Creativity

Re: Creativity

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Great topic! Well, you kind of know what happens to me, as we discuss my ideas over email all of the time. I enlist the help of other people to hone my ideas before trying to put them into a piece of wood. Recently I've called on a whole bunch of you "artist" type turners to help me refine an idea for the AAW thing. As you guys/gals talk me through something, I get even more ideas.

But my base ideas come from all sorts of places. For instance, today I posted about a video game that gave me an idea for one of my next pieces. I have another, really long term project that simply developed out of thin air while attending a performance of Carmen by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. My brain goes WAY out in right field while attending a symphony, which is something my bride and I do quite often.

I have a folder on my computer called "inspiration". I save photos of works that strike a chord within me, and often refer to them when trying to think of something new.

For a good while my brain simply saw round things, bowls, platters, vases, but then it took an abrubt right turn about 6 months ago. It is still turning. (no pun intended)

I hope many other folks chime in here, neat topic, but a scary one to open up to, too.

Re: Creativity

john Lucas

>Keith

I go through spells. I think constantly looking at things with the idea of "can I use this" helps. I carry a sketch book. I find there are times when I see faces or animals in unusual places such as the texture of paint on the wall or in the grain of wood on a cabinet or even the clouds. When I start seeing these things I actively try to think of new ideas because I've learned that am very receptive to new and creative things during these periods.

I often think of things while I'm laying in bed trying to get to sleep or early in the morning when it's quiet. I have found that these creative times come more often now that I'm actively persueing it.

Too many of my pieces are technique driven. I learn a new skill or I think of a process I want to try and design a piece around it. Unfortunately I don't have the time to make a series of any of these ideas. Someday maybe I will. John

Re: Creativity

Dick Hines

>I useily have some idea what I want when I start but I let the wood and tools take me where they want to go. Some times I will change directions right in the middle if a piece because I seem to be froseing the wood to go where it does not want to go.

Tonigh is a good example. I started working on a walnut HF. It had a few small check running across the top. I thought I could turn them out . They were deeper than I thought so I got out my Dremal tool and am headed off on something I hope will work out.

If It comes out they way I think it will I will give a name. Something I don't useily do. If it comes pout I will post it.

Musings

Fred in NC

>Culturation is the process imposed by society that by adulthood has made most people into conformists. Blessed is he that can still think like a child but retains moral principles and behaviors to properly function in our world.

Two distinct types of innovators come to mind:

One, those who have mastered a craft and advance to becoming artists. A true artist is a creator. Can a reasonable facsimile of an existing work be called art? That is why true artists continue to create new series of works, because they don't want to continue to copy their own work. The acquired skills free the artist from concerns about technique, because they have become second nature.

Two, the person who has not learned the craft. A person with a lot of imagination who also lacks the skills. He does not know his own limitations. Often, he does not even understand the concept of impossible. He has to innovate just to work on a piece. Many times the lack of skill shows in some areas. Sometimes the results are amazing!

Both groups have one thing in common: they let their imaginations go wild, and don't worry about others' opinions.

Re: Musings

john Lucas

>Fred

When I first started working in wood I would build what I wanted. I didn't know how but I would design a piece and then figure out how to build it.

Then I went through a spell where I wouldn't build it because I thought I didn't have the skill or didn't think I could do it well enough. I'm trying to recapture the imagination and thrill of thinking outside the box and designing pieces without the worry of how I will build it. I think this is why children have such imagination. They don't know they can't do something so they do it anyway.

OK, now ....

Fred in NC

>Let's turn a hollow form with no hole . . .

Re: Creativity

Keith Tompkins

>Interesting take on the subject..I go to the lathe with a definite plan in mind, I almost never let the "wood talk to me". If the piece of wood doesn't appear to fit the idea I am striving for, I'll save that piece for another time, and find a more appropriate piece.

In my mind, the project is established well before I approach the lathe, once the piece is spinning, I can then focus on turning that object. Some find it easier to be creative right on the lathe, I personally don't like that approach...I know what I want to accomplish.

Often, I will spot a particular piece of wood, and the idea hits me.....THAT piece will work for something I had in mind.

Design changes? If for some reason the piece does't match my expectations, I won't try to make a design change. I would rather start over.

Re: Creativity

Keith Tompkins

>I know what you mean John. Often turners ask me why none of my pieces are pierced? The reason? I don't feel any need to pierce them.....if I had a design that would benefit from that process, then I would do it.

I see a lot of segmented, burnt, sandblasted, painted or otherwise augmented pieces, and the only reason I can see why is....because they went to a seminar and learned the technique. I wish as much effort were applied to the form.

On the other hand, I have seen simple forms that seemed to stop me in my tracks.

John, I thought of you when I started this thread, as you are certainly a creative turner.

Re: Creativity

Duane C.Leach

>I think the things you are talking about Kieth comes with the territory.

Laying in bed last night trying to go to sleep. I start thinking about a turning problem i am having. By the time I am almost asleep my mind is in the shop turning at my lathe and then the piece blows up. Slinters fly every where. And I set straight up in bed. That happens frequently.

We have some tulips that come up every spring outside our front door. I tryed for years to figure out how to get a chunck of wood to come off the lathe looking like a tulip blossom. After I got it done I didn't like it but it had led me into something else that turned out great.

While driving home from doc. office Monday I was day dreaming. An idea began to come into my mind and the ideas of how to make it happen came floating in to. Like slow motion.

O ther times I try to think of something and it's like the phone is ringing but nobodys home.

Sometimes it's realy great living in my own little world and no one can come in. But other times it is weird.

Happy turning

Duane

Re: Creativity

David Galloway

>Keith, Thanks for this thread. Really some good stuff.

I am not sure you can lump folks into two camps. I have known people who were amazing tech folks, knew how to do it right, but had no design abilities. I also have know, folks who had minimal tech skill but had big ideas and fumbled their way into the endzone.

My process is never the same. I keep a sketch book, particularly when I am walking on the AT or around the Chattahoochee and nature whispers forms, some I am able to hear, others to which I am deaf. I sketch, I always have a moment of community when I share with some good friends, and then I hit the lathe, sometimes with drawn plans, sometimes not. I think the creative spirit then enters and it is a dance between my creative mind and my limited skills. As I learn more and more, becoming less self conscious about the end product, my willingness to risk amplifies my ability and I create. And I could care less what people think about what I do.

This is distinct from the work I do to produce certain utiliarian objects that I love. But there, I know pretty much exactly the dimensions, and the work is rather repetitive.

I enjoy both and try to keep a balance between the two.

God, I love to turn. What a gift to me.

David Galloway

Re: Creativity

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Duane! Hmmm, I haven't had the exploding turning dream yet....I hope I don't!

I had the same problem with my rose pieces.....I wanted to turn the blossom, not carve it. My spiral pieces were the inspiration I needed to complete one of my roses. It's funny how one idea leads to another.

Re: Creativity

Keith Tompkins

>David, you paint images with words! You must put a lot of feeling into your pieces!

Re: Creativity

Bill Neddow

>I find early morning is my most creative time. Now that I don't have to get up to go to an office, I can slowly wake up and in that 15-20 minute period, I get most of my good ideas. Next best time is when I have been into too much sugar and can't get to sleep.

Sometimes the wood will give me an idea. I had a piece of Walnut in the shop for about a year. Three inches thick, two feet high and about 15 inches wide. It was an awkward size to get something out of -- then one early morning it morphed into a sculpture. It was the perfect size. Some times I will go looking for a block of wood, if I have a specific idea in mind. But other times, the wood will dictate. I was trying to rough a Box Elder piece the other night when I ran into a knot. I thought that I could get rid of it by taking a little more off the side near the rim. The knot kept going. Next thing I knew, I had a very tall vessel with an upside down skirt for a rim. It was a lovely form I had stumbled on -- slightly reminiscent of Al Stirt and of woven baskets I had seen in Africa. The top was ragged, as the chain sawing of the block had been difficult. I covered the bottom with small beads like Wally Dickerman sometimes uses. The rim stayed as it was, looking like a torn piece of fabric. Don't ask me where this came from. There were obviously a lot of influences in it, but it came together in half an hour. Other times I struggle for weeks to get a concept or a form to work.

Re: Creativity

Steve Mushinski

>Seem for me that bed time is the creative time. Which isn't good to get any sleep. I find at times I will lay in bed not get something out of my mind and then just get up and head out to the shop. A turning sketch book is something I am going to get into doing. I have things drawn on all kinds of scrap paper and I need to glue them into a binder or something.

Good Post Keith

Re: Creativity

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Mike, It's exciting to think where you may take your turning career!

Imagine this scenerio.....You receive a letter, inviting to to participate in an exhibition of the best turners in the world......what would you make for such an exhibit?

I'll bet you would love that challenge..

Re: OK, now , isn't that a box ???

Leo Van Der Loo

>

Re: Creativity

Jimbo13

>Keith,

My wife gave me a little artists sketch book about a year and a half ago because she was tired of me leaving loose sheets of paper all over the place. I date each page - interesting to see how an idea that I completely forgot I sketched comes out a little differently 8 months later.

Had an experience one time where I woke up in the middle of the night with an awesome idea. Spent a good 5 minutes sketching out the idea and writing down the technique. Woke up the next morning full of excitement in wanting to show the wife great idea. Flipped the book over to see a page full of illegible chicken scratches - what a major dissappointment!

Gidday,

Jim

Re: Creativity

Jimbo13

>Duane,

"While driving home from doc. office Monday I was day dreaming" - was that you weaving all over the road? ;-)

Gidday,

Jim

Re: OK, now , isn't that a box ???

Fred in NC

>No, a box must have an opening !!!

Re: Creativity

Ruth Niles

>Dave, your writing is very creative, too. I agree with your opinion and observation.

Re: Creativity

john Lucas

>Steve

When my boss finds me sleeping at my desk I try to explain that I am more creative just before or after a nap. Doesn't work. John

Re: Creativity

john Lucas

>Jim

I wish I could draw better. I will go somewhere and see something that I draw so I'll have that idea in my book. Two days later I'll look at the sketch and go "what the hell was that".

Re: Creativity

Mike Schwing from Md.

>My first thought is I'd make a pile of something the janitors used to throw sawdust on in elementary school.

Re: Creativity

Dick Hines

>Keith, the only way I take a piece off the lathe is it is finished or I screw it up. Like blowing up a bowl or cutting throughthe side of a HF. Some of the cooolest piece seem to be diesign changes. If I get a chance today I will post a piece that was a design change. Have one I am still putting finish on.