Today we want to know and give tribute to an artist who makes his own sailors knots boards. It is about Fernando Centeno, a resident of Galicia (Spain).
Here are some photos of his knots boards and a short interview.
Where did you learn to tie knots?
I learned to tie knots about 20 years ago. On the "Sierra Guadarrama" boat. A Chilean colleague had a few photocopies and with them he made pictures. When I saw his work, the bug of that hobby bit me.
Do you have a favorite knot?
I have no favorite knot. I really like discovering new knots and ways of working with knots.
Since when do you make knots boards?
For 20 years.
What is the fate of the knots boards you make? Do you make them for yourself, to give as gifts, to attend to orders?
Above all they are to "give away". As anyone knows it is impossible to pay for all the hours worked in each knots board. But if I should put a price on some of them, since they are authentic works of art.
Do you have special affection for some knots board?
Usually the latter are special for me, since I am innovating. I make them all different.
Any anecdote?
No anecdote since it is a hobby. But I really like when I meet people who value the work behind the paintings. (I usually "give" some).
And so the interview and photo selection ends. I hope that, as a reader interested in these sailor knot craft topics, you have enjoyed it as much as I did.
I was delighted to see in the photos the original compositions that Fernando uses in his knotsboard.
We encourage you to discover how much can be learned by practicing making your knot chart.
Don't be overwhelmed by the size of these works of art. The great artists and experts also had a beginning in which they did not know anything, but learning little by little they achieve mastery.
If making a knot square as majestic as this one seems like too much work for your abilities, you can practice trying to make a smaller square, such as the following:
