He had always been creative, but a West 琉璃神社 resident wanted to push his creativity further.

After decades of painting, 91-year-old Herb Kettner decided to turn his attention to making dioramas instead.

鈥淎bout a year and a half ago, I鈥檇 been doing so much wall painting and I wasn鈥檛 getting anywhere. I鈥檇 had enough of that,鈥� he said.

鈥淪o I thought, 鈥榃hat else can I try?鈥� As a teenager, I used to be a model maker, so I made some model houses and things. From there, all of a sudden, I got the idea of a diorama.鈥�

Kettner said he started making little models of houses and barns for practice. But he wanted to create something challenging. One of his grandchildren suggested making a hobbit house, so Herb went to work and built his own version of the famous site from wood, bark, cardboard, and terracotta moulding.

In all, it took Kettner six months to make the detailed diorama, which has been meticulously painted and includes little furniture inside the house, as well as doors that open and close, and little latches that lock. He even made his own version of hobbits who own the house, creating clothing out of felt.

Kettner said it took a while as there were some things he had to do twice due to mistakes or the delicate pieces break, but he鈥檚 learned a few shortcuts to compensate, so he鈥檚 hopeful that he can make other models and dioramas quicker.

The hobbit house has received praise from his family and now, his great-grandchildren are asking him to make them a castle. He鈥檚 currently taking a break from diorama-making, but he said he has started collecting ideas for what he wants the castle to look like, which could take him another few months to make.

鈥淢y hands and fingers aren鈥檛 as nimble as they used to be,鈥� he said.

鈥淢y fingertips don鈥檛 feel things the way they used to. One moment I think I鈥檓 holding a piece of wood and the next, I see it on the ground but I don鈥檛 realize it鈥檚 fallen.鈥�

That doesn鈥檛 stop Kettner from his creative pursuits, however.

鈥淵ou have to have a goal, something you want to create.鈥�

Kettner said he hopes his art inspires others to do what they love and create things that give them joy, especially during these difficult times.

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twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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