[Lynn O. Doughty]

If you want my opinion I don't really think there is such a thing as a "Master" carver. At least I've never met one. Sure, I've seen some really "fantastic" carvers but even they have their flaws. Me? I know my flaws far outnumber my positive points but that's what makes what we do here so much fun....there's always that challenge to work on those flaws even though there's a chance we might not ever fix them completely.

Like the others, I still have my first Wrangler. He's setting down at the Gallery keeping an eye on the new arrivals. While his chaps might be a little crude and his sixshooter a little rusty compared to the more accurate and shiny ones the new guys wear he's still clearly a Kowboy....My Kowboy! You might even say he's the Head Wrangler as he's gained the experience of watching all the others being created.

(((If you're wondering why I spell Kowboy with a "K" it's because if I spelled it with a "C" it would look like this...! I hate smilies!!)))

[susieq]

Mischief,
Lynn is right about us not thinking of ourselves as Masters.... I was just trying to show progress. And on the opening page of my website is my very first Santa, he is crude if nothing else. Then in the galleries of my website, is the rest of my carving history....still improving, I hope.

Lynn, are you trying to say you are a grumpy guy? Cuz I don't believe it.....

[Lynn O. Doughty]

What? Me Grumpy? Nahhhhhhh!

[mark yundt]

Gee Doris,,,you sound like me after a year or so of posting....I feel like you're in my head and speaking my thoughts. And look where it got you.Thank you for listening and applying it.Any chance I can hire you. With that outlook,,you're the carver I've been looking for.

I always knew there was someone out there.....that understood what I have been driving at,,,why the masters are important,,,why learning to see was the most important thing,,why drawing was critical . Two years,,,yes ,,,that's impressive.
If you keep going in the direction you're going you're not going to have to sit and wonder why you're not invited into galleries and shown the exit,,they'll come after you. You won't have to jump through hoops trying to get people to visit your site or check out your blog just to keep your hit count high,,nor win a bunch of ribbons and be known by only select circle of carvers.Who cares if carvers know you? So what? They aren't the people who can truly buy your work. Ribbons,,,really ,,,can you feed your family with them? You won't have to try and hustle carvings in a limited market. People will want you to create something for them and still be willing to pay double what you ask,,,which will already be a ridiculous price because you truly ,in my opinion ,,know what carving is about. Some might try to say carving isn't an art,,,but isn't that what people pay stupid prices for?,,,,ART? NO ,,it's not art if you're doing the run of the mill stuff. If you can create,,,and you can with your perspective,,intuition,,and abilities,,you won't even have to bother advertising. They'll just show up at your door.You'll have the option of turning down work if you so choose. You'll have work,,even in the most depressing of markets,,more than you could do in most peoples lifetimes,,and they'll wonder how you did it.

That,,,Doris,,,is what carving can be...........

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Well, as a person who evidently does run of the mill carvings, who likes to compete for ribbons, who likes the favorable reactions of other carvers, who works hard to sell or hustle his carvings, who's paid hundreds to advertise, who's willing to jump through any number of hoops to broaden the worlds apreciation of his work, I really don't have the time to set patiently waiting for that knock on the door. No, I'll continue doing what I've always done...producing those pointless little novelties that I carve, winning the occasional ribbon, selling the occasional carving, and most importantly, enjoying the many relationships and friends I've gained through carving. That's enough for me! I'll leave the dream of becoming a so-called master to someone else.

[Irish]

I was already to post until I read Mark's responce.

Now all I am left with is "Ditto, ditto, ditto and Right On!"

Lora S. Irish (Susan)

(Where's the hippie freek with flowers and beads shaking their fist smiley?)

[mark yundt]

Don't misunderstand me,,,there is nothing wrong with how you or anyone else approaches carving. This is a multi faceted thing. Some will be happy doing the same type and style of carvings. For some it's a nice hobby,,meet other people and do it occasionally. For others it's entering shows,winning ribbons and accolades. THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE. DO IT. There is no problem with any approach someone takes to carving.

These are the very things I myself have done in the past.

But something tells me that's not the path Doris is interested in and that's who I was addressing. Not everyone is interested in going this route.That too is just fine. But when I see someone who has the ability to see beyond a niche type market,,is interested in a variety of work from busts,,reliefs,,florals,,scrolls etc. THAT person has the possibility of going beyond trying to sell individual carvings and turn that passion into a career.

A career where you don't have to advertise ( I personally haven't in 17 yrs) and you don't sit around waiting for a knock at the door. They basically break it down whether you like it or not.Carvings that run the complete spectrum of styles.Challenges that stretch your abilities. Pieces you didn't even know you could imagine,,let alone carve,,and have someone pay you very well to do it. I could be wrong,,but I think there are those few that have the ability to go far,,turn this into a career that is both personally as well as financially rewarding. I tend to believe this is the direction she is capable of and has an interest in going. I don't know the exact conditions in Germany and if the same possibilities exist,,but I know personally they exist here.
Going into the worst economic cycle we have had in years, recession,,job layoffs,,credit crunch,,flat if not declining housing market I have not had more work line up that is reaching what I would consider staggering proportions. Most would say I'm a liar if they knew. Most don't consider the possibilities or are aware this facet of carving exists.

Doris I believe does.

Again,,,this isn't of interest to many I'm sure. It's not a path most are interested in persuing. It's a world so unlike and opposite what I originally thought carving was about and would have called someone a liar myself if I had heard of it.And now I'm living it.

But when I come across that person who has that intuition of where carving can lead,,what it can become,,it thrills me. And because of that I would be remiss not to show them what it can be and has done for me. It's not for everyone,,but if that person is willing to go beyond the normal sphere of carving,,the world becomes your Oyster.

P.S. Lora, (Susan) you got your post in as I was doing mine. Thank you,,I believe you too understand....

[Irish]

Mark ... I am not a master carver which I do believe exist right along with the Easter Bunny and Santa I am a very happy wood butcher that just loves to share her joy of carving with others!

I also am a fine artist that very much believes that the only mistake that I will ever make in my art is to stop trying something new. I find much of that "new" in the old masters whether carvers, sculptures, painters and even very primitive/primal works that came before us. I find that as I get older I return to the very basics of my art education and finally have enough maturity to begin to apply them.

I believe that an artist that stops at one carving style/subject/theme because they have found some success and therefore are afraid losing that success too often limit themselves. I chose not to be one that carves the same thing over and over again just because I can. I want to try those things that I haven't yet done - tried - experimented with - or just plain 'wanna give this one a wack!"

I know I will never take up realistic, accurate decoy carving as an example because I am not willing to spend 500 hours doing one carving when I could use 450 of those hours trying something new.

You nor anyone on this message board nor even my Mother gets to see some of my attempts ... some become firewood, they make great bird houses, occasionally one or two have been used to prop up an extra heavy apple loaded branch on my fruit trees And everyone was worth the effort because I came away with some new idea ... even when it was something as simple as "Susan! Don't ever do THAT again!"

One can never go wrong with going BACK TO THE BASICS and often those are found in the works of those you went before us ...

Lora S. Irish (Susan)

[mark yundt]

Here Here! Not a thing wrong with that outlook! The willingness to venture into new territories,,try new things,,and who cares if the outcome isn't stellar..you did it,,tried it and that's what counts.Besides as you point out,,you learn so many things along the way that can be added to your bag of tricks to use elsewhere. I never considered carving custom pieces to hold up a sagging branch,,,that's a unique idea. Or,,let the branch fall and then carve that as well and use it to support another branch.
I carved some basic keystones and had a few more than what the customer needed. I ended up giving one to a friend to use as a door stop wedge for her gift shop. I tend to think that was the most expencive door wedge around,,but hey,,it worked!

And as far as finding success in one area and becoming limited. Well,,,whatever that one thing is that you might do well took some effort to get where you are. You most likely weren't a savant when you started down that particular avenue. There is nothing inherently wrong with doing only one thing.But there are so many flavors to experience what harm is there in giving something a try. If you stop,,you stagnate,,you cannot come full circle as you say. Fear is the biggest obstacle to overcome.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge" A. Einstein

[mark yundt]

OOPS,,,sorry,,after going all over the country side with these answers,,here is the answer ( photo ) of the original question. These were my first carvings. The little monk type guy has been looking over the various reiterations and reincarnations of my studio. He was done out of a 2 X 4. And then I really stepped up my game and did the crucifix out of mahogany and the cross is coco bolo. Great stuff huh? But for some reason I can't part with them. Really,,who would want them? Don't have the heart to burn them,LOL One day I'll have to get into the attic and show you my first " decoys" , at least that's what I called them,,,Ya' gotta start somewhere,,and for me this was it.

The rest of my work is scattered around this as well as my site.