[Woodcarver] Susan's Rant

[Classic Carving Patterns]

Tom wrote: If you don't know why you are making this cut, why are you?

My Dad, who was my first carving teacher, had a very simple theory to
wood carving, "You just get rid of everything that ISN'T
fill-in-the-blank".  As a beginning carver this drove me crazy because
sometimes after I did the cut I would realize that part of what I had
just cut out was an "IS" not an "ISN'T".  Today, after lots of practice,
lots of reading, lots of studying on our craft I still occasionally cut
out an "IS", it's just not a often as when I first started.  So I have
added to his theory another simple principle, "Incorporate all
mistakes".  Today when I go astray I change the pattern or design to
accommodate the error.  Otherwise I would have the largest stack of
fancy fireplace kindling on the digest!

Susan

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-----Original Message-----
From: woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net
[mailto:woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net] On Behalf Of
TWWOODWORK at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 3:21 PM
To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
Subject: [Woodcarver] Susan's Rant


Susan,
    Loved your rant. It reminds me of something I learned in high
school, only about 55 years ago, but didn't know I had learned it till
several years later.
    We had an algebra teacher that I just could not understand at the
time. Everytime anyone asked him how to do a problem he always answered,
"if you know the rules, you can do the examples." And, he would go back
over the rule.
    Even today, I find that statement comes to mind when carving. If you
don't know why you are making this cut, why are you? LOL. While my
carving is still terrible, at least I think I will get better by
practicing, reading, going to classes, etc. and trying to figure out why
I am making the next cut.
    Tom
    Thomas W.Horton
    Glen Mills, PA