[Woodcarver] Not a "Master Carver?"

[Barney Elking]

Let's not lose track of the fact that most of us are carving for our own personal enjoyment and that of our friends and relatives.  The "Master Carver" discussion is extremely interesting but shouldn't intimidate those just starting to carve or those whose carvings don't meet some sort of nebulous standard.  Look around at the "art" currently being produced.  Does it stand up to the work of the "Masters" in order to be appreciated?  

Barney
Fortuna, CA

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bill Judt 
  To: [Woodcarver] 
  Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 11:46 AM
  Subject: [Woodcarver] Not a "Master Carver?"


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  Ray and Joe:

  Here in North America, we must be careful to make a clear distinction between the European trade designation "Master Carver" and the more relaxed way we use the term.
  Unless one is trained as a master carver according to an accredited standard, he/she is NOT a master carver. One might be a GOOD carver, even and excellent carver... gifted, talented, professional, etc... but not a MASTER CARVER, unless he/she has earned that title. I can understand European carvers looking at the way some carvers rate themselves or are rated by others and questioning their standards. I don't let this type of thing bother me, though. I know how good my work is. It is somewhere between the absolutely WORST carving on earth and the absolutely BEST.<grinning widely>

  This raises the question "What shall we call those North American carvers who have show excellence in their craft/art... who stand above the crowd? And what is the standard by which we measure their abilities?" Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

  This is a question I've long pondered. Please note that I do NOT consider myself a "Master Carver".

  Bill
  List Owner

  W.F. Judt,
  46 Harvard Cres,
  Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
  S7H3R1
  PH: 306-373-6649
  Email: bjudt at sasktel.net
  Website: http://www.wwwoodcarver.com

  On Jun 11, 2004, at 8:49 AM, RAY MIGHELLS wrote:


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    Hi Joe;  sounds good to me.  I do know that some classicaly trained carvers kind of look down their nose at excellent carvings done by carvers "not trained".  I agree with you that you do whatever is necessary to achieve the dimension and projection you want.  Carving is still evolving;  you may need to go to college to get a degree,  but you don't need to go to college to get an education.  ( subscribing to all the carving magazines is comparable to taking a correspondence course,  although there are some things you can not learn from a book)Regards  Ray Mighells  6760 Rt 417 Killbuck NY 716 945 0098 Please view my work at:  http://www.picturetrail.com/razaxnstuff 
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