What's the hurry?

[pallin]

At the risk of becoming the curmudgeon of this site, I have to ask what's the hurry? Where is the merit in quicky projects? Are we learning to do piecework for tourist trinkets? Why aren't we learning the patience it takes to acquire a genuine woodcarving skill?

[Lynn O. Doughty]

No doubt the largest impediment to carvers learning all they can about carving with the result being much better carvings is the "quickie" method of doing things. "Instant Gratification" seems to have made inroads into the craft of carving and thats anything but good. If you ever want to be a good carver you are NOT going to get there by looking for ways to turn out carvings that were completed by some quick and easy method.

Granted, we all might not be able to carve as good as we might like but at least we can try. Take Phil's advice and slow down! You just might turn out something you're really, REALLY proud of!

P.S. How do you think the sell would go if when asked by a prospective buyer how long it took me to carve a certain figure I told them "Not that long at all! I just whipped it out using the "Quick & Easy" method. Something tells me that that piece would find it's way back to the shelf via the "Quick & Not Interested" method.

[aulddiy]

Unlike the other two gents I'm only a second year apprentice. However just for this reason I can confirm what they've known for ages. My biggest mistake is hurry. Because I recognise it does n't of course eradicate it. I'm improving though.

[carver33]

Great post Phil. I'm a self taught carver, who rarely puts less than 20 or so hours in a carving and sometimes more than 40 or 60. I'm generally happy with the result and gain a great sense of satisfaction in that I've put my best effort into each piece of work.

However, that is not to discourage trying these methods occasionally, you might learn a new technique that will serve to better your carvings. As an example, I recently watched the Gene Messer video on a quick method to carving an eye. I think that this is a great way to get started and with some additional detail work, the finished product could be superb.

[jmischel]

On a dissenting note... 5 minute projects are NOT a waste of time. As a beginner, I learned quite a lot with these quickie projects. As a ... well, still a beginner ... I'm still learning from them.

First, many (perhaps most) beginning carvers will look at your work, Doris, and be completely intimidated. "I could never do that." But they can look at the 5-minute owl and envision themselves completing it. Not in five minutes, perhaps, but they can see it. And they can pick up a knife, follow the instructions, and complete a project. Perhaps you forget, or maybe you're not driven by that particular bit of gratification. There is nothing like finishing a project to build one's confidence at the start.

It's false that you learn nothing from the quickie projects. A beginning carver learns how to hold the knife, how it feels to hold the wood, what the knife does as it moves through or across the grain, how to make different kinds of cuts, etc. The beauty of the quickie project is that the beginner can totally screw it up and not feel too bad about the amount of time lost. Pick up another piece of wood and try again, but this time be more careful with that ear.

The quickie project lets me experiment with different ideas. With the 5 minute bear, for example, I've experimented with different face styles, different ways of adding arms, different ways of adding hair with the knife, and many other things. Again, if I make a horrible error, no big deal. But I can take what I learn and apply it to larger projects if I like.

The five minute wizard makes a great Christmas ornament. I'm going to send out several dozen of them to friends and family. Does the fact that it only takes me 30 minutes to carve one lessen its value in the eyes of the recipients? I think not. Even though my carving is currently not as "good" as many of those here on the forum, the people who receive my hand made gifts appreciate them. They think it's great. I had fun making it, and I enjoy their expression when I give a carving. Nothing in that exchange is a waste of time.

So 5 minute projects aren't high art? So what? Who's to say that we always have to strive to create masterpieces. We carve what we like. Some of us like to sit down with a block of wood and make something. It doesn't have to be Michelangelo's David. I carve for me. If other people like it, that's a bonus. But I don't feel like I'm wasting my time.

These projects might seem like a waste of time to you, but many of us enjoy them. There's nothing "bad" about the instant gratification. Sure, the quickie projects emphasize some things to the detriment of other things, but that's okay. Carvers who wish to create larger and more detailed pieces will learn the required techniques. Those who like creating five minute owls to give to their grandkids will do that. It's not like the two are mutually exclusive. A carver can do both.

If a five minute project is a waste of time to you, who spends weeks on a beautiful horse carving, is your weeks-long project a waste of time to those who spend years on something?

It's not a zero-sum game. My five minute projects don't affect your masterpieces. I get lots of enjoyment out of the small projects. You like your longer, larger, more detailed projects. I'm not hurting you, and you're not hurting me. But telling me that I'm wasting my time, when I and everybody else involved is deriving a lot of pleasure out of it is ... pretty narrow minded. I could just as well tell you that you're wasting your time spending weeks on a single carving when I could crank out dozens of pieces in that time. Who's right?

The quickie projects have value to many of us. They're great learning tools, big confidence builders for beginners, and a fun way to pass the time. You don't like 'em? Fine. I, for one, find them quite useful.

[Just Carving]

My O-pinion: You're mixing a discussion on whittling versus wood carving--with a side of business versus hobby.

It is true that wood carving is a skill that is developed over time with patience and perserverance and practice. And it is true that to some, wood carving is a means of earning income and can be done with numerous tools.

But whittling is a pastime and usually done with a knife. It is done to pass the time away, for enjoyment, making chips, sometimes to settle one's nerves (highly desirable these days--and really needed by some people) and if the whittler is lucky, sometimes he just might actually make something recognizable!

So, why the 5 minute projects? Haven't you ever been sitting at a picnic or a party, and just had that urge to make chips? Well, imagine if you pulled out a small piece of wood, a small pocket knife, and then whipped out something that was recognizable and done in just a few minutes or so. (Any longer, the audience would drift away!) That'd be pretty impressive to the observers not familar with whittling, huh? And you just might get somebody interested in whittling. OMIGOSH!!!Somebody might even venture into that sacred, protected, and sometimes too demure area of WOOD CARVING?!?!?

So, why not do a 5 minute project?!?! WHAT'S THE DOWNSIDE?!?!? Okay, okay, so, maybe the host/hostess might not be so thrilled that you left a pile of wood chips!!

So, why the 5 minute projects?

For fun of course!!

Lighten up people!

Bob L

[Simplyme]

Jim,

I'm so glad you put your two cents in. I was thinking about the same thing and was trying to put it into words. You did perfect.....you must of been reading my mind.

If it were not for those 5 minute projects(of course they take me longer then that) I would not be carving right now. If it would of took me a whole week to finish my first bear, I would of never done a second one. I have only been carving for 1 year and if it was not for people like Gene (my Sensei) with his quick projects and others like him, I would not be carving today. For some people on here it truly is a simple 5 minute project, but to begginers like me there priceless....

Please keep those 5 minute project coming....

[gene-messer]

Since I do a lot of quicker projects in the videos for beginners .. I guess I ought to answer this also ..

The shorter time projects are done for a reason .. their done to help beginners learn more then simply to turn out a fantastic project .. beginners usually dont turn out a fantastic project at first .. we must all learn to crawl first before we walk .. as it is in life ..

their done so a beginner can learn to use correctly the use of a knife and how to control it and also turn out something that person can be proud of ..

Not something he can sell for alot of money .. but something he can be proud of to continue further in eventually carving something he might be able to sell one day ...

So often ..we who have been carving a long time forget where we came from and forget .. we had to start somewhere also ...

Because beginners start off with a simple project doesnt mean they wont go further .. they usually do .. but it gives them a sense of accomplishment to turn out their first project that they can be somewhat proud of ..

The most popular project I had carved on my videos is the 5 minute wizard Tom created ..and I have received hundreds of messages on this one project .. carvers from beginner to advanced loved it ..


Why might you ask ? .. Because simple doesnt always mean bad ... simple can mean fun also ! and fun is alot of what carvers want at times .. just to carve and have fun ..

Sorry .. but not all carvers want their carvings to be sold for top prices.. or make a living at it ....or be in museums ...or have ribbons hanging off of them
so show everyone .. THEY JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THEMSELVES ! THATS ALL ....

So the 5 minute project will be popular and stay ...

So why hurry ? .. Because some people just want to .. thats all !

Gene

[Lynn O. Doughty]

When I was growing up I started out learning to ride my bike via the quick and easy method......training wheels! Eventually, to keep from being ostracized by the other kids in the neighborhood who were riding without such aids I had to take the temporarily painful step of removing them. Once removed I was amazed that even though I suffered through some scrapes and scratches it wasn't long before I too could keep up with the rest of the gang.

Beginning carvers may well pick up some necessary skills by doing simple, quick projects. And even older more proficient carvers may like to pass the time turning out instant carvings. There's certainly nothing wrong with either of those cases. However, I think there should come a time when the carver realizes that to really improve they will have to remove or cast off those easier methods and try something a little more challenging.

Thats just my opinion.

[Ron T]

Those of you who know me know I'm a very slow carver. Though somewhat due to my physical disability, I am also slow slow because I take my time studying my carving and thinking about where I'm going with it. One of my earliest carving friends, and also a great carver, told me to "try to do your next carving better than your last". That's the way to improve and that is what I strive towards accomplishing. A five minute carving would probably take me an hour or more, but I agree that one can still learn trying to do one.