That ain't woodcarving!!! :((

[whittlinwill]

I've been perplexed for quite a spell now about this, & thought i might get some answers here. I see, all the time, in WOODCARVING mags, articles & photos on intarsia, wood BURNING, & GOLF BALL/SOFT BALL carving. Why are these things in a WOODcarving publication??!! Do the mags on woodburning, etc give equal space for carving projects?? I doubt it. & Whittling is MUCH closer related to woodcarving, but gets less mention, except for the recent special issue, which tended to substitute the word carving for whittling a LOT in it. Besides being curious about the non woodcaving items above, i am perplexed as to why whittling is so looked down on {maybe because us pocketknife whittlers don't buy many gouges,chisles,etc??}. I joined the local carving club, only to have people chastise me for being a pocketknife whittler, saying things like "Oh, great! that's all we need! someone trying to push our art into hicksville!", & "So when do you think you'll be moving on to REAL carving tools??" Needless to say, i never went back, & that just made me MORE determined to remain a true pocket knife whittler! I didn't put THEM down for not using a pocket knife, so what gives them the right to talk to ME like that?! Just some thoughts from a PROUD POCKET KNIFE WHITTLER! P.S. I'm not angry, just perplexed.

[Sean R]

Hi Will, I will give my " opinion" And that is all it is. As for the Golf balls and other types of mediums. I cannot speak for others but I really enjoy seeing how " Wood Carvers" Also carve in other types of mediums. Not only that but it to me is a way to also practice honing your skills on faces etc. Being open to all types of carving is to me in the spirit of the magazine. And I am glad they show this type of stuff.
Now onto the Whittling. I am being taught by Don Mertz, Who is a Whittler. He uses fixed blade AND pocket knives. I do not see the where you are going calling it a hick type of carving. I was introduced to carving by a very dear friend who is also a whittler, And carves a lot of balls in cages, Fish and all kinds of other whimsey type things. And I love em all. Don Mertz on the other hand is a caricature carver doing a great many types of carvings. Both are whittlers. In my opinion though a whittler and a carver who use different types of tools is apples and oranges. How you get to the end goal does not matter," It is the journey that one takes in achieving the carving " a Quote as best as i could phrase it by Don Mertz.
Sean

[whittlinwill]

Sean, it wasn't me who called whittling a hick style of carving. it was a member of that club i was quoting. I would never say that, especially since i grew up in a tiny country backwoods town, which i LOVED, of 800 people. I guess i can see your point to some degree about the golf/soft ball carving, but not woodburning,unless it's carving related, such as how to burn feathers on a carved decoy, etc. My words are just my opinion also {that's what forums are for}. It's just that to me, having articles & photos about flat woodburning & intarsia, with no carving being done on them, in a woodcarving mag, is like opening an automotive mechanics mag, & finding out how to take better photos with your new camera. Possably useful, but not why you spent your money on that mag, & not the advertised purpose of that mag. & by the way, i've seen photos of some of Don Mertz's work. GREAT stuff, & i'm sure he's a SUPERB teacher you are lucky to have.

[Tom-H]

I think I'll wait for some more posts before I "jump in" with my opinionated comments, LOL

Tom H

[Goody]

OMG! what if your club seen my rough-out machine? I would be banned to mars or something. I carve with anything that has an edge on it. I have a collection of pocket knives some modified some not. I have taught an entire santa carving class with a Boker Whittler to prove you can carve without a gazillion dollars worth of tools. At the end of the day it all boils down to I like to carve-on anything-with anything.
Goody

[whittlinwill]

@ Goody. You probably would be sent to mars, but hey! Then you could teach moonrock carving! LOL! That club has a woodcarving show every year, & one of my carving friends wanted to set up, & was eventually allowed since someone they thought more appropriate to the show backed out. know why they didn't think my friend's stuff was appropriate?? Because he does CHARACATURE CARVING!!! They said they don't consider that woodcarving! & yet they had wood turners there, wooden folk toys, & the pres & his wife had wildlife photos & paintings on display! EEEEE-GADZZZZ!!!! Plus, when i gave him the membership money at my first meeting, he actually said these words to me: "Well, go introduce yourself to the members, cause we aren't going to do anything to make you feel welcome". I am NOT exagerating here, those were his EXACT words! Anyway, like i said, regarding my original post, i just feel a woodcarving mag/book should be about woodcarving. Nothing at ALL against other styles, or art forms, but i just don't appreciate space that could have been devoted to the advertised content of the mag, book, etc, being used to instruct on something totally un-related to the publications' original purpose, that's all. Just my opinion again, which i am entitled to, as are all of you.

[Trebor56]

I running into some snooty "Wood Carvers" as well so here's what you do. Go back to the meeting, tell them you've seen the light, put your knife back in your pocket, pull out a utility knife and start carving with that.

[Rustic Rick]

Who cares what others think Woodcarving illustrated focus' on wood, but also shows other mediums. We are all CARVERS. What you choose to carve is your decision. That is my 2 cents.

[Just Carving]

Go back to the meeting, tell them you've seen the light, put your knife back in your pocket, pull out a utility knife and start carving with that.

ROTFLOL

Sounds like something I'd do

Whittlinwill

Seeing how I'ms an old fart compared to you (I'm 53), I'll impart this tad bit of advice to you:

Screw 'em!

I carve, whittle, shape, file, and whatever else I choose to do at the moment. It's not about the tools, the methods or anything else. It's not even about what someone else perceives your finished results to be. It's not about what someone else likes or doesn't like.

It's about your satisfaction in a job well done. That's how I know if I'm finished with what I'm working on. If it's not done in someone else's eyes, so be it. Not everything I do is going to appeal to someone else. If someone says it's not done, I say it's a study. If someone says it's not painted, it's a natural. I carve for me. If someone asks me to carve something, and I agree to do it, I'll do my best to carve whatever it is they want--but my way and at my leisure.

This is a hobby for me. I've been on the fence as to whether I want to carve for a living, and I still haven't come to a consensus on that. So for now, I carve, whittle, shape, file, and whatever else I want.

BTW--I'm not so thrilled about all the variations of "wood carving" I see in the magazines. I'd prefer to see just whittling--left natural with a little bit of washed out paint to highlight features--and done with a knife and a few small tools. But I guess that wouldn't sell as many magazines as are sold today.

Maybe I should think about putting together a "Whittlin'" Newsletter.

Bob L

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Sure looks like carving to me!