[Woodcarver] Not a "Master Carver?"

Sat Jun 12 13:06:22 EDT 2004

Susan:

I really appreciate your comments.

They identify the chief distinction between North American carvers and 
carvers in other parts of the world, where carving is seen primarily as 
a means to make a living. Techniques must be guarded and territories 
staked out. Production and market share are important. Sharing ideas 
and general camaraderie are both counterproductive.

Here is N. America half the pleasure of carving is to share what you've 
done with others and enjoying their company.

If the pursuit of a Master Carver designation, or establishing a 
carving apprenticeship program in N. America mean losing some of the 
pleasure and camaraderie we all get from carving, then perhaps we ought 
to reconsider.

Bill

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 12, 2004, at 9:26 AM, Classic Carving Patterns wrote:

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> Barney,
>  
> I absolutely agree!  For some the years of dedication, practice, and 
> honing of skills to full the requirements to earn the designation of 
> "Master Carver" are worth the work. For others of us there are 
> different avenues to explore in this craft-art-hobby.  Some of us 
> teach, some create patterns, so are authors, so are craftsman and 
> craftswomen carving marketable products for galleries and shows, some 
> are carving just because they like to make others smile when they are 
> gifted with that carver's newest creation ... and all of us started at 
> the beginning with that first piece of wood, a knife, and total 
> confusion about exactly where to make that first cut.
>  
> I don't know that I even qualify at Bill's level of Advanced 
> Beginner.  My personal concern is simply "have I learned something new 
> with this latest carving and is it perhaps just a little bit better 
> than the last?"  And if I did a little better or learned something 
> new have I shared it with the carving community so that someone else 
> might be able to learn from my experience.
>  
> Having explored many crafts and arts I am so pleased that this is one 
> area of the arts where everyone from the rawest beginning wood butcher 
> to the finest certified Master Carver fits in, has something to share, 
> and is always welcome in any discussion of our favorite hobby. All of 
> us seem to carve just for the shear enjoyment of carving!
>  
> Susan Irish
>  
>
> Carving Patterns Online
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net 
> [mailto:woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net] On Behalf Of Barney 
> Elking
> Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2004 9:28 AM
> To: [Woodcarver]
> Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Not a "Master Carver?"
>
> 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?"
>
> To make a DONATION to the Mailing List using PayPal OR regular mail, 
> click this link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
>
>
>
> 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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> click this link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
>
> 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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