We were lucky to catch up with Richard Staggs recently and have shared our conversation below.

Richard , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Like most crafts you’re always learning. No matter how long you have been at the craft there’s always another way to go about it. Learning and watching other artist work is the best way to expand your knowledge.

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.

I feel like what I’m doing now has always been in me. I just let it sit to the side while I pursued other artist avenues. My grandfather was craftsman in his own right and my father the same. I’n my early years playing and writing music was my life and I thought the only thing I would be doing, but as time shows it’s self other interest pop up.. while pursing music in Los Angeles i found a deep love for photography, there’s something about how the sun shines in LA that captures life in a whole different and I wanted to start documenting it with a camera. I would do all my learning at the public library and slowly learn how to use the camera I had at that time. After moving back from LA I pursed a career in photography and that open my life in a whole other route. Found friends which became family and found the person I would spend the rest of my life with and start our own family. As the family grew and our kids were born I had a deep instinct to start using my hands more in creating. That’s when the woodworking started to come out of the shadows. Since then I haven’t looked back. Slowly growing a clientele list and over time using my craft to bring life to other people’s lives. Helping them complete a vision they have for their homes and their families.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The goal I have in woodworking is to continue to provide for my family and show my kids that if you focus on what you want you can achieve it. We all have a passion for something and sometimes it take time to find it, but when you do find it hang on to it and keep moving. Don’t stop moving towards what you want.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Every day is a reward. Every job or build is a reward. It’s a way of saying I did that and I finished it. Completed what I had envisioned and now let’s continue and create the next thing.      

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.greenbeltshop.com
• Instagram: @greenbeltwoodworks
• Facebook: GreenbeltWoodWorks
• Youtube: GreenbeltWoodWorks

Image Credits
Portrait – Steven Casanova