Casey Parlette (@caseyparlettesculpture)
Welcome to this week's #benchmarkspotlight (formerly the #weldershowcase) - we had the opportunity to sit down with Casey from @caseyparlettesculpture and talk a little shop.
If you would like to be featured in our weekly spotlight (100% FREE) and have a chance at winning one of our Grinder Hoods please send us an email to leo.benchmarkabrasives@gmail.com to get you scheduled in an upcoming week. These spotlights are intended to highlight your skill, your business, and your tips and tricks. Most of all it's to have a little fun!
Enjoy and Grind On!
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Name: Casey Parlette
Business Name: Casey Parlette Sculpture
Location: Laguna Beach, California
Specialties: Wildlife sculpture in wood, metal and stone
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Tell us about yourself - what inspired you to get into your trade? And how long? I’ve been doing this for most of my life. My dad was a contractor and carpenter, so I always had tools around and would make things out of wood. Eventually I got interested in metalwork because it brought properties that wood lacks, and I found that when combining the two, you can bring out the best in both worlds. I like to use stone carving on certain pieces, especially for exterior and water features.
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What keeps you motivated throughout the day? I like the fact that each piece is different and I enjoy the problem solving aspects of sculpture and exploring all the different materials that I work with. |
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What is your favorite shop tool and why? I’d say probably my anvil, and for something that is over 100 years old and just a big piece of metal it's surprisingly versatile and useful. I end up using it almost every day. |
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What's your favorite piece that you've worked on? It’s hard to pick just one, but one of my favorite pieces is a bronze octopus sculpture called Tide Pool Kraken, and it’s a public art piece right above Diver’s Cove beach in Laguna Beach, California. |
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If you could have any job as it relates to question 1 what would it be and what would you do with that? I’m lucky to be doing what I want to be doing. |
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If there was one person you could collaborate with - who would it be and why?
That’s a hard one to answer. There are a lot of people out there doing really cool stuff. |
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Do you have any advice for the next generation that you wish you had when you first started?
With social media and all the other outreach tools that are available, there's never been a better time to connect directly with your audience and clients. I would also say that trade skills and hand-on skills are rare and valuable skills that should be cherished.
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What are your future plans for your shop?
I want to continue expanding my tool set to build on efficiency so I can work through different materials. |
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Thanks for sitting with us and sharing your story with the community - is there anything you'd like to add?
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my work!
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A Note From Leo
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Casey! It really trips me out that I came across your Kraken in person while on vacation and had no idea who created it... until now!