"I like to take nothing and make something."
Sangre Grande craftsman Reynold Wells, 76, has made a living with this ideology for 30 years, picking up discarded pieces of wood, PVC and stones and creating something of value.
Now retired, Wells is keen to pass on his knowledge to young people.
Adjoining his home, Wells has a museum, a small room filled with decades of his work. He is hoping the authorities see the potential in the industry and invest in it.
He said, "If yuh think yuh need to have money to start a business, yuh wrong. I like to take nothing and make something. All you need is the right energy.
[caption id="attachment_982179" align="alignnone" width="768"] Craftsman Reynold Wells tries on one of his masks made from calabash. - Stephon Nicholas[/caption]
"I want Toco/Sangre Grande to wake up, because we rich, yuh know. We have all kinda seeds, gravel. We ain't want no employment. We just hadda think."
On display at the museum are African masks made from coconut shells, African-style sculptures made from wood, wooden elephants, leather purses, mirrors, necklaces, earrings and chac chacs.
He said one of the merits of getting in the craft industry is becoming independent.
"To be independent is a nice thing. If you working with me, you not independent – yuh dependent.
"But if you working for yourself, sometimes yuh lie down on yuh bed 7 o'clock and yuh now start getting yuh motivation for the day. Through the independence, a lot of things will be revealed unto you."
[caption id="attachment_982181" align="alignnone" width="768"] A leather purse made by Reynold Wells. - Stephon Nicholas[/caption]
He believes the potential is limitless when one masters the skill of a craftsman.
"This could go universal. Art could make any country famous."
Wells had the distinction of six of his pieces being featured at First Citizens' Sangre Grande branch a few years ago, as part of an Emancipation Day exhibition organised by the Walke Street Emancipation Committee, headed by Montsho Masimba.
He said some of his work was also featured in an auction alongside other artistes when former US president Barack Obama visited the country in 2009 for the Summit of the Americas.
Wells said he has worked with the Ministry of Community Development's Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP) programme, as well as prisoners.
"YTEPP deal with a lot of school dropouts. Golden Grove, some of the prisoners take it good, because I see some have they business on Frederick Street, doing dey lil hustle with dey craft."
[caption id="attachment_982186" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The national coat of arms, engrained in wood by Reynold Wells. - Stephon Nicholas[/caption]
Wells said some of his craft pieces took over a year to make, particularly a 3D three-foot piece depicting a mother and her suckling child.
He said he usually works on multiple items at the same time.
"Someti
