Clear Choices
Sometimes there isn’t one. Sometimes the choice is crystal clear. How can you know? Always do the right thing by being true to your core beliefs. That is the hard part. Let us say you are an experienced turner and someone who admires you offers up one of their pieces for critique. This piece needs some help, but straight out criticism could devastate this beginning turner and discourage them, the opposite of what we want.
First, take a brief minute to study the piece, then begin by complimenting some of the things they got right; they may have chosen a classic shape, they got the proportions pretty close, they used a beautiful piece of wood, etc.Then, ask permission to “Suggest” things they might do differently next time around.Shoot for fair curves without bumps, consider using the Golden Mean ratio (1:1.618) when setting the height to width ratios, use a raking light to uncover hidden scratches they may have missed this time around, random sanding with the piece stopped on the lathe, buff the finish more, etc.In my experience “Brutally Honest” comments are unnecessarily destructive when trying to guide someone involved in highly artistic endeavors. Turning is an extraordinarily creative and subjective activity with many more gray areas and not so much black and white. Be cautious when offering up your opinion if it is negative. We can learn from everyone regardless of whether we agree with them or not. Hold your tongue rather than criticizing another turner’s demonstration or techniques out loud. It is possible they either have discovered something you haven’t, or that you know something they don’t know just yet.Lesser experienced turners (this has very broad applications outside of turning) almost always are tender and fragile emotionally speaking. On the outside they may appear to be tough and can take it, or may appear moldable and accepting to your “corrections”, but understand that they can be easily discouraged, especially in anything artistic.
My best advice is to choose your words carefully with the intent to always encourage folks and bring out the best in them. Try to gently guide them in a better direction. I can’t tell you how rewarding it is when “The Student Becomes The Teacher.” This special joy is something I get to experience much more often these days as I get feedback from my customers around the world that have taken my lessons to a whole new level and send me photos to prove it! I love getting those photos and I rejoice in their accomplishments.
Here is my inspiration for this message:
Prov 15:4 – A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
I will be the guest speaker at 8PM Eastern tonight on the North Carolina Woodworker (http://www.ncwoodworker.net/). They are an online forum with about 7,000 members located primarily in North Carolina and surrounding states. They have asked me to discuss my business plan which is available as a free download PDF at www.ronbrownsbest.com.
I will be doing a demonstration at the Northwest Georgia Woodturners on Thursday, Oct. 22. Meeting time is 6:00–8:00 pm at Rome Floyd Recreation Dept., Etowah Park Senior Citizen Center, 1325 Kingston Hwy, Rome, GA. If you wish to attend, contact Charlie Self, 706–346–3100 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Tim Yoder, Star of the Popular Woodworking Magazine sponsored program “Woodturning With Tim Yoder” will be featuring one of my products on the next episode. Tim will use one of my Laser Cut Christmas Ornament Kits and will
turn an ornament for you including the finial, I think, I haven’t see the video yet. It should be released on YouTube.com on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015. If you don’t currently receive the email notifications and would like to, here is the link: