Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan “Nuge” Nguyen.
Dan “Nuge”, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I create in the woodshop because I express myself the best by working with my hands. I have never been great at articulating my thoughts into words so producing artwork that is expressive of emotions felt natural to me.
I was drawn to art and woodworking because it offered me the freedom that I didn’t have in architecture. I felt like I was strapped down to a computer drawing construction documents and rearranging condo layouts. In architecture school, I was taught to be as wild and imaginative as possible; I was practically designing pig farms in the sky. I had this energy flowing through my veins and constantly wanted to push myself out of my creative comfort zone.
I took up woodworking as a hobby in the beginning because I was in search of a creative outlet. For a year and a half, I was running to the woodshop after work every day so I could squeeze in a couple hours to make cutting boards before the shop closed down. That was until I got laid off from my job. I then had the option of applying for another job in architecture and continue the path that I was on, or I could chase my dream and start my career as an artist. I had just lost my job, so I felt like I had absolutely nothing to lose. Artwork it is.
It was far from smooth-sailing and I’ve had many bumps in the road to get to where I am, but I am proud to say that I have been surviving solely off the income of my artwork so far. I am very fortunate with how well my work has been received so far. It has been two and a half years since I’ve been thrown to the wolves.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My original aspirations were to be a furniture designer. I wanted to make high-end custom pieces that displayed the most difficult woodworking technical abilities. My direction changed very quickly, though. As my work evolved, I became drawn to making art pieces that are more expressive of feelings and vibes. What I focus all of my energy on now are wall-hung carvings.
I pride myself in the fact that all of my pieces are handcrafted. There’s a different type of love that goes into your work when you work on it with your hands versus someone who might design it behind a computer screen. It *is* technically possible to use a big CNC machine to produce the same work as mine, but I guarantee that anything designed behind a computer screen would ever come out the same as my work. My work is achieved by revisiting it day after day and constantly massaging it until it feels right. I put my soul into it. It’s only through this method that every single piece has a voice of its own.
The biggest compliment I could ever receive as an artist is seeing someone who connects to my work on an emotional level. I actually like it when people ask me if they’re allowed to touch it with their hands. It just means they want to add another sensory level to the experience.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
I wishes I had a more courageous story of how I pursued my passion in art by quitting my job and risking everything to create my name as an artist. Unfortunately, it took me getting laid off to get me to this point. And, honestly, if I could relive that time in my life where I had a steady job that gave me a nice paycheck twice a month, I’m not so sure I would have the audacity to leave that comfort behind to jump into the unknown.
I am beyond happy with all of the small successes I have had in the short amount of time that I have embarked on my new career path so far, but there are still so many uncertainties that lie ahead of me. Will I still get clients in a few months? Will people still like my artwork or become bored with it? How do I navigate this new world of making business decisions? There are so many uncertainties with this path I’m on, but I take comfort in knowing that I am living my dream of creating art and making a living from it. I have resolved all of the issues that I have come across so far and am confident that I can continue to do the same in the future.
The biggest takeaway I have for any artist is that you have to believe in your craft and yourself before anything else. If you are truly passionate about your work and you believe that you can make a living from it, then have faith in the journey and know that you will be capable of resolving any issues that may come up along the way. If not, find someone who can. 🙂
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
At the moment, all of my artwork is being displayed online through my Instagram. All of my finished pieces are kept at home and I do let people come over to see my work in person if they schedule a drop-by. As a new artist, I am in high hopes of working with a gallery that has a much further reach into the art world than I am ever capable of.
Contact Info:
- Address: Del Mar, California
- Website: www.nugeandwood.com
- Phone: 6178771299
- Email: nuge@nugeandwood.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nugeandwood/
Image Credit:
Kevin Tam, Joseph D’Oria
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