Replies

1. 
   joinerswork | Oct 25, 2008 12:54am | #1

   Wine,

   “Anyone can learn woodworking, it’s not hard. The hard part is knowing what to make that reveals who you are.”

   Well, if you start making right now, and keep at it, by the time you are gone there may be enough of your work around for folks to form an opinion.  If that is what is important to you.

   Ray

2. 
   RalphBarker | Oct 25, 2008 01:08am | #2

   Quotes from interviews of famous people seldom stand up to the harsh light of reality. Most of what we produce is either totally utilitarian, utilitarian with a dash of art, or our interpretation of the customer's desire. Even when left to our own creativity, the results are not very revealing of our entire character.

1. 
   dgreen | Oct 25, 2008 01:34am | #3

   "I used to make planes as a kind of therapy. Between jobs, I couldn't be idle and sit around. I'd finish a piece and have time to catch my breath, so I'd make a couple of planes. Some I'd give away: I've never sold one, and I never will."

   James Krenov 

    

   ................................................

   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot

1. 
   mapleman | Oct 25, 2008 02:12am | #4

   Hmmmmmmm,

   That's funny.........

   View Image

    

    

   This bad boy fetched $1500 on Ebay.

   Funny thing is, a year later, the guy who bought it couldn't get $1100.

   I'll save my hero worship for better use.

   Lee

    

    

   
1. 
   dgreen | Oct 25, 2008 02:53am | #5

   Lee;

   I thought some of us who remembered that little brouhaha might get a kick out of that quote! 

    

   ................................................

   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot

1. 
   mapleman | Oct 25, 2008 06:20am | #6

   Now, how could I forget  ;-)

    heh heh heh

2. 
   Metod | Oct 25, 2008 05:29pm | #9

   "Never...until"
   If it is ok for Diderot, should be ok for Krenov.
   Quoting other people...Some lives seem not worth to be examined.
   ~Metod

2. 
   BrianDerr | Oct 25, 2008 06:37am | #7

   If your 'harsh reality' is product oriented, commercial work, then no, you probably would not be as good or as interest in expressing yourself as someone who has built a reputation on teaching the value of the creative process . . . it's just two different goals. No offense but, 'speak for yourself'. Brian

1. 
   RalphBarker | Oct 25, 2008 05:15pm | #8

   Brian, I'm not putting down the value of the creative process, but simply suggesting that the function of a piece of furniture (or, a handmade plane) tends to obscure the creativity. Even to the degree that the creativity is obvious, I question the degree to which that actually reflects the character of the artist, as opposed to his or her craftsmanship. Does one's choice of joinery, for example, reveal some aspect of character, and if so, what does it reveal? Are through dovetails more "revealing" than, let's say, full-blind mitered dovetails? And, how does one interpret what is being revealed?

1. 
   BrianDerr | Oct 30, 2008 05:38am | #10

   Yeah, I totally get what your saying. I think I've asked myself the same questions. I think one mistake we make is in seeing a piece or work too much in terms of the character of the artist, rather than just seeing it. Taste is one thing, but it's not 'who you are'. Good artists have good taste and sense, but are not necessarily good people! I don't know enough about Krenov to apply this to him, so it's just some rambling thoughts . . .Brian