[rick-in-seattle]

The transitory philosophy of woodcarving
A short essay on insight

Recognition, appreciation, gratification, are three of many reasons for carving. Our personal motivation for carving is continually changing to fit our needs.

Some carvers need to create the perfect piece that will capture the top awards at shows throughout the country. Since a carving may be entered for two consecutive years, the winning carvings often are. They are photographed at each show and end up in magazines over and over.

There are carvers who create to sell with absolutely no interest in ribbons. Monetary reward is their motivation, but the low return on time and labor puts this reasoning in question. The same time applied in other areas could easily surpass carving as a source of income.

Most woodcarvers start out carving for appreciation of their friends and family. Why we move beyond this stage and onto other realms of reasoning is a question not easily answered. One explanation might be the desire for a larger circle of recognition and appreciation. If we carved entirely for personal satisfaction, we could donate all our work anonymously to charity as we completed each carving. We would have no inclination to display the finished piece for friends and family.

Self motivated action is not unique to carving; it is part of being human. Everything we do has a reason behind it and rarely do we question that reasoning.

During the 70’s there was a group of people who had an answer to all these questions.
That was: “If it feels good; do it� a simple solution that encompasses all our questionable motivations at once.

But then, they also said “Sock it to me�…………… never did understand that one.

[squbrigg]

Interesting essay Rick, you've been thinking about this a lot.

Humans seek recognition, fame, wealth and success, some more than others. All basic human traits They also seek a challenge......"Geez, I wish I could do that!". Once you start, you're hooked. You keep raising the bar on yourself to try more difficult pieces just to see if you can.

At least it is that way with me. I want to try and see what I can do, what my limits are, and then push them, and what other types of things can I do. Now. it has become a form of occupational therapy, try to work around the damaged or impared areas of the brain, try to make things work again. Frustrating sometimes, but essential. I could resign myself to things and just sit back in a rocker and watch a TV insult to your intelligence, as most programs do. But I can't do that. Carve till it hurts , then rest and later carve some more.

It's nice to hear words of appreciation for what you've accomplished, created. It's nice to sell a piece, it reinforces your value (and I can use the money). It's nice to see a child's eyes light up when they checkout what you've created and you hear those words...."Geez, I wish I could do that!"

It's nicer to sit back at the bench when you've completed something special and relax in that feeling of satisfaction ...."Geez, I did it!".

Good thread,

Bob

[Mike-in-WV]

Rick, What Bob said seems to fit most of my carving motivations also. What i would ad is my desire to be able to carve as well as some of the greats and maybe create that piece that shows feeling instead of just dead re-shaped wood.
If I was going to carve for money then I would have to use a power carver to be able to turn out the carvings fast enough. If I had to do that then the joy of carving would be gone. Holding the knife in my hand and whitteling like the carvers of old is what brings me saisfaction and peace of mind.
Now that I have tackled caricature carving it's even more of a chalange and more satisfying.
So it seems that I too am raising the bar and then trying to meet the chalange just to see if I can . Mike

[Mitchell]

I heard it was a good way to meet chicks.



Hey relax.....it's a joke!

Thanks again Rick.

[Colin_Partridge]

Again and as usual Rick an excellent thread. You are absolutly right those are the reasons why we all carve. Myself certainly the money is nice but I have enough penisions that I dont have to rely on it. My motivation that way is that when I spend money on more tools (I just love tools) I dont have to feel guilty that I am taking money out of the house keeping money. Recognition is probably the first and formost reason that I carve. It is just great to hear people rave about your carving especially the children. I agree with Rick it would be so nice to be able to give them all away I think it would make me a better carver. Self gratification is also a big thing I really get a bang out of my carvings when I stand back and can tell myself I really like the carving.(Doesnt happen too often) That is because we are too critical of our own work, I say that because every time someone post a picture here I find my self saying (I wish I could carve like that). I have come to appreciate that I have my own style it may not be as good as some carvers but it is my style. I can usually recognize peoples carvings on this board just by their style. Thats what makes us all unique. Thanks Rick this really made me think of why I carve its an interesting question.
Colin

[Anthony Filetti]

Good thread Rick!


...I'm not sure if previously mentioned but another motivation would be "expression". Gotta find some way of documenting whats in this twisted
mind!!!

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

It keeps me out of the refrigerator.

[Kenny_S]

Some climb mountians, some run marathons, some drive race cars or ride horses,some carves wood or stone. Why do people do these things? Because they can! Some are good, some aren't. Yet, they still do what they do. Why?? Because they can! I do not seek fame nor recogniton as I have received it as a Scouter for my volunteer work. Wealth, well, folks, You have heard that a poor man is wealthy. Success is in the eys of the beholder. Some never seemed to have it and others it is given to them .

However, Rick, Your posts as well as others do make a person think as I believe that is what they were intended for.

Thank you.

[Ky_Whittler]

I recieved my first pocket knife for my 8th birthday. Dad figured I was old enough to handle the responsibility of ownership and it just might keep me out of his knives LOL. I often saw the old men on the court square sitting and whittling while their wives did hte shopping on saturday's. My heros at the time were from history books and there was nowhere I knew of I could get a green river skinning knife like Kit carried on his adventures. So a kid with a huge imagination armed with a case stockman and a tobbacco stick long rifle tackled the wilderness with a green river knife carved from green ash.

I have changed quite a bit since those days. Now I think of it in terms of not just my enjoyment but cash as well.Our imaginations still carry us all daily. Without it we could not guide that steel we trust as our partner to bring whimsy to the world. Whittler

[rick-in-seattle]

Ky_Whittler,
Reading about your tabacco stick reminded me of the "Rock Guns" I used to build. They were no more than a short orchard prop with a circle of inner tube nailed to the end. Spent many afternoons hunting with Davy and Dan'l.

Not sure where the fence picket sword came in.