A Question for ALL carvers

[Spiritwolfe]

Like Dileon, I believe highly creative people use their brains differently.


Here's an interesting take on it.
Check it out.

https://qz.com/584850/creative-peopl...k-differently/

[Spiritwolfe]

New research is indicating that we do in fact use 100% of our brain in any given day, but I don't believe it.
I've been through too many experiences in my life that proves otherwise. For example death. I've died at least ten times and it isn't at all what most people think.
It's in a different dimension, proving that our minds ( consciousness) work independently from our physical brains. They are completely separate yet we have been taught all our lives that they are one and the same.
I've had far too many unexplainable experiences for me to believe we are actually using 100% of our brains on a daily bases.

As a human race, I don't think we have been around long enough to fully understand the differences between our brain and our mind. Some people still believe them to be synonymous.



https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...-their-brains/

https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/tenper.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_...the_brain_myth

http://www.healthline.com/health/how...-use#overview1

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/2012...-of-our-brains

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-m...ains-do-we-use

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.thea...rticle/374520/

https://hub.jhu.edu/2014/07/24/busting-a-brain-myth/

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.wire...60-seconds/amp

What about our brains while we sleep?

http://m.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/brain-sleep-_n_5863736

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/amp.theg...raymond-tallis

https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...during-sleep1/

http://themindunleashed.com/2014/03/...mind-work.html

What about our minds (consciousness)after death

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cons...ss_after_death

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.expr...tinue-SOUL/amp

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/amp.news...7233cbd2ef4422

There's so much 'more' we don't know.

[Claude]

Matter matters.

Not to be controversial, but all Matter is actually energy: http://www.askamathematician.com/201...densed-energy/

This has been a very interesting discussion. I don't have a lot of patience, especially with self-imposted ignorance by many people. When it comes to wood carving, I like the solitude I normally experience: no music, no talk, etc. On the other hand, I really enjoy the interaction with other carvers at our local carving club. I've tried several forms of wood carving, but have settled on caricature carving and stylized figure carving. For me, chip carving is extremely tedious and not my thing. I do appreciate all the effort it takes and the beauty of a finished piece, just not something I want to do. I've done several relief carvings, but I prefer the 3 dimensional aspect of carving in the round, especially when all I have to go on is a photo of a single view and I have to figure out how the other side should look - I enjoy the challenge.

Is my work art, craft, or whittling? Yes! (depends on what I'm doing... )

Another controversial opinion: I believe there are very few works of art that have an original subject. You can carve a realistic bloodhound, and I can carve a realistic bloodhound, and the two will look very different - I would consider both to be original art, and not copies of something. We might both research Google Images for a "pattern", or one of us might have a live model. Still doesn't make them copies, to me. The definition of "original art" is slippery, and a very much individual thing... What about two carvings made from the same rough out? The original carver who created the roughouts from his/her carving, created something original. You and I carve the rough out and we would both be creating something original as well, which may or may not resemble the original carver's work. This is one of things I especially like about Steve Brown's Renegade Woodcarving Rendezvous: The instructors have roughouts and a "go-by" that they created. We students, on the other hand, may see a different subject in the rough out, and they are happy to let us carve what we see. Example: Mitch Cartledge had a cowboy carving and the rough out for it; I made an Uncle Sam from the rough out. I consider it original art; others may not, and that's ok.

So what is art? I'll misquote someone and say "I'll know it when I see it!"


Claude

[Spiritwolfe]

And I apologize if I've taken this way off topic.
I have a tendency to do that when digging too deep. lol.

[Nomad]

Not to be controversial, but all Matter is actually energy: http://www.askamathematician.com/201...densed-energy/

Energy matters!

[Spiritwolfe]

Energy matters!

Energy DOES matter. Lol
Everything is energy vibrating at a different frequency including us. Every cell is frequenting at a specific frequency and has a specific purpose .
I, personally, find it fascinating.



I like Claude's misquote.
"I'll know it when I see it."
Even this saying shows that art is subjective to the viewer and is as individual as we are.

[Brian T]

You matter.
When you multiply yourself times the speed of light, squared,
then you energy.

[DiLeon]

New science, old science......I ponder the fact we do not know much about anything.....in history what we think is right will be proven wrong. Studies of the brain are new ....too much unknowns. I agree with Claude....I believe there are very few works of art that have an original subject matter.,,,, True, that we take known images and take them apart and make something new......like the old movies. They are creating robots, flying machines from the visual image that are not real. Today those machines are being created and are real. They have this book called How to Steal like an Artist......very interesting subject matter.. Is there are original works....I doubt it.....but we have these laws the say you can not steal another person works, which in the whole of things that is just how new things are created. Human beings can be very righteous and yet know nothing in depth the real truth and science of anything.

Question is? Can we make the impossible ...possible....then what do you call it. Is it art, is it science, is it called engineering, and etc??? We can take this into full circle....hobby, craft, art.....labels and names to understand what we do not. LOL

As we are energy, and matter like Brian reply......

Nikki you have created a question that is extremely deep....and can go anywhere.....what it has done,.... is educated and made us think deeply about it all. Nothing to be sorry for...... I love interesting conversations that make me think.

[squbrigg]

I've wondering for a while now what sets wood carvers apart from other types of people. Is it just in my imagination or are woodcarvers, in general, just kinder folks AND , if this is indeed fact, why is this?
After watching a video Honketyhank the Mandolin Maker made , it occurred to me that the really good carvers have incredible patience. Besides incredible patience , they seem more grounded and stable.

As a carver, do you think you had patience before carving , which is why you carve well OR did you learn patience along the way?
Or is this a question like which came first the chicken or the egg?

The reason why I ask is because I generally don't tend to have a lot of patience but carving slows my mind down enough that I do and in doing so teaches me patience. In teaching me patience it's helping me stay stable and grounded?

Does that make sense?

Wow, this is a great thread and discussion. Your question is one that I am asked a lot, the part about patience. I believe that wood carvers are a breed apart from ordinary folks. They are the ones that actually take the time to sit down and try! They experiment at first, to see what they can accomplish, and learn patience as they go. They start out with more determination and persistence than patience, but they pick up the patience part as they progress.

Serious carvers take their skills a step further, with each piece they carve. Each new piece is usually a bit more challenging and the serious carver sees the advance in skills as a challenge to do their work just a little bit better each time. Some will take their skills as far as they can stretch them, learning as they go, trying new things, new woods, new tools and new methods. It is very easy to get hooked on detail! Trying to achieve more and more detail is one of the challenges a carver faces. The better you get, the better you try to become. Praise will act as an encouragement to most carvers, but I think, each carver is their own worst/best critic.

As for carvers being nicer and more grounded, well I must say, I have never met a carver who wasn't willing to chat with someone who wants to know more about what the carver is doing. By showing interest, they are also encouraging the carver and reinforcing the concept that success breeds success. I carve a lot in public, where ever I have to wait, I bring my kit to get some carving done. For three reasons: 1) because I hate waiting and wasting time, and 2) I enjoy it when folks drop by and ask what I'm doing, and 3) I love carving, no matter where I am.

The other aspect is the level of carving skills. Some folks have limited skills and therefore limit their carvings, while others seem to have a higher skill set and can take their carvings to a whole different scale. I have watched one carver carve one scene over and over and never improve, while another improves with every effort they take, each effort an improvement over the last. All carvers are not born equal.

As to being called an "artist", I still don't know what defines an artist. I have been labelled that many times, and I am very uncomfortable with it. I consider myself a skilled craftsman, but not necessarily an artist. A good topic for discussion in itself.

Bob

[Arthur C.]

Not to be controversial, but all Matter is actually energy: http://www.askamathematician.com/201...densed-energy/

SNIP
Claude

Not to be argumentative, and I am far from being a physicist or mathematician, but it seems more correct to say matter is potential energy, and vice versa. Matter is not energy, but needs conversion to be energy, in my understanding, and I stand to be corrected by those more knowledgeable than I.

Ergo, my increasing belly is a result of ingesting too many calories (energy) that my body converts into matter (fat), so a growing waistline is not my fault, I blame it on that danged science!

[Paul_Guraedy]

What an interesting topic! Energy, brains, painting, woodcarving, patience! I have been called many things during my life. But, I will stick to those involving woodcarving ~ whittler, woodcarver, sculpture, artist. I call myself a woodcarver ~ because that accurately describes my avocation.

During my work years, I was result oriented. I had neither the time, budget nor personnel to solve the many problems facing a national park. Patience was something that I could not afford. Perhaps that is what led me to woodcarving?

Diana used to tell friends, "Paul becomes a different person when he puts on that Ranger uniform." She now says that I still have two persona and become a different person when I have a carving in my hands.

I started woodcarving in 1980 with no confidence in my ability. All I wanted was to carve simple waterfowl decoys. In 1995 I retired and signed up for a woodcarving class. To my surprise I found that I could turn out a pretty decent detailed bird. I became a woodcarver.

Woodcarving, for me, is akin to meditation. Detailing an animal requires concentration ~ the world disappears. I do marvel at the fact that, for such a solitary activity ~ woodcarvers are generally so socially congenial. I think it is also interesting how willing they are to share their knowledge and ability with others. No secret ingredient here!

Years ago I accepted a commission and thought I might like to carve more of the same figure. I reserved the right to carve an additional 5 replicas. The purchaser had no problem as long as, "I get the first of the series." I thought about this and have gone in the opposite direction. Now, if I replicate, use a new technique, or carve a critter for the first time ~ I give away/sell the first. My premise is that this one is the worse carving I will ever do. Now, I keep the latest ~ that is the best that I will ever do.

I, like all humans, want to see my work appreciated by other woodcarvers and even more ~ by non-carvers. When asked why did you make the eyes of that eagle that way? Do you know they are out of proportion? My answer is simply, "Because I wanted them that way." I do not carve for competition and am not confined by rules or requirements. I have come to the realization that I carve for Paul.

[Arthur C.]

SNIP
I, like all humans, want to see my work appreciated by other woodcarvers and even more ~ by non-carvers. When asked why did you make the eyes of that eagle that way? Do you know they are out of proportion? My answer is simply, "Because I wanted them that way." I do not carve for competition and am not confined by rules or requirements. I have come to the realization that I carve for Paul.

AMEN, Brother!

[DocCarves]

New research is indicating that we do in fact use 100% of our brain in any given day, but I don't believe it.
I've been through too many experiences in my life that proves otherwise. For example death. I've died at least ten times and it isn't at all what most people think.
It's in a different dimension, proving that our minds ( consciousness) work independently from our physical brains. They are completely separate yet we have been taught all our lives that they are one and the same.
I've had far too many unexplainable experiences for me to believe we are actually using 100% of our brains on a daily bases.

As a human race, I don't think we have been around long enough to fully understand the differences between our brain and our mind. Some people still believe them to be synonymous.



https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...-their-brains/

https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/tenper.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_...the_brain_myth

http://www.healthline.com/health/how...-use#overview1

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/2012...-of-our-brains

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-m...ains-do-we-use

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.thea...rticle/374520/

https://hub.jhu.edu/2014/07/24/busting-a-brain-myth/

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.wire...60-seconds/amp

What about our brains while we sleep?

http://m.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/brain-sleep-_n_5863736

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/amp.theg...raymond-tallis

https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...during-sleep1/

http://themindunleashed.com/2014/03/...mind-work.html

What about our minds (consciousness)after death

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cons...ss_after_death

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.expr...tinue-SOUL/amp

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/amp.news...7233cbd2ef4422

There's so much 'more' we don't know.

All of these points prove nothing. When you talk about using your brain - you must understand that brain is not only for "thinking" or "cognition" or doing something "brainy" and that's far from the truth. The brain is the epicentre of everything that goes in your body. Every process is guided by neurotransmission. You use only a part of your braing for cognition aka thinking. Saying that you use only 10% of your brain is illogical.

You want proof??

Read this - http://what it actually means when y...0% our brains"

[gouge]

I think you are on the right track to gain patience. I used to have NO patience at all. In 1980, I began making violins and this NO DOUBT taught me patience. It is a lot different from woodcarving. Measurements are much more precise, etc., so at times it may be stressful. I began woodcarving in 1993 and found another LOVE for sure. Woodcarving helps me lose all track of time. Ultimate relaxation. I also think this diffuses into other parts of our lives and helps patience overall. I try to carve everyday, even if it is just a few minutes. It is awesome.
Also, I feel that God gives everyone a gift and it is up to us to find it. Many of you reading this may have gotten into carving because of something going on in your life, etc. and you may have never gotten into carving other wise. Violins and woodcarving has no doubt changed my life for the better. The sad thing to me is, when someone has ability and does not apply it or try to develop it, that is very sad. I carver friend of mine once told me....We don't carve because we WANT to, we carve because we HAVE to!! I NEVER forgot that statement. How powerful.
I sure hope this helped some. The bottom line for me is that I carve because I enjoy it. If someone likes my carvings, that is fine and if they do not, that is fine as well. I carve because I love it and I do try to use it to glorify God in any way that I can, because HE gives us our gifts to enjoy.

[Spiritwolfe]

All of these points prove nothing. When you talk about using your brain - you must understand that brain is not only for "thinking" or "cognition" or doing something "brainy" and that's far from the truth. The brain is the epicentre of everything that goes in your body. Every process is guided by neurotransmission. You use only a part of your braing for cognition aka thinking. Saying that you use only 10% of your brain is illogical.

You want proof??

Read this - http://what it actually means when y...0% our brains"

And your point proves what?