Tunnel Vision
The reason we as craftspeople attend craft fairs, art festivals, street artisan fairs and other weekend craft type events is that it helps us avoid tunnel vision regarding our own work. When Janice and I are able to visit one of these events, we go in with an open mind being intentionally non-judgmental.
Someone else’s approach is often different than ours, but we choose not to see it as better or worse than our own. Most ideas we see don’t fit our purposes, but once in a while we see something that sparks a new idea for something we would be willing to try. As creative as we are, we can’t think of everything.
While talking to a customer recently, he asked me an interesting question, “Are you really as good as the say?” My response was “Nobody is that good! I do what I can to help folks, that’s all.” We here at Ron Brown’s Best, LLC have been blessed to talk to a lot of folks from coast to coast and border to border because of our involvement in The Woodworking Shows and various wood turning symposiums. So we naturally have a very broad base of experience and have listened to thousands of questions over the years. And still we don’t come close to having all of the answers.
I can’t emphasize strongly enough the importance of the Show-and-Tell portion of every club meeting. This segment is not just so members can brag about what they’ve been able to accomplish, the most important function is to encourage others and to broaden their vision. I would also like to suggest that you view other mediums with an eye toward what you might be able to do in wood; ceramics, stained glass, blown glass and jewelry as examples. I have several photo books on Pottery and especially enjoy Raku. As I review them, I’m studying various shapes which might work on the lathe to produce a pleasing shape.
If you have decided on a particular type of wood-turning, pens, bowls, hollow forms, etc. focus in on how other people approach them. Search out subtle variations which might enhance your own work. Copying someone else’s work isn’t wrong as long as you don’t try to pass off your work as theirs or claim that this was your original idea when it wasn't. When I make something strongly influence by another turner’s style, I try to always let people know who inspired me. For example, Bonnie Kline inspired the textured and colored spinning tops, I make. Kirk DeHeer inspired the Acorn boxes and Richard Raffan inspired another line of lidded boxes along with my mentor, Chris Stott. Then there is my Good Friend Don Russell who gave me my first ever demonstrating opportunity at a wood turning symposium in Gainesville, Georgia. Coach Woodall took my CA finishing method and fine-tuned it to absolute perfection. My friend Morris Schlesinger introduced me to making Mason Jar Lids and the paper I published and the YouTube Video that followed has been the most downloaded title of all time at www.ronbrownsbest.com !
Eccl 1:9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. You might think something you create is new, most of it probably isn’t.
Just like cooking, start with the tried and true recipe (design/shape) then put your own spin on it. Once in a while you will improve it, more often you won’t. Try anyway then try again next week and the week after that. I have introduced many successful turning products to market in the last 15 years. What you probably don’t realize is that I have invented dramatically more products that failed. Some of them you saw but they are now discontinued. Most didn’t make it to public view before I abandoned them. Failure doesn’t stop me from trying then trying again. If I have to invent five products for one to be viable, I know in advance that four of my ideas will be throw-aways. It is sometimes hard to know which ones will be keepers so I never stop. Keep adding and subtracting features and elements from your work. Once in a while you will get a keeper too. Remember that wherever you to, there you are.
Here is my inspiration this message:
Prov 24:16 HCSB Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
Prov 8:12 KJV I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
Matthew 10:24 MSG "A student doesn't get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn't make more money than his boss.
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Introducing 4 Brand New Designs for 2019
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More Designs - Over 50 to Choose From:
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There are numerous offerings for different combinations of kits on the website. There are only two which will offer you the correct pricing.
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