How to Spark Inspiration for Your Hobby Laser Engraving Projects

[highpockets]

This is my problem. I just don't have much creativity. It will strike me once in a great while but most of what I do is based off someone elses work where I just fix it to work for how I want it to or things like that. I can think of things I want to do but never figure out how to make them work.

Back when I was making metal art, I was drawing my own designs. I do not like to use the art libraries, and produce the same thing everyone else is producing. I can draw art files, but I generally like them to make some sort of statement, rather than just be "artsy."

As an example, this is my own design. I call it, "No One To Push Me." A boy on a swing suspended from a tree limb, staring at his phone with a tear on his cheek, trying to find just one social media "friend" who will come to the tree and push him.

I know ... SAD! That was the intention.

The concept was to be a full line of similar designs, showing how these smart phones have ruined the lives of our otherwise curious, inventive and active children.

However, lately I am beginning to wonder if it isn't a self-portrait.

Joe

NO ONE TO PUSH ME.jpg

This is outstanding and very creative! My wife usually finds ideas online and gives them to me. I do the searching for images online and do all of the work in LB. I don't have Adobe or a way to "draw" images, but I make it work with image traces, etc...

Also agree that a laser can do so many things that you can get overwhelmed with the possibilities. You almost need one laser set up for fast wood cutting, one for rotary/tumblers, etc...., one for detailed wood etching. I really love the possibilities, but until I retire, it's hard to get enough time to master all of the possibilities. Probably better to just specialize in a few niche areas until there is more time to devote to it.

[LAHobbyGuy]

...As a guy who has worked with arts educators as part of my day job for the last 34 years, I want to add a few things.

Well stated!

[joejones]

* Have you ever met a small child who didn't dance?

Present! NEVER in my life. Sad, huh.

Joe

[Beeyobee]

* Have you ever met a small child who didn't dance?

Present! NEVER in my life. Sad, huh.

Joe

Probably explains your tool buying addiction.

[dovetaildan]

* Have you ever met a small child who didn't dance?

Present! NEVER in my life. Sad, huh.

Joe

And yet, from my perspective you are still creative.

[joejones]

I think it is a sickness. I have just won another PlasmaCam 4x4 cnc table for only $1,000.00. It is 90 minutes from my home! I am going to go do the wire transfer and prepare to go get it tomorrow, or maybe even later today.

ANOTHER 4x4 PlasmaCam table is also on auction, and I hope to win that one in about 5 hours. It is in Ohio, so that will require a bit more in time, fuel, food, hotel, etc., to go get it.

Why? I have several of these tables that I have purchased from online auctions. I have a way to do a conversion to them, to make them MUCH more capable. I will convert one, "flip" it, and use the proceeds to convert table #2. Rinse and repeat until all .... nine? tables are sold! I have honestly lost count

Joe

[joejones]

The table in Ohio went for a high price. I wasn't willing to pay that much.

Joe

OHIO TABLE.PNG

[LAHobbyGuy]

OFF TOPIC GUYS!

[joejones]

OFF TOPIC GUYS!

I agree. I am trying to get INSPIRED to sell these tables so I can dump the money into the lasers that are waiting for me to put them to use. Sorry, Rich. But isn't ANY progress in a 'man cave' inspirational?

The purpose of discussing the auctions is to get people to think outside of the box. I hope to demonstrate that they do not need to buy NEW, in order to add good machines to their workshops. There are lots of good, used lasers out there. Fiber etching machines, CO2 laser tables, etc., and all for literally ridiculously low prices. Of course, there are cnc routers, sanders, scroll saws, and every other machine imaginable found online as well. Most of them could be incorporated into what we do, couldn't they? Man does not live by laser alone.

I am waiting for the inspirational video you mentioned. I know it will be top notch. Believe it or not, I AM getting closer. I now have two young men, sons of a good friend, who are looking to make money doing what "we" (the laser community) do. One of them owns an Ender 3D printer, so he is going to work with me to get those giant printers up and running, and we will learn together. The lasers are s-l-o-w-l-y approaching usefulness. I have a stack of folding tables, and other things. It is now a matter of melding the schedules of three guys, to move forward. I am the weak link in the chain.

I think my biggest problem is, I do not like to make what everyone else is making. I DO need to LEARN how to use the lasers so I will begin with existing patterns and files found on your site and other places. First, I have to learn how to make those things successfully. But I really want to design my own stuff, and I am having a SERIOUS lack of motivation right now. I had big dreams of showing up in Nashville with a truck load of Christmas ornaments, but that did not happen. I blame myself. Now I am leaning toward other things I may be able to make with these machines.

I do know one thing. Almost everyone here has more knowledge and experience that I do, when it comes to laser art and crafts. If I can cut a hundred widgets for someone and ship them to that person, so they can use them in a bigger project, I am all for that. It was Ronald Reagan who said, "It is amazing what man can accomplish, when no one cares who gets the credit!"

Joe

[joejones]

I'm going to share with y'all today a rough draft of a script I'm writing for an upcoming video — about how I get my inspiration for projects.

Start with What You Love

Explore Other Social Media and Online Communities

Repurpose and Upcycle

Celebrate Special Occasions

Experiment with Different Materials

Take a Nature Walk

Sketch and Doodle

Attend Craft Fairs and Art Shows

Set Creative Challenges

Keep Learning

And finally, [..] The key to finding inspiration for your laser engraving projects is to stay curious, keep exploring, and let your interests guide you.

Happy engraving!
Rich

This is all great advice. I especially like the "repurpose" concept. Taking things you may have, and using creativity to turn them into something better! I saved up a 'YUGE bag of pill bottles, some from prescriptions (Better living through chemistry! eh?) and many from over-the-counter vitamins, etc. I collected hundreds of them, believing I would eventually do SOMETHING with them. When it became troublesome to store them, and lacking any idea of how to REPURPOSE them, I finally tossed them into the trash. This was before I got into lasers. now I can think of a dozen things I could have made with them, but they are gone now.

I have a massive amount of Red Oak wood that needs to be turned into ... something. They were 103 church pews before I acquired them FREE of charge. I have some ideas, but I think things will begin to move along once I get everything plugged in an operational.

I have hundreds of feet of this wood. They are finished wood strips about 3/8" x 3/4", in six foot lengths. I thought about making a whole pile of blank key ring trinkets, by cutting them to various lengths and drilling a hole through each one. Then going to a craft fair and customizing them for people on the spot, using a simple XTOOL or Laserpecker laser. Or they could be made as place settings for an event dinner. I COULD cut them up into equal lengths and spot sand the sides just a bit, to make JENGA games. Any other ideas?

Do you think they would sell? I could literally sell them for $1.00 each, and make money as fast as I could create them.

RED OAK TEST 1.jpg

I have the machines. I have the ability. YOU have the inspiration!

Joe