Need life advice: getting into timber framing

Folks, I’m looking for life advice. I’m a young man (24) with a wife and baby looking to make a career choice. I’m a 2d artist by trade and while I enjoy the work and am good at it, I’d rather be outdoors and working with my hands. Also, art is a fairly unstable profession and work can be spotty.

Like many of you, I am interested in timber framing because of the satisfaction of good, lasting craftsmanship, which contrasts strongly with modern carpentry. There are no timber framing companies nearby (I’m west of Fortwayne, Indiana) and I’m not the type to get excited by osb and pneumatic nailers. What would you folks do if you were in my shoes. Is it worth grinding for four years as carpenter if I want to start a timber framing company (since there are none around) while side hustling with small timber framed sheds?

Many many thanks
Drake Swartzentruber

Even if your focus will be on timber framing getting on as an apprentice and learning other construction skills that you will need might be something you should consider. Working in the trades unlike going to college allows immediate compensation. Though as you go through the process there are classes that come along with being an apprentice and state accredidation (licenses) at the end. As you work through an apprenticeship networking might lead you to timber framers. If your ultimate plan is to be a contractor having that knowledge would be a plus. Making furniture to develop joinery skills could be a lucrative side job as you work as a carpenter. There are beautiful essentially miniature timber frame pieces that would polish skills.

Robert, that sounds right, what would you say the most important things to be learned on the job would be? Are they things that can’t be learned with books. Thats likely an extremely naive question of me! Thanks for your feedback.

I love the furniture suggestion, been thinking about that!

You need to look at learning all the skills. There are always things that can't be taught with books.  My daughter who is in the trades started out with a company that did, business sheet rocking, not residential. It was great experience because of ther variety of structures she worked on. She moved onward with framng foundation work etc. Learn the basics and never turn down an opportunity to learn a new skill. Construction bidding /estimating would definitely be a skill to learn as you progress.

Great, thanks Robert