video vs. seminar

[rsting]

Hi, I got to thinking this morning about carving videos as a way to learn for those of us who don't get the chance to attend a seminar. My real question is for the folks on here who do both, teach classes, and have made a video. Now, I'm thinking about the dvds, not the u-tube ones,( not that the utubes aren't really helpful, cause they are)
How does what you'd present in a video differ from what you'd teach in person? Or is it the same? Do you think the abilitys of a dvd, ( zoom, pause, repeatability,etc) help make up for not having you there in person to ask questions of? Overall, are you satisfied with the videos you've done, or do you wish you'd have done something different? Finally, if you've done more than one, is there one that you'd like to reccommend for beginners to see?
Oh, and where can we get your video?
Thanks, Russ

[GaryMc]

Hello Russ, I have made four carving tutorial videos so far ( more to come soon) and teach seminars also.

What I teach in a Seminar is the same as what I do in the video, but you might get more information in the seminar because of the time constraints of the video process. I am ok with what I have done with the Videos, but I am always looking to improve them. I have had a couple of people tell me they learned more about carving faces watching my videos than they learned by going to a 3 day seminar with a well known carver.

There are advantages to both seminars and Videos from a carvers point of view. I have attended 2 seminars, Jeff Phares and Jim Wright and I learned from both of them, but did not get to finish either carving at the seminar. It is nice to see in person the instructor doing the cuts, and you can get help as you carve.

With the video, you get the ability to go back and review parts you need to see again. You will find that when you go to a seminar, after a while you will forget a lot of the information you received at the seminar. Cost can also be a big factor. If you are a poorboy like me, seminars are expensive and travel cost is also. Videos are rather cheap for the instruction that you get.
The whole reason I started doing the videos is because when I started learning how to carve faces I had no one near by to help me learn how to do them and I did not have the time or money to attend seminars. I know that I am not the only carver that has those problems.

If you can afford to go to a Seminar, the do so and them buys the video also if there is one. If you cannot afford to go to the seminar, the videos are very good also and there are getting to be many out there on the market.

You can get my Videos on my Blogsite/website listed below. I also will be teaching at the "Southeastern School of Woodcarving" July 8-10th, it is not too late for someone to sign up to go there, there are some very good instructors going to be there, here is the link for the information: Southeastern Woodcarving School - Central Alabama Woodcarving Association

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I don't teach seminars but I do do videos but they're not for sale because they're free! I've seen how most seminars operate and I've watched a few videos but to me they just don't compare to seeing the person you want to learn something from actually carve something from beginning to end with all the mistakes and problems encountered shown instead of edited out. I really like it when I do make a mistake as that gives the viewer a chance to see how I got myself both into the mess out of the problem. The last video series I just completed was just shy of 4 hours long and compared to some of the others on my Blog it was a real quickie. In in it I show how to take an idea, put it on paper and then use that guide to produce the finished figure. We always try to film these segments from an angle that gives the viewer the feeling that he or she is standing right next to the carver. Sometimes you even get to see my wife pull my hair to get my head out of the way of the shot. To date we've made a total of 153 video segments from carving a simple pair of boots, horses, bottle stoppers, busts, full figures, scenes, wagon wheels, dutch ovens full of biscuits & beans, you name it and it can probably be found in those somewhere. As I said earlier, the best thing about these videos is that they're free for the taking. You can download them to your computer, make a DVD or better still, just get them from the web when you want them as they'll always be there as long as I'm around. And if you have a question just leave a comment on the associated Blog post or drop me a note. I do my best to answer each one.

[Mark Dellinger]

Russ,

I don't do videos or instruct. But I would like to put in a plug for Gary's and Lynn's videos, as well as all of the others on the forum that post the videos. I have a couple of dvd's and watch a lot of videos. I use them both the same. I follow along. I pause and back up, replay, and then follow along again. I also have alot of books and in my opinion they are helpful, but not quite as helpful, because most of the carvers on the videos explain a cut, turn the wood and camera angle so that you can see exactly what they are explaining. The only thing Ithink missing on the video's is the hands on conversation that yu can have in a class setting along with the time you can spend with other carvers. Also in my experience most all oof the carvers that I have met on the forum do a great job helping beginners learn and those of us that have been at if for awhile improve our skills. Carvers everywhere seem to be good people but the ones that I have met here seem to be exceptionally great group of carvers. If you can make the seminars go, if you can get the videos use them, and if you have questions ask, someone will help. Good thread.

Safe Carving and God Bless,

Mark

P.S. I have learned more in the past two tears after joining this forum and talking to fellow carvers then I did in the first ten years.

[carverswoodshop]

howdy,, i do both teach and have videos,, i think the videos are good cause its hard to see every cut done in a class, but the classes are fun to be able to be with other carvers and be able to help them out, and met new folks, , i enjoy doing both the videos and the classes, either way its a great way to learn,,
YouTube - ‪carverswoodshop's Channel‬‏
arleenscarverswoodshop.blogspot.com
carverswoodshop.blogspot.com
facebook,,,,, carverswoodshop

[Ed Redwine]

All the aforementioned means of instruction have merit. Personally, I'm thankful they all exist and appreciate the folks who take the time to share their talents. The online videos are excellent, the DVD's helpful and seminars are great if you can get to them. Instructors are a vital link in this hobby.

[torpidhummer]

If you live in an area where there are no carving seminars or instructors available within three hundred miles from where I live,I have been purchasing videos which have been
extremely helpful for me. However like Mark mentioned I am a hands on person,I learn by seeing,repeating what I see and ask a lot of question. This coming July I plan on make that three hundred mile trip and take a hands on carving instruction as I have a whole lot of question to ask. All of my carving for the last ten years has been touch and go,every carving book available, videos,last and most expensive the purchasing of just about every tool both power and edge that I could have got by with less expense.
So yes taking a carving class with a good carver, in my case a raptor carver could advanced my carving skills very much.
Oscar

[cb1959]

DVD's and videos are both great. I know I have watched Lynn's many times over and over and get something new each time. That is one great thing about them. You can stop, rewind pause and look over again and get a little more each time. I have taken several seminars and tough a few. Being available for 60 or so hours for the week makes you soak up a lot of slight turns of the knife or power carver twist that is missed in the DVD or maybe edited out for one reason or another.
That said, I think the best, by far is the friendship, visiting, discussing problems and techniques one on one at the seminars is the better part of the course. Sometimes you come away with a basket full of ideas and techniques from the carver setting next to you that you did not expect. Almost all carvers I have met really are willing to share their techniques (secrets) with you if you show interest.
Also there is just a lot of fun visiting while you carve. Club metings and carve ins are great here too.
Charlie

[mpounders]

I have learned a lot from the videos above by Lynn, Gary, and Arleen and the quality and presentation by them are excellent for anyone wanting to carve. They are world class carvers and instructors and it is an excellent way to learn because you can rewind and repeat. But I think I got a lot from the seminar I attended, in that I was able to dedicate my days to carving, with no interuptions, and get critiques and corrections as I went along. And, I was able to pickup other tips and techniques from other carvers and instructors, in addition to drooling over tools available for purchase! Lynn's videos are complete from a block of wood to a finished carving mounted on a base, and I have chnaged the way I carve eyes after watching Gary's videos.

[One Thumb Carver]

Russ
I have sofar use GaryMc Video's (I really Like Them) One thing about Vedeo you can keep replaying the spot over. I wish I could attend a seminars. I also go buy carving books However first decided what kind of carving you wish to accomplish then Go for It

Please note I am a new I so new I haven't reach beginning carver