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.

sa国际传媒淎bout a year and a half ago, Isa国际传媒檇 been doing so much wall painting and I wasnsa国际传媒檛 getting anywhere. Isa国际传媒檇 had enough of that,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淪o I thought, sa国际传媒榃hat else can I try?sa国际传媒� 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.sa国际传媒�

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 hesa国际传媒檚 learned a few shortcuts to compensate, so hesa国际传媒檚 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. Hesa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淢y hands and fingers arensa国际传媒檛 as nimble as they used to be,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淢y fingertips donsa国际传媒檛 feel things the way they used to. One moment I think Isa国际传媒檓 holding a piece of wood and the next, I see it on the ground but I donsa国际传媒檛 realize itsa国际传媒檚 fallen.sa国际传媒�

That doesnsa国际传媒檛 stop Kettner from his creative pursuits, however.

sa国际传媒淵ou have to have a goal, something you want to create.sa国际传媒�

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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