Having a hard time carving

mark yundt · #1 11-01-2007, 12:30 PM

Carving the past day or so hasn't been effortless.Today I know why.I like to carve with a clear head but the recent posts have been staying with me.In an effort to clear the air as well as my head ,I now have to get something off MY chest.

To some,,I may come across as confrontational.And as I have stated before the written word can be deceptive.My biggest wish is that you could all be with me here in my shop ,,see my body language,,the inflections in my speech,,the way I approach carvings,,the intent behind what I say. That's all lost here.

Those that do know me,,and know my style,,know where I come from. Some get a peek when they express an interest in a book I mentioned so I buy another copy and just send it to them. Or the specifics of the mallets I use,,forget the specifics,,I make a few more and send them out. The time I take to write as clear a description as I can,,a sample where it might help,critiques and more samples through e-mails and P.M.s. The only reason I'm shedding any light on any of this is to convey these actions aren't those of a confrontational person. My only wish is for everyone to get the most enjoyment and fullfillment out of carving.However,,and whatever tools you choose to use.

If you like my results but don't approve of my tools,methods or techniques as some have said,,that is fine with me.I have no problem with that at all. But on the same hand,,why confront me with what tools I choose to use or not use? There are many paths to the goal.We all have different paths as well as goals. If knives and palms do it for you,,GREAT use 'em. If its a chainsaw,axe,x-acto,power,adze,or a sharp rock,,use it.

I'm too much of a big kid who loves to go to my playroom and see what I can make out of my wooden building blocks each day. And simply has a ball helping others build stuff too. Do I get carried away and excited at times,,SURE. Am I stubborn at times,,YUP.Have I found some paths that seem to work,,I think so. Do I intend to keep it all to myself? NEVER! I'll share it all ,,whatever it is you want,,and I have it,,I'll give it to you.Doesn't bother me 'cause I'll just find or do more,,and pass that along as well.

Now,,,,I can go back to playing with a clearer head.
Thank you.

BobD · #2 11-01-2007, 12:47 PM

Thanks Mark,
It think this is a good reminder for all of us; communication on a message board like this IS incomplete. Most communications researchers suggest that what we say is about 25% of a conversation. The rest of the conversation is in our body language, our facial features, and even the tone of our voice.

While emoticolons try to fill in the gap when it comes to tone of voice, nothing is going to replace the body language and facial expressions we are missing in this conversation.

I've talked with several people who have had problems with what others have said on the board. Some of these people I've talked to on the phone, others I've met in person. Many times when this happens, I get a new look at what a post means...

Most of us write posts the way we speak; we try to inject the same pauses into the writing as we would in a verbal conversation, and use words we'd use in real life. But without a proper context--in this case the body language and facial expressions, the conversation loses a lot.

I wish we could all get together and meet in real life; I've had the opportunity to meet a lot of you in person, and after hearing you talk in person, your posts come alive for me. And while I don't remember every word of the conversation we had, I remember the geist of the conversation...you don't have that luxury on a board like this. What you say often tells people all that they think they need to know about you...and you all know what they say about first impressions.

So I propose this...lets try to assume the best about someone regardless of the past...wipe the slate clean, so to speak...and see what happens.

Bob

susieq · #3 11-01-2007, 02:04 PM

Mark,
You have said what I often think..... when we sit at our keyboards typing away, we hear our "tone of voice" that we are speaking (typing) in. But when someone reads that same text, they don't hear our tone of voice that we were thinking in when we wrote what we wrote. I have had replies to some of my posts that, if I were overly sensitive, I might take offense to. But I remind myself that I don't know what "tone of voice" the reply was made in so I give it the benefit of the doubt. I assume no offense was intended. It is the only way we can proceed in a forum like this or there would be hurt feelings all over the place.

Keep up the good work. I think you are a terrific carver and no matter what tools you use, it still takes talent to do what you do. The tools are only that. The talent is in the hands that use them.

JIM QUILICI · #4 11-01-2007, 02:20 PM

Mark,
you don't have to explain to any of us what tools you use to carve with..or how you carve it....it should not matter to anyone but yourself...your work speaks for its self. a class all by its self..........when some one trys to tell you how or what to carve with, is walking and talking where its non of their business. even if you choose to use a box cutter thats fine with me. lol
Jim

jillsy · #5 11-01-2007, 03:45 PM

Marky-Mark,

I haven't been able to get to the board much lately, so I'm not sure what prompted you to write this. But, I DO know that my experiences with you have all been great and I appreciate all the extra help and advice you've given me on the side. The whole reason I originally pm'd you specifically was because of all your obvious knowledge and expertise.

It does get very frustrating when something gets misread or misinterpreted thru writing boards, emails, etc. Believe me, you're not the only one this has happened to! There have been plenty of times when I've written things totally meant as a joke, only to have it completely twisted into something I never meant. Unless we all write like programmed robots, it's going to happen from time to time. We just gotta trust that the person reading it keeps all this in mind.

You're tops in my book!

Jillsy

gene messer · #6 11-01-2007, 05:44 PM

Mark .. you already know how I feel about your work .. and your skill ..

To tell you the truth .. if I could carve with the skill and knowledge you put in your work and have the results you get .. I wouldnt care if I used a pair of nail clippers to carve it .. I would do it ..

Gene

Alice in Wonderland · #7 11-01-2007, 05:48 PM

Mark
I can not even imagine that somebody on this board can get your writing wrong???? I wish I could express my thoughts better ,but please do keep up your good work and your teaching which is so valuable ,if one had to buy your written instructions ( or what ever people want to name it) they had to pay a lot of money and here you give it so freely( is this a word?:-)))
Thanks for every word you write.
Alice

Merle Rice · #8 11-01-2007, 07:33 PM

Hey Mark, haven't read what you were referring to but glad you cleared your head and get back to the Carving that we enjoy seeing. Merle

mark yundt · #9 11-01-2007, 08:02 PM

Thanks so much guys (gals) hearing you in chorus lightend my burden considerably!! Now I can carve!

Eddy Smiles · #10 11-01-2007, 08:11 PM

Mark.. There's a guy that lives about 450 miles south of you in Tennessee that you sound just like. He's so passionate about his work that some times it's hard for me to try and remember that it's his passion coming out when he's critiquing my work. You just keep on keeping on! You're a great carver and we'll all catch up to you one of these days. Some of us are just slower than others!