[Lynn O. Doughty]

As a number of us have been talking about Judging and it's good and bad points, the associated subject of whether and why some do and some don't enter competitive events came up. Here's my take on that matter:

Competition is the best way to see how your carvings stack up against the others. This is especially true if you go to a variety of shows at varied locations around the country. If you continually lose it should give you a good indication that maybe you should change or improve certain areas of your technique. Ask the Judge....they'll tell you or they should tell you. If you win then you must be doing something right! Again, ask the Judge about that too as that way you'll find out what he was looking for and how what you did worked in those areas.

For those of you who for various reasons decide not to enter your pieces I think you're missing the best part of this craft. How else will you ever find out how your hard work measures up against the competition? Don't you get a teriffic "rush" when your team wins? I guess it's okay if you're satisfied staying on the sidelines but I just couldn't set there behind my table while I watch the others proudly carry their work up front to the category tables.

Speaking personally, I love to compete. I think that is what drives me to continue doing what I do. If I know that I'll be up against some of the "Big Guns" that makes it all the more worthwhile. Maybe it might be considered a little self-centered but when I take my piece to the category table I want it to be the last one remaining at the end of the event. If I lose I don't dwell on it. I'll go shake the winner's hand while checking out his/her piece to see how I can improve my next attempt.

At this years Tulsa show I was honored to be the Featured Carver and didn't feel it would be right to enter any of the competitions. However, when I walked up to take a look at what was on the table my first thought was "I could've beat those guys!"

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I agree, I have been entering competition of some type most of my life, for years it was pistol competition and later for years it was with my paintings, now mostly carvings. I entered one with what I thought was a good painting (my opinion, and naturally I am not biased there! lol) and the winner was a pair of levi's, opened at all the seams with buttons sewn on all over them? ...this was back a few years when the dippies....errr excuse me, hippies were judging all the competitions lol. But even with some experiences like that, I enjoy seeing the other work, whether is painting or carving, burning whatever, and even then, its twice the enjoyment when you have something entered....if you haven't entered one, do it, and spend the two days walking around the displays, the vendors , talking with carvers....it is an education and more fun than a barrel of monkeys.....but....never could figure out why a barrel of monkeys was fun?

[kcwaterguy]

I agree!! Russ makes (I mean encourages) us to the enter the Gouge Chip Carving Expos because he believes that the judges marks is a measuring tool of where you need to improve. I am competetive in nature so I definately wanted to enter, but at the same time I was not too confident in my work. Well, having Warren Raucher judging my stuff, I now know what I need to do better.

Don't be shy... honorable mention is still a ribbon!!!

Sean

[Anthony Filetti]

I'm a born competitor, so yes I agree. I use competition mainly as a learning tool though. It drives me to become a better carver which is important to me. Competition also gives me time to ponder my hobby and look at things differently.
Win or Lose I have no complaints...

[Paul_Guraedy]

Lynn, I agree with the crux of your message. The primary way of progressing in anything is to have an impartial critique by others who are proficient in that particular activity.

However, I do not think that entering shows is the only, or best, way of going about improving woodcarving. Judges doing an evaluation whether evaluating entries or answering the question, “How can I improve?� will be speaking in terms of the entry rules of the contest. This does offers an opportunity to improve a carving; but, stresses confines placed by rules of the show. It may say more about “how to win� rather than how to be a better carver. In some areas of carving this might not be a problem. I can’t speak to that. But, I can speak to my area of concentration, Birds of Prey.

I have been helped most by a person who carved for years; but, has moved to bronze and seldom works in wood anymore. While still a woodcarving show competitor, he was once advised, “you did not win because the other piece demonstrated that the carver knew an eagle has 12 tail feathers and yours only showed 10�. His design was of a “closed� tail which seldom shows all of the feathers not of a “spread� tail which does. Interestingly, he was giving us advice on how to design a piece to win with the judges rather than as criticism of shows.

His advice: Go to shows. See what the judges like. Design several pieces accordingly. Find out who is judging the show you want to enter and know their likes and dislikes. Skip the show if you don’t have what they want. In other words, carve and design for competition rather than art!

I never miss an opportunity to have other carvers tell me what I should have done different on my carvings. I also have found value in asking, “What would you have done with this piece?� I ask non-carvers, “What do you like most about that carving?� To me, this is the best method for improvement in both technique and design.

I, too, competed in rifle and pistol meets when younger. And although an occasional question might arise; the judging was pretty darn fair. I don’t see refusing to enter competition in woodcarving shows as being content to sit on the sidelines. I see it as refusing to participate, and by entering competition support, a sadly flawed system. I believe that you were correct, in another thread, saying that there should be a qualification system for judges and Al noted a few of the categories that should be used to define types of entries. I also believe that to be worthwhile shows should be juried. Let the judge concentrate on the carvings themselves rather than on whether or not they meet the criteria of the category.

I love going to shows; but, pay little attention to the judging. I like talking and visiting with other carvers. The fact that a carving, or carver, won a ribbon means nothing to me unless I know a heck of a lot about the circumstances of the show. Now, tell me a carving won a ribbon at “Ward’s� and that means something!

To post to the post....I shouldn't!

[Ashbys]

Lynn,

I just finished my first competition, and I did learn a lot. But what I did not learn was how to improve, what would help to improve, or what could have been done different to improve the carving.

Competition events are not about learning, I have learned more on these boards in a few hours , than I will ever learn at a competition. If the judges gave the carvings a rating list to show why one carving was chosen over another then there would be part of a learning experence. But this isn't done.

Competition, is can you do a carving good enough to impress a judge to make him like your carving , more than he likes someones elses. If you can do that you win, if not you have nothing gained.

The looking at others carvings can be a learning experence, but without information as to why one carving is better than another, there are only questions without answers.

Ash

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I'll have to disagree with you Paul. While the "Wards" show might be considered the top of the food chain for bird and decoy carvers I'll bet there are hundreds if not thousands of carvers out there who couldn't get in for various reasons who are better than those getting the ribbons. As for ribbons, I've got a load of all colors down at my gallery and every one means something to me. Ribbons might not represent much to some but to those winning one they add a little decoration on the cake and make you feel a little or a lot more proud of your efforts. They also show those walking by your table or booth that you ,for whatever reason, have been recognized above the others. Also, it helps sales considerably.

Randy Landon told me that he tosses his ribbons when he gets home as he has gotten so many of them. But I know from being as shows with him that he proudly displays them on his table during the show. I also know that I've prevented him from displaying even more on many occasions.

Judges may be prejudiced toward certain areas of the craft but they still give a valid opinion whether or not you might agree with it. A fellow carver or a passerby might be just as qualified as certain judges but there's one thing that they can't give you and that's the piece of satin that to me makes it all worthwhile.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Ash...You must have won First! If it had been me and I didn't win I would sure be trying to find out why! Were my cuts clean, was my paint job up to snuff, was my overall theme or design correct compared to the winner? That's what you learn by entering. What do you learn by not entering? You learn that that ribbon or award that the guy next to you is displaying on his carving that you think doesn't compare to yours now belongs to him and not you!

Here's an experiment to try for those who don't want to enter competitions but who still want to find out how their work compares to others: Take you carving over to the other fella's table and tell him that you want to see if his piece is as good as yours! I'll bet you learn a quick lesson there!

Judges are a foil to prevent that other carver from punching us out should we get to openly critical of someones elses work. While the system has it's faults it's the best we have to get a good measurement of our standing in the wider world out there!

[Bill]

With all I agree, I love to compete in as many shows that I can make. I always enjoy seeing what the other guy is carving, presentation of the piece, it also is a great way to meet a lot of fellow carvers. Win or lose its a good way to show off your work as most of us spend many hours alone when doing a carving. Yes I love to compete and hope that all other carvers would also, makes for bigger shows and lot of fun.
Bill

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Bill's post reminded me that I forgot to mention another important reason that I compete. As I'm retired I'm no longer in the "Game" so to speak. My working life is behind me and, like Bill says, I spend most of my time setting alone in my shop dreaming up ways to make people happy so I have some extra money to take a trip somewhere or buy some new tool I don't really need. Competing puts me back in the "Game", a different one but a Game none-the-less. I love it!