[Woodcarver] Not a "Master Carver?"

[Bob Mau]

  To all:
I have a different take on this master carver thingy.      
There seems to be many people that have fallen in love with carving, the 
question is how can one systomatically learn this art form. Frequently 
many carvers learn by puttering,Whittling and messing around,  some take 
classes. Most classes are project oriented. Take a class and come out 
with a bird, take another class and carve a face. Lots of books to read 
out there, and many video tapes. In short there is lots of information 
but no overall syilbus to give focus and direction.
I have many books, and to many sharpening systems.  I look back and  I 
find that I have gotten to where I am by wandering aimlessly with little 
focus or direction. I got to beleive that with a little more focus I 
could have gotten where I am in much less time.
     The concept of an apprentice program is that it can help with the 
focus of where you are going. for example I have been hanging around Joe 
Dillett during his class. The class has  projects that  teach tool 
manipulation as the first and most important part of the lesson. In fact 
you end up duplicating your work 6-7 time give more practice, increasing 
speed and learning to make clean cuts. He gives them badly dulled 
v-tools and makes them sharpen them. How many of you have taken a 
training module devoted  to sharpening, dulling and sharpening your 
tools. Many of us buy tools and  try different sharpening methods and 
aimless plod along till we accidently stumble on a system that works, by 
then we have arkansas stones, diamond stones, ceramic stones, and 2 
methods of power sharpening.
      . I know that in europe  the apprentice system has a lot to do 
about finicial and political control. I know a formally traind carver 
has been taught how to do it the same way it has been taught for 
centuries. I am aware that the North american method  of less formal 
training can be an actual strength, since we don't officially know how 
to do it we can be flexiable and experiment with new techniques, which 
can be  strength.
    I don't care about the various terms of apprentece, master carver 
etc etc. I would like to see a focus of how to get there from here. A 
list of steps to learn in the 1st year a list of good books to be 
familiar with(technique books not project books) Any formal art classes 
that would be useful in the local community college.  a list of carving 
instructors that one could take, classes that would allow a serial 
progression in learning the art form. I wandered around aimless for 2 
years looking for a instructor to teach animinal carving untill some one 
recommended I take a class with Curt Kurtis.
Why did it take 2 years to find this wonderful instructor>
    Unlike a full time apprentices who devotes serious time going 
throught the apprentice program. I have a full time job and a family and 
not that much free time.

And so ends another long winded disertation
from Bob Mau
Big rock Il.

mllrynaz at millry.net wrote:

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>This has been interesting to say the least.
>it seems to me that the creation is something that any of us can accomplish.
>With no name on the carving it may not be the master who wins the compition.
>I love to learn all the time.
>If not by you or book or what ever it's by tring & failing or being
>successful.
>Edison after trying something like 670 times to make a lightbuld was told he
>had failed all those times.
>He told the person no I haven't I have learned 670 ways not to make a
>lightbuld.
>We as Americans have always taken some thing from the old country but added
>a flair that makes us something different.
>I'm with Bill if we lose those things they don't have we better think about
>it.
>I like the idea of apprentice butt not the way they use to do it.
>
>
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