[Woodcarver] Not A Master Carver?

Sun Jun 13 17:25:44 EDT 2004

Carl:

Do you and/or Phill have a web page.  Sounds like you guys have had some
great training.  I'd love to see your work if it is available online.
Thanks much!

Loren Woodard

My carvings can be seen at http://www.woodcarvers-gallery.com
http://www.carvingmagazine.com  Carving Magazine's web site - Check out the
reader's forum.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <cbjbindhammer at mindspring.com>
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>; "RAY MIGHELLS"
<raymighells at earthlink.net>; "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2004 3:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Not A Master Carver?

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Thanks, Phill.  I agree with you.  I, too, was trained by Ludwig.  I count
those years as some of the most wonderful in my life.  I've had 14 wonderful
years as a professional woodcarver and still counting. I won't let any
publicist refer to me or my work as "master".  All have agreed but only
after an argument.  Recently a well known video reporter did a story on my
teaching  and sculpture studio (which hit some of the cable channels) and
expressed that he felt that I was too hard on myself.  That's OK.  It's
about respect for those who's shoulders I hope to one day stand upon.

Carl Bindhammer
cb at purelyonline.com

-----Original Message----- 
From: Phill Pittman
Sent: Jun 13, 2004 11:11 AM
To: RAY MIGHELLS , "[Woodcarver]"
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Not A Master Carver?

Hi group, been away from the list for a couple of days and wanted to share
an opinion or two.
Just a bit from my perspective, as skewed as it may be. ( no pun intended )

In my former life I got more than my share of printed publicity and took a
lot of flack from the art community because I was young and possibly
borderline caustic in presenting my views in public. I didn't really care to
be referred to as an artist. I appreciated the intent, but I reserved the
term for those far more talented than myself who truly created within their
craft. I was real decent at assembling my variations of foliage, cherubs
etc., but refused to give my self credit for any more than being a decent
copyist. Creation was protected territory in my eyes. Think about all
creation and deduce my inference from that.

I was lucky enough in my very early carving days to work/study with a true
master (more about him in a minute). This saved me from ever making any
mistaken assumptions about my own ( or others) credentials. I corrected the
magazine writers when they would refer to me as a master or even an artist,
not out of lack of self appreciation, but rather for the dire respect the
others had earned.

Journeyman ? That's a pretty cool title to me.  I did a four year
apprenticeship that was very demanding to become a carpenter. The early
guilds referred to a journeyman as someone that had completed all required
training for his craft, been overseen for a significant duration by an
accomplished journeyman and was found proficient to take his tools, travel
( journey ) and support himself in the trade without further training or
support. The label journeyman seemed like an honorable accomplishment to me.
The carpenters do not use the phrase "Master" out of respect for it's roots
in Europe. The phrase master in carpentry was a master builder and if cut
wood was all you did,, well.

My carving came as a natural evolution of my carpentry ( actually some time
before I "turned out" as a journeyman ). If I was referred to as a
craftsman, I was flattered. I never really cared what anyone called me (
within reason) as long as the check cleared at the end of the day.

Ludwig Keininger
The Bavarian master, Ludwig Keininger, I studied with, did a "formal" seven
year apprenticeship ending in the 1930's. That included two years of
mandatory art school (college).
After serving four years of "finishing" ( this made eleven years so far)
with the master as  journeyman, he was allowed to test for the "Master
License" This test was given over a two week period on two occasions. The
Masters license Ludwig acquired was totally controlled by the German
government. He had to get permission to relocate or do a commission for a
particular entity. It WAS very political. The second WWII found him in the
German army thankful when he was shot, captured and sent to a Russian
hospital. He said they treated him far better than his own army. The air
raids on London took their toll on the churches. The German government sent
him on loan ( restitution) to do reparation work rebuilding the cathedrals.
His immense talent caught the attention of the Vatican who quietly bought
his masters license from the German government. I don't remember the title,
but he was basically the head sculptor for the Vatican for a couple of
decades. He had a Mahogany forest ( and a granite quarry ) in south America
( owned by the Vatican )  where he worked several dozen " apprentices."  He
specialized in heroic scale human form using a 6 lb mallet made from brass.
His strength was such in his upper body, I saw him in his seventies " palm"
a 20" cube of granite on the floor and lift it to a workbench after I and
two friends failed to budge it.

I could obviously ramble forever about Ludwig, out of respect and admiration
for him and many others that have truly earned the title "master".
His basic opinion about all the Americans that assume it first person was to
the point and inarguable. I won't repeat or contest it.

I am happy ( and very lucky ) just earning a living in this trade. He taught
me a lot and much of it was very hard for me to accept at first. His first
concern was not that I was a good carver because of the proficiency with the
tools and materials, but rather that I carved fast enough and at "adequate"
quality to make a living.( I still hold a degree of disdain for the word
"adequate")  No matter what you did, it had to be profitable. He hammered
that in, saying that don't worry, you will find your own level of talent
after a few years and the course you take will be self defining. He was dead
right. Our carving styles were very different and he destroyed more than one
of my carving because a saint was " too fat", but his point was always made.

By the way, If you ask Ludwig if he is a Master Carver, he will
matter-of-fact answer yes, but add; it doesn't mean much if you have to tell
others about your talent in words. What matters is not what you say about
yourself, but what you show them.

Sorry about the oration, just needed a brain flush I guess.

Best of days, Phill

Phill Pittman
digicarve at verizon.net
www.masterwerkes.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: RAY MIGHELLS
  To: [Woodcarver]
  Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 3:13 PM
  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

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  Thanks for the input Bill.  I hope we can discuss these subjects further
next Thursday evening at Evart.  Offhand, I would comment that when other
carvers strive to emulate your work (I don't mean just you personaly,
although you are one),  you are pretty close to the pinnacle.  This combined
with bonifide collectors seeking out your work and seeking commissions to
add to collections to me would be more rewarding than the titlle of  "Master
Woodcarver"  As far as I'm concerned,  anyone who makes his living,  raises
his family and puts his kids through college has my vote,  and the
difference between the professional and the master is negligable and moot.
I'm happy to see Phil Pittman join this thread,  I've been meaning to send
him a word of encouragement in writing the book.  We need a good
comprehensive 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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