significant driving forces behind my success in the program.  The ultimate goal of the program and for myself, however, is to train apprentices thoroughly enough to set them free and have them start their own studio.

The program itself is structured to make individuals want to progress.  Novices that have the desire to achieve and progress have several things to look forward to as journeymen.  As journeymen, one’s time is split differently.  Half of the time spent at Timeless Sculptures is spent in the studio working on their own creative projects.  The other half is split evenly between investment time and learning time.  In addition, journeymen are also able to start taking commissions.  What a concept -- getting paid for doing something they love.  As they acquire more skills and more knowledge, they can start using their investment time to teach novices the various things that they have learned over time (which I'll take over raking the yard any day).  They are also introduced to the business side of things:  marketing which includes our telephone and internet marketing systems,  as well as designing and taking orders for commissions;  making retail sales out of the gallery,  both of which enable them to receive a finder's fee for any sales made or commissions taken;  learning and assisting with the variety of office work required to keep a business running.  The business side of things is what is far too frequently neglected by the university education.

                                    Once an apprentice reaches journeyman status,  the standard and the rewards are then set higher and greater -- master status.  One of the main incentives for achieving master status is probably one of mankind's greatest incentives of all -- more money!  Because of their higher skill level and their increased knowledge, masters can get a higher price for the commissions that they take.  There are more incentives than that, but we can't reveal all of our secrets - yet! 

The apprentice program challenges each apprentice with "real world" constraints.  Learning to solve problems creatively while at the same time finding a niche in the marketplace.  One has to be able to produce something that satisfies the client and, hopefully, challenges and satisfies the creative desires of the artist.  It's quite a challenge.  In school one can push the limits as far as one wants and usually get some credit for the uniqueness and ingenuity, but in the "real world",  if the client doesn't like how far the limits have been pushed,  they won't pay for it.  That's the ultimate challenge -- finding a way to satisfy both the client and the artist. 

Yeah,  I've had some unique opportunities.  I studied architecture in Paris for a summer.  I worked the Olympic Games in Atlanta.  I have traveled around the U.S., Mexico and Europe.  However, no opportunity has been quite as unique and life changing as this program.

Mexico gave me my initial appreciation for traveling and new experiences.  Europe gave me my initial appreciation for differing cultures and perspectives.  The U.S. has given me a huge appreciation for the freedom that we have here.  Timeless Sculptures,  however,  has given me the creative problem solving skills to help me bring all of those wonderful things together -- and that's a beautiful thing! 
Eric Butterworth, Journeymen Apprentice - Tahoe City,  Lake Tahoe,  California

As it has evolved, we have become to call the program "The Knowledge Exchange"

Judith Lancaster - Truckee, California

"After reading about Timeless Sculptures' apprentice program in the July-August 1999 issue of Chip Chats,  I was interested enough to call for more information.  The conversation with Matthew (the owner of Timeless Sculptures) answered all my questions and I made arrangements to go out and give it a try for a month.

Matthew is a master carver and patient and concise teacher.  I learned enough in that month that I'm making plans for an extended stay.  This is a unique place with many opportunities."
Tom Jenkins - Casa Grande, Arizona

"Having recently started my apprenticeship at Timeless Sculptures, I find that each day on my drive home through the beautiful Tahoe National Forest, I often feel very privileged to be a part of such a wonderful program.  Each day I spend at the studio is filled with learning different techniques and terminology surrounding the development of one-of-a-kind top quality sculptures.  Each participant in the program, whether a master, journeyman or novice, such as myself,  are more than willing to share what they are learning and doing with others.  Identifying not only the tools they utilize to create certain effects, but also why they chose certain woods or techniques to create a given look.  Everything from sketching a preliminary design to studying how to create the look of real feathers on an eagle or fur on a raccoon to various finishes that are used and why.

I don't believe that I would get nearly the education in a classroom setting as I am able to receive in the studio and gallery setting here at Timeless Sculptures.  Being a professional woman forty years of age and having successfully a career in marketing and raised a family, the apprenticeship program offers me an opportunity to pursue yet another dream I have of being a professional artist doing what I love and making a living at it.  I would recommend this program to anyone I know!"
Victoria Sweedler - Sparks, Nevada
  
"Dear Mr. Welter,
I must let you know how I appreciated your article in the July-August 1999 issue of Chip Chats, I also reread the two previous articles, and I liked the first by your mother.  You have indeed been fortunate to have such a good start.

I must also commend you on the purpose and drive for your Timeless Sculptures.  Also for those who have the desire to become apprentices under such excellent conditions, and where they have an opportunity to advance if they have the necessary talent to do so.

                                    I have been carving for about 20 years and had the good luck to start with a trained sculptor for a few years.  This gives a good grounding in anatomy, and this led into doing a number of busts for museums in this area.  The war of 1812 also took place here, and this is where the slaves came across to Canada.

I have had two trips to Europe.  They have good programs but not the opportunities that you provide.  However, as I have turned 79, I will slow down a bit.

In closing, I would wish continued success for your apprentice program,  and would love to visit if you were not so far away.

                                                            Yours truly,
                                                                              Grant Bone" - Amherstburg, Ontario 
           
"Since my arrival at Timeless sculptures in June of 1998, I have been working as a full time apprentice. For a little over a year and a half, I have been focusing my attention in the wood sculpting arena, creating scaled up models of  animals in the attempt to learn natures proportioning, composition, and techniques in which to apply these in principles wood.  In my time spent here I have created scaled up models of a snail, a frog on a mushroom or toad stool cluster, mushrooms, a number of bears cubs, raccoons, and a life sized portrait of a gray hound dog.  I am now in the process of starting a journey man commission of a 7' tall Viking carved in cedar.   Most of my focus has been on studying carving techniques with power tools in which most of our carvings are done.  As a Journeyman Apprentice I take on the responsibility of supervising new apprentices to the program (this time is considered investment).

I moved to Lake Tahoe directly after graduating from high School, where I attended an Alternative school in Columbus Ohio.  My interest in the arts had always been attentive and showed promise but I never had any real idea of pursuing an art carrier not to mention wood sculpting.  I was lucky to have the unique experience with my high school in which I came to Timeless Sculptures in my senior year.  The program was designed to allow each senior the chance to pursue a job area of interest.  For one semester I worked full time at Timeless Sculptures.  At the end of my stay I was able to try my hand to wood in creating a sculpture of a honey bee.  I realized that I had stumbled upon an extraordinary place of learning opportunity where ones creative ambitions could be played out.  After graduation from high school with no real art education and limited knowledge of the world, I set out to Lake Tahoe to see what I could learn, in this alternative setting at Timeless Sculptures. 
           
With the guidance of my mentor Matthew Welter, owner of Timeless sculptures, I have been able to produce more art works in one year and a half than I thought possible.    While few apprentices have endured the challenge and commitment of making Timeless Sculptures a full time job, most have left with a smile at knowledge gained.  Those of us who stay find that there are no limits to what can be accomplished with the will and intent to succeed." 
Adam Bradley - Kings Beach, California

While there are many reasons that people join the apprenticeship program at Timeless Sculptures, there is one reason that dominates all the others -- to learn.  They come to learn techniques, to learn skills, to learn composition and aesthetics and to learn how to run and maintain a working art studio and gallery.  All these culminate into learning how to make it as an professional artist in the "real world".  Now you may be wondering, why not just go to college and learn all these things there?  Well, I did go to college and they did teach me most of these things, except for the last and most important one -- how to apply all these things to '"real world".  That's where Timeless Sculptures fills in the missing links.

Timeless Sculptures is a real working environment.  It's a business that designs, creates and sells artwork in an organically evolving structured environment.  While the first two can be, and quite often are,  taught in a university setting,  the last one is far too often neglected.  Any university can and does pump out many art students, but what good does a diploma do an art graduate unless they know how to market and sell their artwork?  You can't afford to continue producing art unless you can sell your stuff.  There's only so much stuff that grandparents and friends can afford to buy. That would probably explain why the vast majority of fine art graduates never really pursue much of a career in the arts.  You have to "Make it Pay" (see __________).

There are many incentives built into the program in order to make individuals want to stick with the program and continue to progress through the program.  For me, the most significant one continues to be to learn.  Being able to work in a creative environment doing something I love to do and to produce interesting pieces of my own design are also very significant driving forces behind my success in the program.  The ultimate goal of the program and for myself, however,  is to train apprentices thoroughly enough to set them free and have them start their own studio.

The program itself is structured to make individuals want to progress.  Novices that have the desire to achieve and progress have several things to look forward to as journeymen.  As journeymen,  one's time is split differently.  Half of the time spent at Timeless Sculptures is spent in the studio working on their own creative projects.  The other half is split evenly between investment time and learning time.  In addition, journeymen are also able to start taking commissions.  What a concept -- getting paid for doing something they love.  As they acquire more skills and more knowledge, they can start using their investment time to teach novices the various things that they have learned over time (which I'll take over raking the yard any day).  They are also introduced to the business side of things:  marketing which includes our telephone and internet marketing systems, as well as designing and taking orders for commissions; making retail sales out of the gallery, both of which enable them to receive a finder's fee for any sales made or commissions taken; learning and assisting with the variety of office work required to keep a business running.  The business side of things is what is far too frequently neglected by the university education.

                                    Once an apprentice reaches journeyman status, the standard and the rewards are then set higher and greater -- master status.  One of the main incentives for achieving master status is probably one of mankind's greatest incentives of all -- more money!  Because of their higher skill level and their increased knowledge, masters can get a higher price for the commissions that they take.  There are more incentives than that, but we can't reveal all of our secrets - yet! 

The apprentice program challenges each apprentice with "real world" constraints.  Learning to solve problems creatively while at the same time finding a niche in the marketplace.  One has to be able to produce something that satisfies the client and, hopefully, challenges and satisfies the creative desires of the artist.  It's quite a challenge.  In school one can push the limits as far as one wants and usually get some credit for the uniqueness and ingenuity, but in the "real world", if the client doesn't like how far the limits have been pushed, they won't pay for it.  That's the ultimate challenge -- finding a way to satisfy both the client and the artist. 

Yeah, I’ve had some unique opportunities.  I studied architecture in Paris for a summer.  I worked the Olympic Games in Atlanta.  I have traveled around the U.S., Mexico and Europe.  However,  no opportunity has been quite as unique and life changing as this program.

Mexico gave me my initial appreciation for traveling and new experiences.  Europe gave me my initial appreciation for differing cultures and perspectives.  The U.S. has given me a huge appreciation for the freedom that we have here.  Timeless Sculptures, however, has given me the creative problem solving skills to help me bring all of those wonderful things together -- and that's a beautiful thing! 
Eric Butterworth, Journeyman Apprentice - Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe, California