[BobD]

Al,
I didn't mean anything against your comment...I wholeheartedly agree!!! If someone is producing a Legitimate service not offered by another, or a general service (without ripping anyone off) at a lower price...GO FOR IT...

But to rip off an idea, that's just low...Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but...

Bob

I have to agree. I am only too willing to show others how I do my carvings and if they are able to copy me then that is great as well. I am usually flattered if they want their carvings to turn out like mine. But you are all right if someone copies you almost to the exact copy of one of your carvings and then sells it then I also believe that is wrong. It has happened to me and I have not got upset about it because who can put a patent on a woodspirit even though it looks like one of my carvings. Its like carving a Santa who can put a patent on Santa Claus but esentially all Santa's look the same. It is the unigue carvings that stand out. Just my two cents worth.
Colin

...agree with you Colin, I guess its just that when you do come up with something original you hope the original idea is not taken...I guess it would be like the person who created the pattern for the 'mushroom' ladies that became so prominent in people's yards. Once you come up with the original piece I think you need to try and profit early before someone else mass markets the idea...

...just think how poor the inventor of the 'pet rock' (a very creative person) would have been if the ability to protect his idea would have been trashed as so many are in this day...

...my two cents...

Tony

[BobD]

It's funny that this topic would come up....

I just finished interviewing a man whose carvings were being resin cast. To prevent this, he started cutting very deep details in the carving...which couldn't be reproduced easily in the resin (unless the person went through and filled in the details, and changed the piece. He said that worked pretty well...

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

We have done some casting of our work and found that holes through the carving are much harder to cast than a solid piece...if you look at most castings, very few have holes in them...i.e. like between a bears legs etc, they will usually put something there, like a log or brush...so if you want to make it tough on them....have hollow areas in your carvings!

These carvers are pretty good, now they have a Dave Stetson, Helen Gibson, Jim Maxwell, and even an Andy Anderson.

Actually pretty good except they need classes on carving hands.

Rick dont we all.
Colin

[oldbearx2]

Hey all I just finished a class with Phil and Vickie Bishop and this subject came up. He said it is becoming a problem that is getting bigger. Sounds like some people are getting ripped off because they think they are getting a real wood carving, only to find out it is resin cast. It may say 'hand crafted' but not hand carved. There is a whole lot of difference. By the way the class was excellent and will post pics asap of the santas I 'hand carved in the Bishop style' Harold

hahaha I just noticed the prices on the new listings has come down a little.

But I am confused, I'm by no means an expert on the different written languages of the world, but it sure does look like the 10 commandments that ol Moses has tucked up under his arm are written in Chinese ???

I just had my resident expert look at it, and she says it isn't Chinese. She also restated what she said earlied 'Don't trust those Chinese.' Think she was afraid I was getting ready to bid.