Mark Ellison, a celebrated NYC carpenter with 40 years of experience, shares profound insights from his craft and his book. He dives into the balance of will, talent, and the art of learning a craft. Mark discusses the vital role of speed and meticulous planning in successful construction, highlighting the challenges posed by managing client expectations. He emphasizes the importance of transparency in client engagement and reflects on the transient nature of carpentry, all while connecting craftsmanship to personal creativity, like music.
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Unexpected Beginning
Mark Ellison's carpentry career began unexpectedly when he met an Armenian-American carpenter.
He discovered his passion for working with his hands and realized it could be a profession.
insights INSIGHT
Career Progression
Mark Ellison's career progressed organically as he sought increasingly challenging projects.
He gradually moved into high-end construction, working with wealthy clients in New York City.
insights INSIGHT
Developing Will
Will, defined as the ability to do, can be cultivated through experience.
It is developed through a learning process and rewiring of one's approach.
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This book provides clear, step-by-step information on carpentry basics, making complex techniques accessible to both beginners and experienced builders. It is part of Larry Haun's extensive work in instructional carpentry.
Building
Mark Ellison
In 'Building: A Carpenter's Notes on Life & the Art of Good Work', Mark Ellison shares stories from his forty-year career in construction, highlighting the challenges and rewards of working on iconic New York spaces. The book blends philosophical musings with practical lessons on work, creativity, and design, emphasizing the importance of dedication and skill-building. Ellison's narrative explores the intersection of craftsmanship and personal fulfillment, offering a unique perspective on what it means to build a life worth living.
After forty years working as a carpenter, and not just any carpenter, but one who is often considered the best in New York and who executes some of the country's most elaborate, expensive, and challenging projects, Mark Ellison has filled hundreds of notebooks with drawings of his plans. He's also made plenty of observations about the nature of work, craft, and doing a good job at whatever you pursue.
Mark is the author of Building: A Carpenter's Notes on Life & the Art of Good Work, and today on the show, he shares some of the lessons he's learned over his career in high-end construction, including those that center on the less romantic aspects of being a carpenter. We discuss the comparative importance of will, talent, and interest in learning a craft, the challenges not only of construction but managing personalities, mistakes, and expectations, why speed is essential for a successful craftsman, and how the principles that make for a master builder carry over into other pursuits.
The Art of Manliness 
