[Woodcarver] Mike Bloomquist's Carving Site - carving forenjoyment

[Alex Bisso]

Re: [Woodcarver] Mike Bloomquist's Carving Site - carving for enjoymentHi
Sylda - actually I think you are right on.  Although when I first started
carving I did enter some shows, that never was the purpose of the carving
and I have not done so in years.  My situation is that I actually enjoy
doing a number of things more than carving.  However, they are not as
constructive and do not do much to develop my artistic abilities which is
something I want to do.
ALEX
  -----Original Message-----
  From: woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net
[mailto:woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net]On Behalf Of Sylda
  Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2004 10:03 AM
  To: Woodcarvers List
  Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Mike Bloomquist's Carving Site - carving
forenjoyment


  On 10/27/04 4:24 PM, "Alex Bisso" <albisso at bresnan.net> wrote:


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    Am I missing something?  I guess the difference in your carving and mine
is:  I’m not carving to have show winner.  Oh, yes, I’m doing the best I can
whenever I carve (woodburn, make jewelry), but I’m carving to  (1) enjoy
myself; (2) see what I can do; (3) be with friends at club meeting times;
(4) keep my hands usable; (5) keep busy doing something fun; (6) occupy my
mind with something constructive; and if at some point in time I come up
with show/class winning item I’m be thrilled beyond words, but these other
things are way ahead of that.  Is that thinking wrong?  People seem to like
the things I make and are thrilled with the presents I make and even display
them, so my work must not be all bad.  Have I missed the boat?
    Sylda


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    Hi Doug.  I seem to really toil over most of my carvings and it takes
some discipline to get them done.  Sometimes I get really absorbed in them
and time escapes me but it almost always feels like hard work.  The relaxing
and fun carving I enjoy most is simply sitting down with a good diamond
willow walking stick or cane and just cleaning away the weathered surfaces
and cleaning out the diamonds with a good pocket knife.  It is just simply
whittling away wood - reminds me of a joke I heard.

    An old timer was whittling away one day and someone came up to him and
asked, what are you doing?
    He said, "carving"
    They said I know that, what are you carving?
    He said, "wood"
    They said, I know that, what are you making?
    He said "wood chips"
    Getting a bit frustrated they said, what is it going to be when you get
finished?
    He said, "a whole lot smaller"

    I think that is the kind of carving that is most enjoyable.

    Alex Bisso
    Billings, MT


      Subject: RE: [Woodcarver] Mike Bloomquist's Carving Site

      Hi Mike and all,

      I’m not sure if it’s just me, but sometimes I carve strictly to lose
myself  in what I’m carving. For these times I need a simpler piece just to
enjoy vs. creating a show winner. Anyone else been there???

      DougE

      Tom,

      I'm sorry to hear your continuing in woodcarving was ever in question.
Just MTCW, but, as addicted as I am to this woodcarving art,  once in a
while the shop and/or the carving bag just aren't the sanctuary they
normally are.  Sometimes it helps to step back from it as much as you can,
and give it a rest... go back to something simpler... or go in a different
direction for a while... try something new <like fan birds or chip carving
;-)>.  Don't lose track of why you enjoy carving wood.  If you do, take the
time to backtrack a little and find that place again.







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