We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Patrick Tatten. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Patrick below.

Patrick, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

When I first started my woodworking business, I really struggled with sales. In fact, I soon ran through my savings and needed to take a job in a restaurant, which I initially viewed as a failure.
This particular restaurant specialized in catering to celebrities and offered wine and food that was much higher in value than any product I had ever sold.
I was often intimidated by the clientele, the atmosphere, and the daunting amounts of money being spent.
My manager took me aside and had a chat with me, giving me a valuable lesson. I’ll never forget his words: “instead of trying to ‘get it right,’ just go in with GUSTO.” I learned later that although Gusto is often synonymous with vigor and enthusiasm in English, in Italian it literally means “flavor.”
Not long after this conversation, I had a commercial audition where they were looking at real small business owners. I remember entering the waiting area and the casting director telling me all of the things the client wanted.
The old me would have meekly tried to follow the instructions to the letter, attempting to please everyone and “get it right,” losing myself in the process. This time, however, the word “GUSTO” echoed in my consciousness. I distinctly remember grabbing the door handle to the room where the camera and clients were waiting and saying to myself: “ok, I know what to do. It’s my time now. I’ll take it from here. I got this. MY way.” I walked in with gusto – my “flavor” and unique approach to describing my woodworking projects and the chess pieces I was making at the time.
I got the job, and that job has continued to subsidize my artistic journey years later. Today, I have the privilege of being a full-time artist and I credit this particular moment for setting me on a new life trajectory. Most importantly, it reaffirmed my belief in myself, my work, and my unique choices as an artist and craftsman.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My grandfather was a master carpenter. My earliest memories include the “voom-pa” rhythm of him cutting boards with a hand saw, the smell of sawdust, and even riding in the car with him to get his saws sharpened by hand by a specialist.
I went to college and eventually moved to Los Angeles to pursue and acting career, and the love of woodworking came with me.
After years of bartending and waiting tables, I found myself jobless at the beginning of the COVID pandemic in 2020. For the first time in my life, I had extra time on my hands.
I bought tools. I experimented (safely) with new craftsmanship techniques like a woodworking lathe, and new materials like epoxy resin. I researched extensively and applied the newfound knowledge to my craft. Slowly, my abilities and confidence grew. I also worked on self tapes, tried new angles and filming techniques, and even incorporated some of my newfound woodworking skills in auditions where applicable.
I listed a few of my chess sets on Etsy. They sold almost immediately, giving me the confidence to try larger and more ambitious projects. It wasn’t long before I had amassed a formidable inventory of chess sets, and even some clocks and a table. I began to see artistic possibilities in my daily life. As an example, some discarded wine boxes from the restaurant in which I had worked served nicely as both a chess set gaming surface, as well as a container for the pieces. I crafted new and dynamic sets with these wine boxes and sold them.
An especially meaningful moment occurred when a father contacted me through Etsy to ask me to design a chess set for his 8-year-old son, a nationally-ranked chess champion who had been studying the game and competing at the highest level. Needless to say, I was humbled and honored to have been chosen for such a critical milestone in this young man’s journey.
I think in the life of a craftsman, sometimes the inspiration can strike and the work will follow. Other times, immersion in the tactile aspects of the work itself can yield the most satisfying, often unexpected moments of inspiration and bliss.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I really had to get over the “hard work and struggle yield more results” mentality.
I have nothing against working assiduously toward a goal, but taking action for action’s sake can be a form of self-sabotage. Sometimes the best thing an artist can do (SOMEtimes) is watch a movie, chill and reset…and not feel guilty or “unproductive” for doing so.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I remember I once had a theatre audition – actually it was for an understudy. I remember getting a callback, which is where you get invited to audition a second time. The writer and director were there, and a few other people.
I remember taking a risk and getting emotional at a certain point in the script (it was sort of a dark comedy), and when I was finished, the room was completely silent.
I remember thinking, “oh, god, did I just make a fool of myself, and make things super awkward by taking this in a different direction?”
Later, the writer reached out to me on Instagram and told me that I am an incredible actor; everyone in the room had been moved by my performance, which I had written off as an awkward flub on my part.
I didn’t get the role, but the opportunity to really move an audience and create an impactful, emotional moment is something I will always treasure.
And, when you can get paid for it? Gravy

Contact Info:

• Website: https://imdb.me/patricktatten
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patricktatten
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patricktatten
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/patricktatten
• Other: ETSY SHOP:
  https://www.etsy.com/shop/LOOKWHATISAW

Image Credits

Diana Khachatryan, Patrick Tatten