[Woodcarver] Not A Master Carver?

Mon Jun 14 13:46:54 EDT 2004

Phill:

Thanks for posting your web site address.  The carvings are wonderful.

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: "Phill Pittman" <phill at masterwerkes.com>
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 8:36 AM
Subject: Re: [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
>
>
> Hi Loren,
> My site link  is in my online signature beneath my name.
> The web page is quite stripped down without the portfolio on it right now.
> It will be rebuilt in a month or so with about 120 completed commissions
> added to it. It is mostly architectural but with a few fun diversions that
I
> suffered through also. My work now primarily focuses on production work
for
> other carvers and my current new commission work is only a few projects a
> year.
> Much of what I do suffers from permanent anonymity because of
> non-disclosures involving work for other carvers. ( much like a ghost
> writer)
>
> Good carving, Phill
>
> Phill Pittman
> digicarve at verizon.net
> www.masterwerkes.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Loren Woodard" <lorenwoodard at charter.net>
> To: <cbjbindhammer at mindspring.com>; "[Woodcarver]"
> <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
> Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2004 4:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [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
> >
> > 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?
> >
> >
> > > To make a DONATION to the Mailing List using PayPal OR regular mail,
> click
> > this link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> > ----
> >
> >
> > 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> > --
> >
> >
> >   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
> >
> >
> >
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> > --
> >
> >
> >   _______________________________________________
> >   Woodcarver mailing list
> >   Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
> >   http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/woodcarver
> >
> >
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> > ----
> >
> >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Woodcarver mailing list
> > > Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
> > > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/woodcarver
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Woodcarver mailing list
> > Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
> > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/woodcarver
>
> _______________________________________________
> Woodcarver mailing list
> Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/woodcarver