How to know your no longer a beginner

[Ashbys]

When Susan tells you your not !

Hammer

Ash

[Claude]

That's probably the best answer. My experience has been with the Northern Virginia Carvers and the James River Carvers: both clubs say when you've won a blue ribbon in a contest category, you're no longer a novice and must enter future competitions in that category at intermediate or higher level.

If I'm lucky, and practice a whole lot, I may someday be eligible for only the advanced competitions.

Claude

[Kenny_S]

Really Ash?

[Paul_Guraedy]

Claude, your posting illustrates, to me, one of the many problems involved with shows and competition. I have been carving for over 25 years. Since I have never entered a show, I suppose that I would be classified as a beginner.

I do not have a problem with this. But, having just looked at some of my early carvings, I would be very upset had I chosen to put one into a show and then see a carver with a quarter century of experience put a piece into the same level of competition.

[Ashbys]

This was done more of a tease to Susan. But she made a valid point to me, that simple statement of you have done commisions. That make you a professional.

Simple statement but a valid one I had not considered.

I have never placed any of my carvings in any shows. I am considering doing so. To be honest I thought about taking them to Dayton. Then I learned a few things about shows. First I had never attened one. So a few weeks ago I had the chance to see a show in Cinci Ohio.

That just confused me more. Some really good carvings were not winners and some that were not so good were. (Confusion) Cavring done completly by gouges competing with the undercutting ability of power carving ... more confusion.
So in the end I decided if I wanted to understand more about carving I need to understand more about carving shows. Now I am learning a lot about the different classes , how they are broken down, but I did not know where I would be considered to be placed if I chose to compete.

To some rules I can be considered a beginner, both in time carving and never attending a show, so no ribbons. So I spoke to the lady who guides us all, Susan.
And she as always was the wonderful helpful lady she always is.

Ash

[squbrigg]

Ash......you are definately no beginner! You have pushed yourself to improve and improve, and your skill level has taken a great leap as a result.

Like Paul and I'm sure , many others, I have never entered a competition, that just doesn't interest me. I enjoy carving too much to worry about what someone else thinks about my efforts, or what they call me.

I, like you Ash, push my own limits for my own reasons, and if someone likes my efforts, I will sell a piece or make one for a customer. But I don't consider myself a professional carver. I'm just a carver. I love to carve! Carving is relaxing and great therapy for me and make me a better ship modeller. I just like to create things.

Bob

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Professional/Beginner....
Power Carving/Handcarved...
Wood/Bronze.....
Art/Craft
Etc./Etc.......Quick!! Someone grab another stake and let's kill this thing!

Beginner/Professional: I've seen beginners that I consider to be true artists and I've seen so-called Professionals who, I think, should turn in their tools and try something else.

Power/By Hand: We've beat this one to death, hopefully.

Wood/Bronze: I watched a show the other night about an Artist who works in wood. A gallery owner came by to size up his work and advised him that the art market was prejudiced against wood and that he should have his pieces cast in bronze. Well, that pretty well sums it up as far as wood being art is concerned. Wood, like clay, is only a step on the way to the ultimate bronze copy(s).

Art/Craft: I consider myself an artist when I'm thinking up an idea and sketching it out. I then become a craftsman when I create it. Once it's on the shelf with it's price tag I become an artist again. And I did it out of one piece of wood which I reassembled with a little help from Elmer.

Etc./Etc.: I hear my tools calling me from the shop.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

You got anymore of that stuff Lynn? I'll take a quart! LOLHappy

[whitecree]

Hey Susan, am I still a beginner?

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[Kenny_S]

JMHO and the only one that counts, to me anyways, A professional carvers is one who makes his or her living by carving.
Just because you have done a couple of commissions does not in any stretch of the imagination makes you a professional. Even if you sell a few, no way are you a professional.
We have several beginners who are selling their carving art and are good for beginners but to tag a professional tag on them, Just ain't right.

Lynn, Not ebough stakes in the world to kill it.

JMHO!