Before discovering the 10 most important characteristics, I would like to start this article with another question: are craftspeople made or born?
As you can imagine, being a craftsperson combines natural talent and skills that develop over time. Some people may have a kind of innate "gift", such as a natural ability to work with their hands, be creative, or appreciate beauty from a young age.
However, this does not mean that other people cannot learn and become artisans. With enough interest, passion and practice, anyone can develop artisan skills. Through dedication, education and experience, it is possible to acquire the necessary techniques and create unique and genuine pieces.
In short, anyone, through dedication and learning, can acquire over time the talent that will lead them to become a true craftsman.
And now it's time to answer the question of the article and go over the 10 points in more detail:
Constant learning and curiosity
They are curious people who seek to learn new techniques, explore new ideas and stay up to date in their craft field.
Manual dexterity
They possess specific technical skills and manual dexterity in their trade, allowing them to work with precision and skill. As we saw earlier, these skills can be acquired over time. As the saying goes: "No one is born knowing."
Passion and dedication
Artisans love their creations and know that experience is closely related to perfecting their skills and technique, thus taking their work to the next level.
Knowledge of the material
They have a deep knowledge of the materials they work with, knowing how to manipulate them and get the most out of them.
Creativity
Craftsmen are able to think innovatively and originally, creating unique and distinctive pieces.
Perseverance
Artisans know that it is not an easy path and they do not give up easily in the face of challenges that may arise in their creative process. As Ramana Maharshi said: “No one succeeds without effort. Those who succeed owe it to perseverance.”
Entrepreneurial spirit
Many artisans also possess entrepreneurial skills, allowing them to promote and sell their creations, run their own business and build relationships with customers.
Attention to detail
They pay meticulous attention to every aspect of their work, ensuring that every detail is well taken care of and of high quality.
Appreciation for tradition
They know the importance of keeping this art alive and therefore value and respect the techniques and traditions passed down through generations.
Authenticity
Artisans pride themselves on creating authentic and genuine products, avoiding mass production and encouraging the uniqueness of their work.
Do you consider yourself a craftsperson? You may not have realized it yet, or it may not have been expressed in you, but I assure you that we all have a craftsperson inside. Now is the time to preserve those artisan traditions in order to preserve the culture, art and history of a community. The new source of power is not money as we have been led to believe over the last few centuries, but rather transforming the information acquired by our ancestors into knowledge.