I am unsure how to begin a blog. I figured I would start with a few facts about myself, and how I ended up where I am at today before I get into process.
My name is Marco Terenzi. I am a 25 years old
I live in Oakland Township, Michigan.
I am very passionate about my work. It is my life.
Creating things, the tools to make things , and smaller tools to make smaller things consumes my mind and all of my time.
I always try to make things to the best of my ability, no matter what the project may be.
I am most interested in highly crafted miniatures that resemble the full size down to the smallest details.
I often feel like I have no idea what I am doing.
That is what I look like^
My Craft Background
I was fortunate to realize my passion very early on, and very lucky to have parents that were supportive of my 'not normal' interests. As a kid I compulsively built wooden model airplanes, and disassembled everything I could find. I have always been addicted to process. I have to know how things are made to fully understand them. Throughout middle and high school I did a lot of woodworking and some welding, focusing more on sculpture while slowly collecting the tools needed to do more. After high school I attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan and graduated with a BFA in Crafts - Art Furniture. In college I was exposed to many new processes such as forging, fine metalsmithing, foundry, ceramics, and more importantly new ways of thinking. My time at CCS opened my eyes to the world of fine craft. After college my interests turned to machining and the desire to make precise work. I bought a mill and lathe and taught myself how to use them. I have no formal training in machine shop, although I wish I did. My desire for precision, love of tools and art has led me to making miniatures. Miniatures allow me to use all the skills I have accumulated, while constantly bringing up challenging process problems (I love those). At this time I am making miniatures full time.
Balsa wood model airplane kits are where the woodworking and addiction to precision began. 1999 (age 9)
My parents were very supportive of my passion. My first lathe - Christmas 2001 (age 11)
I hope to post at least a few times a week with my current projects. I would like to provide a longer commentary on the pictures I post on Instagram, and give you a behind the scenes look at what really goes into my work. I have hundreds of process pictures that I never posted on Instagram, I figured they would be wasted if no one ever saw them. My intention is not to make a "How to" blog but rather show how I go about making my work.
The current miniature making laboratory - January 2015