What the heck is a studio turner?

Re: What the heck is a studio turner?

Andy in Raleigh

>I often wonder the same things. I enjoy turning; it is somehow theraputic to peel a shaving off a spinning stick. Some people prize things I give them and tell me I have talent, but compared to what I see here, I am not very good (yet :). But I will throw something out that may ruffle a few feathers - one of the primary things that makes much of the work art is lack of practicality. If all you can do is look at it (maybe feel it or smell it also) but it has no actual use, then it is art.

In a related vein, I also enjoy scrollwork and intarsia. I consider that craft, though if I design the pattern does that make it art?

Re: What the heck is a studio turner?

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>You're right Mike, this is a subject that's been kicked around a lot. I sell my work through galleries and the gallery people refer to me as an artist. That doesn't mean that I am an artist, or that I think of myself as one. I know a lot of very accomplished turners, but only a very few that I would call an artist.

I do my turning in a small woodturners shop that I could refer to as studio, but I don't.

Wally

Re: What the heck is a studio turner?

Fred in NC

>Don't take me too seriously . . .

One who wears a well worn smock and a beret, and uses hard to understand concept language . . .

Re: What the heck is a studio turner?

Jerry Whitaker

>If you make your living at woodturning and publicly display and/or sell from your location, I think that would definitely put you in the "Studio" class, especially if you have family help or employee(s). Otherwise you just have to decide within your innards what you want to call your workplace - a shop or studio. I am sure that some wealthy collectors would rather buy from a studio rather than a wood shop. Artist VS craftsman has to be a combination of an individual assessment of yourself from your own perspective and what others perceive you to be. Hopefully the two opinions will come together and help you feel better about what you really are. I work in a shop and try to be as artistic as my talents will allow, strive to make my passion pay for itself and "pray" for a little extra cash to spend on my much better half. Anything more than that just causes too much stress.

Hey Wally.....

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

>I have seen your stuff and I'm a proud owner of one of your pieces. Trust me, what you do is ART!!

Tommy

Re: What the heck is a studio turner?

Mark Kauder

>Hey Mike - Two definitions to consider:

Back in the Badger Pond Days, we were fond of saying that your working area is a one car garage, you have a shop - if it is a 2 car garage, it is a studio!

Binh Pho is fond of saying that if you turn a bowl in your garage, you can sell it for $5, If you say you turned in your shop, you can sell it for $30, but if you turned it in your studio, you can sell it for Hundreds of dollars.

Mark

Pretty simple

Bob Hackett

>A woodturner works in a shop.

A "Studio turner" works in a studio.

Glad I could finally clear that up for everyone.Anything else you need to know?;^)

Mainely,Bob

Who cares??

Russ Fairfield

>The skill, quality, design, and innovation shown by a piece is more important than where it was made or what is called. Giving it a fancy name does not make it so.

I have never taken these names seriously. As long as folks are willing to pay $300 or more for one of my bowls, they can call it, or me, anything they want.

PS

Bob Hackett

>I`m pretty sure a "studio" has more and bigger windows than a shop.I know it has more lights and the walls are painted.

Mainely,Bob-heading off the next question.:)

Re: What the heck is a studio turner? *LINK*

Paul Porter in Phoenix, AZ

>Studio woodturner: Someone who makes one-off pieces to sell in art galleries?

When I talk to galleries about my work, I call myself a studio woodturner. They seem to be more receptive to that than just "woodturner." But my shop is anything but a studio. It's more like a covered porch. Where I live makes it possible to work outside most of the time.

My two cents. -- Paul


My Website

I'm a Garage Turner!

steve antonucci

>After a year of being a basement turner, I am now good enough to consider myself a garage turner. Someday, I hope to be good enough to be a woodturner...

Steve

My business cards have no title on them. Call me whatever you want, as long as you call...

Re: Hey Wally.....

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>Thanks Tommy....it's nice to know that I have a fan somewhere.

Wally

Re: What the heck is a studio turner?

John Lucas

>Mike

We just had a Studio tour of all the artists in our area. One of my friends said she couldn't make it that weekend. I told her that my Studio turns back into a basement on monday.

Re: What the heck is a studio turner?

Bert Smith

>Bowl turning = studio

Table legs = woodshop

Fixing a pull rope on the lawnmower = basement!

Bert

Re: Hey Wally.....

Dick Hines

>You have 2 fans wally. I won one in the wood central auction last summer. Show it off all the time. Wish I could claim it as one of mine.

Saves me...

BubbaBob

>...I don't have a beret and have no clue what "concept language" is.

If I'm shooting the breeze with friends, I'm a craftsman...when I'm talking to a customer, I'm an artist...brings 50% more bucks for the same piece. Go figger.

BubbaBob

Concept language

Fred in NC

>Some of my own definitions:

A long explanation that explains nothing.

A long talk that is very hard to understand, but nobody wants to admit that they don't understand because they don't want to look like idiots.

Name dropping session with no concept of what is a concept.

Animal droppings of the bovine species.

Location of inspiration

Bob Hackett

>I know someone who claims he is a "gallery turner" but I`ve never seen him actually use a lathe in a gallery.

I told him that since he had come by to see me demo in the Maine State Museum(my 15 seconds of fame) by his definition my work must be "museum quality".

He allows as how it`s the "Location of inspiration" that determines things.

Sounds like "conceptual conversation" of the bovine type to me.

Mainely,Bob-Who knows BS when he hears it (and spreads it).

Re: What the heck is a studio turner?

Carole in VA

>LOL We had a Studio Tour this weekend as well. I went in a friend's wood shop (furniture and cabinetry) and almost backed out the door to check the building to be sure I was in the right place! I was stunned! First time I've ever seen that shop floor. Not to mention the oriental carpet with furniture pieces displayed, flower arrangemnts etc. Today it probably looks lke the shop I used to know! Oh and by the way, the turners on the tour referred to their shops as studios.:-)

Perspiration is more practical!

Fred in NC

>

Well Okay

MikeinCapeMay

>I'm still a woodturner

but now (on occasion) I do it in a studio!

Studio for snob appeal??

Leo Van Der Loo

>

Dang!!! I was safe...

BubbaBob

>...till ya got to the bovine excretion definition. I've been accused occasionally (wrongly, of course) of being full of it and of being a BS Artist...

BubbaBob

jes a dumb bubba in my bibs,

in the mountains of N GA

Well join the SST ..... . .

Fred in NC

>Society of Studio Turners.

LOL, Bubba ...