He had always been creative, but a West Kelowna 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.

乌鸦传媒淎bout a year and a half ago, I乌鸦传媒檇 been doing so much wall painting and I wasn乌鸦传媒檛 getting anywhere. I乌鸦传媒檇 had enough of that,乌鸦传媒� he said.

乌鸦传媒淪o I thought, 乌鸦传媒榃hat else can I try?乌鸦传媒� 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.乌鸦传媒�

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乌鸦传媒檚 learned a few shortcuts to compensate, so he乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淢y hands and fingers aren乌鸦传媒檛 as nimble as they used to be,乌鸦传媒� he said.

乌鸦传媒淢y fingertips don乌鸦传媒檛 feel things the way they used to. One moment I think I乌鸦传媒檓 holding a piece of wood and the next, I see it on the ground but I don乌鸦传媒檛 realize it乌鸦传媒檚 fallen.乌鸦传媒�

That doesn乌鸦传媒檛 stop Kettner from his creative pursuits, however.

乌鸦传媒淵ou have to have a goal, something you want to create.乌鸦传媒�

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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