inspiration

Re: inspiration

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Thanks for posting this topic John. Inspiration is a funny thing. Mine changes as my skills and goals change. At first I was chiefly inspired by others' work - that of Wally and Bill Neddow probably comprising my main sources. That was when I was interested in learning to turn nice forms and had no other real skills to apply to my work. I have had photos of many turners' work - yours included posted around my office and shop to inspire me.

I'm also inspired by nothing more than a challenge - for example - getting into the AAW special exhibit at KC this year was a challenge and my main '05 goal that inspired me to learn new techniques - airbrushing in particular.

Now that I have developed other skills such as carving, dyeing, airbrushing, etc.. my world of inspiration has opened up dramatically. A bag full of cranberries my wife brought home from the grocery store was my inspiration for the color on the platter that won the AAW contest last month.

A visit to the National Aquarium inspired me to learn how to make snakeskin texture, and I think I just about have it figured out.

I find that most of my inspiration comes from talking and thinking rather than taking in images from things around me, but surely not all. I use conversation and long solo bike rides to put details into things that are just concepts.

But most importantly to me, it is amazing how increasing one's skill set allows the imagination to grow, too. When I was limited to turning things round, thats all I saw anywhere, things I could make round. Color and carving free the mind, truly, to make whatever comes your way.

And to think at first I saw myself as a "purist".

Re: inspiration

John Lucas

>Mike

Your younger than me. Now when I take long bike rides I'm thinking about how to keep my legs from hurting and how to get my heart rate back under 200.

Boredom...er...I mean Board Room

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

>With my job I have to attend a bunch of long boring meetings. Some meetings I don't even have input...I'm just there to listen. Meetings can be brutally boring. Thankfully I have grid paper in my notebook. It doesn't take long for me to mentally depart from the meeting and into the daydreaming world of wood. I get my best ideas then! Of course I have to keep one ear open just in case somebody calls on me. ;-)

Tommy

Re: Boredom...er...I mean Board Room

David

>My best work-related ideas come when I'm in the shower in the morning. My best ideas for the shop come when there is no hope that I could possibly get into the shop to do anything about it, such as immediately before I pass out in the easy chair late at night. But I tuck those little ideas away, so when I do get some time in the shop, I can pick a piece of wood that matches an idea, and suddenly the chips start flying.

Lots of inspiration comes from this site. I never wanted to turn a pen until I saw that deer antler pen pictured on the site a day or two ago.

Re: Boredom...er...I mean Board Room

Jim D.

>"I never wanted to turn a pen until I saw that deer antler pen pictured on the site a day or two ago"

David, I will take that as a compliment, I think.

Much of my inseration comes when I am at work doing the ton of mindless tasks the state requires of me so we can kill trees I would rather be turning. Two other things are other peoples work and antique glass my wife and I collect. I love a challenge. I often look at something and think "gee they did it, why can't I". Lets see, if I do this then I can do.......

You get the idea.

Jim D.

Re: inspiration

Chris Wright

>At one point I was big into writing poetry (another area where people wondered if I was in therapy or not) and even had a few published, so words are my vice. I find myself becoming entranced by a single word and then images begin to flood my head of pieces that represent my meaning/feeling/emotion of that word.

The 45 minutes-1 hour commute to and from work is where I break the piece down to materials and techniques and I sketch it out over lunch or when I get home.

Re: Boredom...er...I mean Board Room

David

>Very much a compliment! I love the color, and it looks very inviting to the touch.

Re: inspiration

Ed in No.VA

>Mike interesting that you are working on snake skin. I am working on an Eastern Box Turtle pattern inspired bowl now and had planned to try snake skin next. Inspiration often hits in that period when I am not quite asleep. In the shower works good too. What doesn't work is when I am activly working on a piece. The concentration doesn't let the mind loose to wander about tasting other ideas. Turners that make me stretch are Mike Schwing, John Lucas, Andi Wolfe, and Art Leistman.

Re: inspiration

Keith Tompkins

>To me, life experiences are the best inspiration, both good and bad. My sister's passing had a tremendous impact on me, what I cannot express in words seems to be reflected my my work.

Like John, I keep a notebook, especially near my bed. If I get an idea, I write it down; You never know when a good idea will hit you. At dinner during a visit to Philadelphia, I said to my wife "Quick, give me a pen and paper!" I drew my holly piece "tango" which was the start of a whole series, and a major career boost.

As a kid, I hated school, especially math. Now, I enjoy geometry....I get tons of new ideas ( another post) when I draw geometric designs.

What do you love? There is tremendous inspiration right there, ready to be used in your work. I am a gardener, you can see that in my rose pieces and in some upcoming work.

I also like to study pieces I have done in the past, and then expand on the idea, to see how far I can push the envelope.....the words "can' t" or "won't" are not considered. I think it's important not to let those self-inflicted limitations get in the way of your creativity. Like Mike stated, if you consider yourself a "pure" turner, you have stopped your creative side DEAD in its tracks.