[DADDIO]

very good point there gary i was talking with someone the other night about beginning carvers,when i say beginner here i mean just starting out and how many of them same as i know i was doing,make the same errors ,like in my other post i said,flat faced,flat nosed,strange eyes is a common problem or i seem to see it as well as not rounding enough. where if the comment had been made public about your carving,some carver at some skill level would benefit from it.by the way that's a fine looking indian.

[BobD]

This is exactly what I refuse to just jump into an area like this. Trust me, if WCI decides to do this, the guidelines will take me several months to finalize. We've already seen differences of opinion in this thread.

With my current workload, I can't see rolling this out any sooner than six months from now--probably longer.

In the meanwhile, I'd suggest that if you want a critique, you ask it to be sent as a PM, with the understanding that you can post it to your critique thread at will.

Bob

[BobD]

As for the midnight censors, well, you know what you wrote...that is enough of an explanation. If you don't like how the board is run, go some place else. No one is forcing you to post here.

Bob

[AlArchie]

Regarding critiques; over on the Carver Galleries, there is a section for rating the carvings. There are some exceptionally good, even great carvings posted there. A lot of them have (some of mine included) have 10's on the rating. I DO NOT believe that ANY of mine rate a 10. Not that I don't appreciate the support, but there are far better carvings in my genre that should rate higher, or mine lower.

I put a few 9's and 8's down on some carvings and got scolded by a few other carvers that these carvings were in fact 10's.

Personally I would not feel insulted if mine were rated 6's, 7's or 8's. Those numbers are above the 5 (average), and if mine hit this range, I'm happy. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the praise, but fer instance, if you give my carving a 10, what range does that give a professional carver like Roger Newhouse. Sorry, mine just don't compare.

If we are looking for honest critiques in order to improve our carving or finishing techniques, we should, at least, be amenable to constructive criticism and not feel put out by suggestions on ways we can improve.

Another "fer instance" at a recent show down in the big city of Bergland, MI, Roger suggested that I change the way I display my fish so that the fish is not obscured by mounting on a standing "log, stump, or twig". That way the fish is viewable from 360 degrees. It takes a bit more ingenuity to do a presentation like that but I can definitely see where it might be an advantage, even though I still like the mounts I use. He also gave me some advice on color development and finishing. I did not feel insulted at all by his comments.

Al

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I don't mind being censored in the least. Just like having my carvings critiqued I'm open to all forms of criticism. However, as I expect a person to tell me why they might like or dislike my work I would also like to know why any particular comment was removed. I think that's only fair.

Getting back to the topic at hand, from the comments so far it appears this suggestion, although I think a good one, will not go very far. Too many differing opinions about a suggestion seeking differing opinions. Sure, we can PM each other but then what would be the use of this Forum? A Forum is a place for discussion not a meeting place so we can PM each other. While I answer every PM sent to me I don't particularly like them as they take up too many key strokes and like the others have said they exclude any informative suggestions made in the PM from the other members of the Forum.

[BobD]

Well, Lynn, there is all sorts of free message board software out there.

Since I've been very clear that I don't have time to get it up and running, perhaps you can add a critique board to your website?

Bob

[Lynn O. Doughty]

It's already there. The comment box at the bottom of each post. And I've never implied that I expected an immediate response to my suggestion, I only offered it for an open discussion. I realize you're busy and have your priorities and this one is probably far down the list if it's even there at all.

Now, as Granny's calling for my attention, I'll just move along.

[xsailer]

Lynn,
You know when it comes to judging there a few guidelines I'm sure they(judges) all use. I suspect a lot of "judging" comes from their opinion of what they personally like. That's what they were chosen for. For you to question their opinion you either accept it for what it is or don't. Right ,or in your opinion wrong, write it off and move on. You entered their competition after all. They have been appointed the judge. Judges judge by their guidelines not yours. Neither you nor they are wrong. The last show I was in I and others questioned some of the judging but it is what it is. Have you judged a show by the way and if you did what were your experiences?
As for Midnight censors, some of the comments made in the forum need to be censored. They may make, in our minds, some questionable choices but I'd bet most are for their and our good of the forum guidlines.

Note: all of the above is meant respectively with no malice intended.

[aulddiy]

As a beginner, and no carving club within reach I'd welcome critisism if its constructive. Do n't tell me its poor unless you tell me how to improve it.
rgds
John
Glenrothes
Scotland

[Lynn O. Doughty]

While I've never officially judged a show nor do I ever intend to as I'm certainly not qualified to offer an opinion in areas of woodcarving I'm not familiar with, I do judge unofficially as we all do. Some shows hide the judges as they do their work while others do it in the open. What they're afraid of someone seeing I can't really say. But for the open shows you could probably learn more about a piece being judged by listening to the conversations of those carvers standing around watching the judge do his business. That's the fun of it. One guy may get to award a ribbon but that doesn't necessarily mean that that carver won the award in the eyes of those looking on. It would be an interesting experiment if the "Carvers Choice" award was given before the judge made any decisions. Do you think it would change the outcome? I believe it would.

Getting back to critiquing a persons work, like John from Scotland just said, comments are always welcome as long as the person making them can offer a valid reason for making them.

That's the beauty of this forum, there is no "official" way of how we judge each others works. Some might think there should be but I don't.