Musing about my short happy life as a turned wood artist.

Hey... how do you think I got here?

Amen. A day in the life, eh Arch?

I have also suffered at the hands of lost artistry, trying from time to time to create "my form" or to express "my voice" on the lathe. But... with of years of concentric or slightly non concentric vessels, bowls, vases, boxes, cooking utensils, mallets, ornamentations, jugs, bottles, treenware, cups, platters, plates, storage containers, etc., it is hard to be truly original on the lathe.

My artistic voice is one in the crowd and sometimes it seems like I have seen the finished shape I have turned somewhere else.

But good sir, I have found something that satisfies my artistic bent on two levels. One being the tragic inability to appreciate my own work (ahem... a joke here for those not getting it) which leads to tragedy. Like the French, it is almost better to lose you fight and enjoy the romantic recollections of being "the little engine that almost could" rather than to win.

So when I turn something out of a piece of dried hardwood that is almost what I want, but not quite, I destroy it before finishing. I was inspired to do this by a really great bio on Van Gogh, one that said he used to suffer mental illnesses so badly that he ate his own paint from time to time. In this bio they said they had to take his paintings away from him as he was wont to destroy them after they were finished.

I am trying to follow in his footsteps. Sadly, that means all of my great art MAY have been burned. As to the quality of the pieces, I guess I'll never know.

However, the second benefit (remember, there were a couple) is that with certain woods, they add a lot to the smoker while it is going. So while a pork shoulder or brisket is rendering away on the cooker, I can relish the joy/pain/sorrow/romance of knowing that destroying my work is in some way contributing to the well being of others, while staying confused about "my direction" or its meaning.

Doing this, I can enjoy the angst of not finding my voice, but I can get some good barbecue when it is all said and done.

;^)

Robert

wrote : (clip) However, the second benefit (remember, there were a couple) is that

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The meat actually tastes better in proportion to the quality and artistic merit of the broken pieces of wood used to provide the heat and smoke. What? You don't believe this? Neither do my dinner guests, but I have noted that they often have more favorable comments about the food than about my turnings. Doesn't that tell you something?

In message , Arch writes

On turning wood and art

Turn a bowl, proclaim its name, art critics the world over will voice its wonders and worthiness, its impact, the feelings it invokes. Leave it un-named, and it will forever be merely a bowl

Its surprising how often art critics can elevate an object to stardom, yet know nothing on creating art themselves.

If an object invokes feelings in but one person, then it is art, and let none say otherwise.

Thanks Robert, ROTFLMAO!

Your post is important to us. Please stay on the ng and somebody will be with you just as soon as they "get it". Keep the faith and keep on burning. There's probably more art in our ash cans than in our galleries. Who said, "speak for yourself, Arch" ?

If you do decide to follow in V.G.'s (Artists like you & me know him as VG) footsteps and eat your bowls, be sure to look up 'food safe' (ie. safe for you, not the bowl) in the rcw archives. I think there may have been an inquiry or two about this subject over the ears. Sorry, I meant years!

BTW, I finished my masterpiece and sold it for three dollars and 49 cents. To follow in VG's footsteps, I ate the sales tax. Eureka! That's a dollar and four cents more than my 'turned for use' stuff usually brngs in, tax included. I reckon I've arrived. I just don't know where. :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Thanks Robert, Leo and John.

Here's a question that's less about art and more about turning for rcw's simple craftsmen. I mean those that rotate their barbecue on Novas, Jets and Deltas instead of on VB's, Stubbies and Oneways. You artists know the type. Those humble craftsmen-turners with their greasy lathes and useful bowls. Uggh!

Now to the question: Do you experts pull, chop or slice your barbecue? Do you cut, skew, scrape or shearscrape the meat? Do you ride the skewer or lead its flute? Is it shallow or deep, milled or forged?

I'm sure you turn the meat slowly using a gentle touch, but it's of equal importance for newbies to learn who's bevel you guys grind on your knives and forks and why. Hopefully these astute questions for you experts will help the great uninformed.

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Bada bump, *cymbal crash*!

Hiyo!!

It sounds like you have indeed arrived. I am still looking for you though. (I'm the guy with his lathe set up next to the bbq pit for easy access if you haven't put your eyes out as an alternate idea after finding paint doesn't taste too good.)

That's

Careful, Arch. You may be in the way to a successful second career. A professional. If I had a nickel for every turner that thought he was a professional because he sold a couple of things during the year....

It is much better to be an artist, as you don't necessarily have to generate income, be nice to people, keep any kind of schedule, or explain your work. You can live with bizarre eccentricities, and no matter how contrived and people will think it is a by product of creative genius.

I am all for the artist gig. I am tired of working.

I know latex house paint doesn't taste to good.

But... I have been eye ballin' this one ear lately...

Robert

In message , Arch writes

Hey Arch

Being merely a beginner (6 months), in the art of barbecue wood-shavings, and firewood, I still have lots to learn. I can make big chips, and little, long shavings wide, and thin, and even dust clouds to fill a room

I use my tools as a means to an end, if I can achieve what I want with a tool I will use it, but always IT WILL (reminder to self) be sharp, and used with a GENTLE (another reminder to self) touch.

Now should that bevel be 40, 60, 80 or 81degrees, at present I have no preference, but believe that as time passes the bevel will find me for each of the many different projects I undertake, as will the way for me to hold my tools, the position I stand, there will be an ideal for me, and that may not work for others. On that day it will be named Johns grind.

I am a firm believer in cheap tools to start (but I emphasize not dangerously cheap), as possibly 90% of the ability to create an item of interest comes from skill, born from practice, and more practice. When I reach that level, I will employ better tools to improve my ability. In the mean time the extra practice in sharpening will, stand me in good stead for when those expensive tools add themselves to my armoury, so if I make a mistake now it will cost me little. My tru-grind will be thoroughly put through its paces keeping up, but when those expensive tools present themselves for their turn at the wheel, they will be ground to Johns grind.

I can listen to other explain how to hold this tool, grind that tool, I can watch a million videos or more, but I can really only learn the theory that way, and its hands on and practice let the wood talk, it will tell me which tool, and what grind, it and guide me to my destination. The day will come when my skill and confidence is enough to try and turn that 16inch x 6inch bowl outboard on my tiny little lathe, where the slowest I can go is 400RPM, but on that day the tools will be sharper than sharp, and the cuts less than the thickness of a hair.

Or maybe before that day a bigger more friendly lathe will be left by Santa as he tours the globe, one cold winter night :)

I should be enough to say to yourself "the wood told me what it wanted to become and I followed it's wishes.

Hey Bob T. If you ever understand any of this please 'splain it to the rest of us.

Hi Bob D. I did listen, but I think the wood lied about what it wanted to become.

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Perhaps 'Artiste' more accurately reflects your approach? :o)

Though your post appears to be just a wee bit tongue firmly in cheek, it does touch on a subject for discussion - the fallacious art vs craft constructed wall.

Following the example set by the marketing campaign furniture makers took - going from furniture makers to Studio Furniture ARTISTS - and for some - very profitably - the AAW (American Association of Wood- turners) has trended towards ART Turnings and Studio Turners. It's not about Art OR Craft - it's about MONEY.

THAT brings in The Critiques - not peer turners - but people who make a living "critiqueing" things done by others - and probably couldn't actually do them- selves. What those folks need is a constant supply of New And Different and their goal is to "discover" the Next Andy Warhol of the Turned Art World. "Unusual", "Ground Breaking", "Seminal", "Thought Provoking", "Disturbing", "Shocking" and "Evocative" are the types of things they want to write about

- and make a name for themselves - the primary goal.

So if you want to become a rich and famous celebrity turner Artist you must put your fate in The Critiques hands. That's the Faustian Bargain.

But if you want to turn things that please you and maybe some folks you know and whose opinion you value - turn a lot and turn all sorts of things. If you find something that has promise - do more and keep making each one better than the last, or at least correcting things that bugged you on the last piece. If you pay attention your technique for that particular type of piece will get progressively better and the form will get better and better.

The alternative, if generating revenue to support The Habit is what you're after - turn bottle stoppers, pens, rolling pins, nut and fruit bowls, maybe some spoons or magic wands.

And remember, you're probably your own worst critic - which isn't a bad thing if it keeps you wanting to improve your turning.

babble mode OFF

charlie b

It started out tongue in cheek, but it seems to have taken another turn.

I absolutely, 100%, could not agree with you more. Just about all aspects of woodturning have turned into a marketing machine. Who in the world would have thought people would be buying $3000 lathes so frequently that there is a shortage of "The Mustard Monster" from time to time? Why do some a Sorby gouges cost over $100?

Why do so many take this as a religion now? It used to be just a bunch o guys turning wood and having fun. Now so many take themselves SO SERIOUSLY that they start that prattle and blather about "giving credit to the original artists" and all that other nonsense. Those threads debating the origin of design, the proper homage being paid, and the finer points of artistry are so self serving, so sanctimonious it can make one sick.

Well, it does me, anyway.

Woodturners used to be an exception to the rule about snobbery within the ranks. No longer. Some of the older fellows remain great guys. Some of the younger ones are as full of crap as goose.

At the end of the day... look at what you have done. You have made a round object to probably please yourself, and hopefully others as well. That's it. No diseases cured, no great altruistic venture launched.

I enjoy doing that to feed the tool monster, but it also makes some people happy. For them, my efforts are gifts. For my family and friends, I am glad they are happy to get my projects as gifts. For others that purchase my little goodies, it pleases the entrepreneur in me to sell something. Kinda of an off handed pat on the back, especially when they come back or refer others.

I have had an opportunity to talk to a few of the nationally recognized turners, and I have posted this before. To a person, they all told me that they couldn't make it if they didn't teach, get a sponsor, and do demos at clubs, and write articles. Most don't (I am aware that some do) actually sell enough of their "art" to pay their bills.

Personally, even with all the guests that we have had at our club and the demos I have attended through other venues, I haven't found an exception to the rule.

Once again, I agree. I think that most take up woodturning later in life as a hobby, and they get discouraged because they don't turn the finest of turnings after a lot of effort. For them it should be a hobby if they want, not a friggin' popularity contest to see who who is turning in the newest style proposed by the lathe and tool makers.

me too...

Robert

Hey Lobby, Even more accurately ......

Artless!

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

These interesting posts remind me of the book out perhaps 20 years ago called 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron. It was about expressing something from out of the bowels of one's mind and sometimes what came out was art.

As I look up over this computer screen I see a work of art. It is a birch vase with a natural edge. It is full of paper clips, roofing nails and a safety pin. It was one of the few turned works of art this artist has ever done and it express nothing as far as he can tell about what was going on inside of the artists' brain at creation time. The natural colors stained in the wood itself (not from the grain) are interesting but have nothing to do with the artist expressing hidden truths for humanity. Art (assuming it exists) is in the eye of the beholder and PT Barnum may not have really said one was born every minute but anyone who sells their works for a little money should be thankful Barnum was right:)

Ever see "The Horse's Mouth"?

Hmm... you're reading and listening in the wrong places again, Arch.. ;-]

Folks with good dexterity can be taught the moves, positions, etc... but not the creative ability.. They call those folks "machinists".. they can take your turned piece and make thousands of exact copies, IF they have the original to copy..

Some folks have the gift of song, some can draw or paint, some have an "eye" for photography, IMHO.. You can learn to do anything better, if the talent to do it at all is there.. But the intuitive gift of "seeing" what a turned object will look like when you put a piece of wood on the lathe, or how a scene will look after you take a develop the picture can't be taught, IMO..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

snip

THAT is the irony of this marketing trend. While it plays up the "art" and "artists", the folks making the money are the ones who make and sell the lathes, chucks, turning tools and finishes and the folks who sell "artists" works, write about them and so on. What trickles down to the "artist" is all to often not enough to stay alive on - without supplimenting that income with turning demos, books, videos and - at the high end - Signature Gouges and Signature Chisels. And it's a pity that the people who drive this "industry" are at the bottom of this trickle down system.

As for some of what is being called "art" - that charred chunk of wood with the bandsaw facets and the only turning on it being a concavity - painted red - that was on the cover of one of the AAW quarterly magazines for example. Well if that's an example of turning "art" - I sure don't want to head in that direction. No fun, no challenge - I'll pass.

charlie b

Hey Brother Lobby,

Thanks for the post and reminder about Gulley. I didn't see the picture show, but I remember reading about his railings and exploits about art. Maybe rcw ought to nominate an annual Gulley Jimson Honoree or maybe start up 'The GJ Society' as a special division of COC.

'The Baja Kid', The scalded EMT from frozen Mich. and that guy who wastes his time shooting nails and cooking BBQ would be good candidates. Certainly not tramps like you and me or that Mapson guy who brags about there being no 'e' in whisky. :) BTW, we sure enjoy your posts to rcw, keep em coming.

Fraternally, Dunny