In his new show , go cryptic , artisanal pencil sharpener David Rees explore how to tie brake shoe , snotty-nosed coins , dig holes , and perform other quotidian tasks with tutelage and sophistication . Here are his tips for staying sharp .
I just slip up into clobber . I set about sharpening pencils because I get down a job with the U.S. Census ( pencil were used for completing forms ) , and I wondered , “ Would n’t it be cool to do this for a living ? ” That was a challenge for myself : Could I get paid to do this ?
I like the ideaof taking something you do every daytime without intend and saying , “ Stop , slow down , pay attending . ” It opens up the world to you through this particular lens .
I ’m up to my 2,000th sharpened pencil . At this point , my cost is $ 40 a pencil . If someone ’s gon na pay that I ’d be a fool not to do it .
When I ’m focalise , I think about how it ’s going . I ’m pay attention to the pencil to see if it ’s gon na break . Sometimes I district out , but usually I ’m thinking about the workmanship . If I sharpen a pencil , dish the grazing , elaborate the head , fill out the paperwork , and transport it . I can usually do four an hour .
There ’s this guyknown as Professor Shoelace in Australia . He has a different style of tying a shoe . You make both turn first , and you pass them through each other at the same fourth dimension . It ’s sick — it look phony . It ’s three times quicker than the old way .
The biggest influencewasMister Rogers ’ Neighborhood . That ’s my favorite TV show ever . We need to make a show that had that spirit of curiosity and adventure but for a slightly older audience . As a kid , it foul up my mind when Mr. Rogers pass away into the Neighborhood of Make - Believe and was like , “ It ’s a solidification , ” and explained how they made the show . He took you seriously as a viewer . He respected your imagination and the fact that we ’re dealing with reality , even if the Neighborhood of Make - Believe is a lot .
The thing I ’ve had the most success withare things I startle doing for myself . Cartooning — I did n’t think anyone else would be interested in that besides me and my friends . Then I was a cartoonist for seven years . When I test to make thing I think others will give me money for , it ’s never as much fun , and I call back that want of fun appearance in the work . People react to unassumingness and enthusiasm .
Do n’t quit your day job . I think , keep the body structure and income and light social interactions that characterize office work . I started cartooning when I had aday line . Then I discontinue and had nothing to respond against .
Goof off . Sometimes you have to do poppycock for merriment , without vex . If you ’re make money being “ creative , ” sometimes it ’s unclear if you ’re doing something for fun , for money , or for fun but also for money .
I love jump off rope swings — that ’s probably my pet affair in the globe .
' decease Deep ' Prime Minister July 14 at 10 pm Eastern Standard Time on the National Geographic Channel
