[artolver]

When I began carving, there were a lot the good ol' carvers would have their
own strict rules. No paint, no sandpaper, most of the power tools were not
available. They would really have a right to their opinions . They would tolerate
a caracature cowboy now and then.
I think they would edge into some of the power tools by now. But the thing
is those guys were great carvers. I miss and respect them guys.
Art

I do what I want to do, I do most carving in cottonwood, if I want to I use paint, ink, food color,...I carve with grinders, Chain saws other power tools
I use non power tools Axes, gouges, knives.etc. I think a carving should be carved and enhanced with whatever is proper.........
.......my bandsaw has been broke for 10 yrs

[whitecree]

'Painting can be part of the carving process. It is all in the mind of the carver. Natural, stained, painted, bleached, etched, power tools, sanded - none of that matters. What matters is the end result.'

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I don't know if you all know of Willard Stone? He was a very famous Cherokee carver fwho lived down the road from us in Locust Grove, Ok. His work is on display at Gilcrease in Tulsa and a lot of other national museums. Anyway, back in the mid-70's he judged a woodcarving show in Tulsa. I had what I considered a real winner of a group caricature of a Cowpuncher handing a bouquet of Daisys to a pretty girl setting on a stump. Much to my dismay it didn't even place in the competition. I ask Willard later what was wrong with my carving? He summed it up in five words...."I don't like painted wood!" All his pieces are unpainted.

Now, to me, that was a pretty narrow minded comment by him and such an attitude should have eliminated him from ever judging an event that included numerous painted carvings. I probably sealed my prospects of ever becoming a known carver when I reminded him that he "STAINED" his pieces. As I remember he did not respond.

I still marvel at his work when I visit the Gilcrease museum or the Cherokee Center in Talequah, OK. Unfortunately, my appreciation is tempered by that earlier experience. Too bad.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

A few years ago that was very dominant thinking Lynn...a friend that carved in southern california said they wouldn't even consider a painted carving, however that attitude as changed a lot...even this carver is now painting some of his.....I think maybe people finally decided, if they are too narrow minded about this stuff, they are also narrowing their options?

[Kenny_S]

Nothing like a closed minded Judges. But then, They have that right! I guess. Just a shame they didn't or don't judge on the merit of the carving. Maybe that is why I won't enter a contest besides not being good enough.
But then, That is My right to believe that way also.


Art: Many carvers carve what they want, when they want and with what they want. More power to them.

Open Mindness is healthy. Closed minds ain't.

That's my story and I am sticking to it!

[Mike-in-WV]

To me it all depends on what your looking at and how you look at it.
There are some folks out there who can carve really great but they lack the skill to put detail in the eyes but they can't paint in the detail so that it looks like real eyes looking right at you! That does not make them less of a carver but it's just another way of reaching the same out come for a finished carving.
That being said , sometimes I like to paint my carvings, sometimes stain them and some times hand rubbing warm oil on them is all the finish I want to use.
Guess it depends on the wood grain, how the carving came out and most importantly is what state my little pee picking brain is in at the time,Lol. Mike

[artolver]

Well I was just trying to make a little joke with the title.... the answer is carving is carving and painting is painting.
a good example here is Lynn. He carves a piece and when it is done its fantastic and when he finished painting it is fantastic some more
art

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Any judge hired to judge an event that will contain a wide variety of carvings, painted, unpainted, you name it, who has opinions about carvings that are prejudiced against one form or another should not be allowed to proceed beyond the front door of the exhibit hall. Or, if the club or organization sponsoring the event is aware of such opinions and still insists on having him or her as a judge, all carvers should be informed in advance that any carvings falling outside of those preferred by the judge will not be given equal consideration.

I don't think you can be any more fair than that.

[Kenny_S]

Art, I like S'mores for sure!

Sorry, couldn't resist the temptation!

Ah to old smoe more trick eh? I would not agree any less on Lynn's pieces. they look fantastic just carved, but they look some more fantastic when he paints.
I no, I ain't got no good English!

[BobD]

I have a friend who carves totem poles...and a judge disqualified one of his poles because "they didn't paint totem poles..."

Bob