'It brings me joy': Veteran revels in creativity
Bill Drehfal is all about creativity. Be it photography, woodworking or weaving, the 78-year-old U.S. Air Force Veteran revels in the creative process.
“It just brings me joy,” Drehfal said. “I love challenges. It just takes me to another place. My mind is always creating something.”
Drehfal said he struggles with pain in his feet and legs brought on by diabetes and neuropathy. “But when I do this stuff, it’s all gone. I have no discomfort or pain or anything.”
Drehfal’s passion has yielded many positives results over the years, and this year it has qualified him for the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, taking place May 11-18 in Denver.
Though he had a career in photography and is most known for his work as a wood carver, his winning piece was a textile — a woven table runner he named “Excitement.” The piece features a varied colored palette and geometrical, crossing lines akin to a plaid design.
He sees similarities between wood carving and weaving, which he took up about eight years ago.
“With wood carving, you have to deal with the grain of the wood. And in weaving, it’s the fibers,” he said, noting his wife Mary is a weaver. “You have to make sure everything is going in the right direction.”
Drehfal joined the Air Force in 1963 — the same day President John F. Kennedy was shot. He eventually wound up doing a tour of duty in Vietnam as an air policeman.
He left the service after his tour and came back to Wisconsin, enrolling in the photography program at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
He worked as a photographer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Northwestern Mutual Life. He spent 29 years at Northwestern Mutual, retiring about 20 years ago as the director of creative services.
“Photography was always a passion,” he said. “It still is — I take pictures every day — but just for myself.”
Upon retirement, he poured his creative energies into wood carving, something he had dabbled in most of his life. He joined the Wilson Park Senior Center Woodcarvers and Burners Club, where he creates his own pieces and also teaches the art to others.
He and his wife also take classes at MATC, dabbling in painting, sculpture and other creative pursuits.
“We continually explore different arts,” he said, noting that he has taken weaving classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. “Our house is more like a private art studio.”
While recognizing the therapeutic benefits of his hobbies, Drehfal is also pragmatic about it.
“I like to make art that I can use,” he said, noting his home is filled with “functional art,” including dish towels and table runners. He also gives away pieces as gifts and never sells his works.
Drehfal said he spends about 10-15 hours a week working on his art. He also enjoys teaching wood carving to others, especially Veterans.
“I tell them they can do anything,” he said. “We just give them a piece of wood … and nurture their learning,” he said. “I just like to share the joy I have with them.”