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Henry St.Pierre

wrote in news:1165658107.041661.58690@
16g2000cwy.googlegroups.com:

Joe Fleming wrote:
Arch, I miss the musings...........................

Me too!

SNIP

So the question becomes, where do I get my ideas, my spark, my
inspiration?

Joe Fleming - San Diego

I am hoping that you are inviting comment, and that wasn't a rhetorical
question.

For me, I blow in the wind, and wherever it takes me, that is what I
make. I am not artist; but I have fun at the craft and craftsmanship.
But the other side of woodturning for me is this; I have a full
woodshop (as a general contractor) and I do more flatwork than I do
round. The round work is my release of my inner pottery self.

I have a really organic side and like to cook, bake bread, smoke meats
and all other kinds of food prep. I grow vegetables, many spices, hot
peppers, etc., that I use and do a lot of food prep and storage.

With that in mind, one year I went nuts and started making spoon,
spatulas, turners, and on and on that I could use in the kitchen. A
quick trip to the 'net revealed that there are many different kinds of
spoons and there are good spoons and not so good spoons. I always
thought if I could shovel with it, who cares? I rounded up a lot of my
old flat stock and laid out some spoon patterns and turned away to make
the shapes and handles I wanted, then hollowed them out with a hand
held burr. I enjoyed it so much I made about 25 or so in one season at
Christmas and kept some and gave some away. The best part was that
everyone that got a spoon as a gift thought it reminded them of an old
wooden spoon in "grandma's kitchen". Mission accomplished.

Last year I spent some good museum time while visiting relatives and
was fascinated by the oil lamps in the Egyptian and Viking/Norse
exhibits. I am not sure why - they were short, squatty, and were
designed with utility in mind. I came back to the lathe and sketched
out the patterns and then dug out some really rough crotches and turned
out some forms to hold oil lamps. I had a lot of fun with these as I
found some shapes for inspiration in different places, and I wound up
making a lot of them for me and mine. The ones I didn't like as much
as my favorites, I easily sold. I liked using the crotch wood as it
gave it a really "busy" look in the grain and I used mesquite so I
could leave some natural occlusions showing for accent.

I like ginger jars and Roman inspired vases. I don't know why. I like
the way they look and I like to turn them as well.

I enjoy things that are nice to look at, and feel good to use. I am
really most pleased when someone tells me that have gotten a lot of use
out of something I have made. One of my more artistic curly maple
bowls is nice, but soon forgotten in the display cabinet. But a good
utensil, lamp, bowl or set of drawer pulls is enjoyed every time it is
used.

And I would much rather have one of my large (13"!) bread spoons used
to pieces than sitting in a drawer somewhere or put in a display. I
was disappointed to see that some of the folks that bought my lamps
won't use them as they are afraid "something will happen to them".
They put them out on a table for display at certain occasions, but
won't burn them. The same with the spoons and turners. I want
people to use them - to me it is a connection to the past before we had
metal and plastic spoons and utensils. I personally like the feel of a
good, well made wooden utensil much more than my stainless steel stuff.

One lady I sold a couple of spoons to has a more country type motif in
her home, and she (only) displays the spoons I made her to a pattern
she picked. She never uses them and never will. But they are just
spoons...

As you can see, I am on a practical, useful jag right now, not much for
the artistic aspects. I appreciate it a great deal in others but not
for me at this time. I would be interested to see where others draw
their inspiration(s) and what they are turning.

Robert

Robert,
Like you I don't consider myself an artist. I would not ever consider
myself an artist. Maybe someday, others will consider me an artist (other
than bs). I have a feeling that others will consider you an artist long
before me. I share most of your interests; cooking, smoking (what Texan
can't do a brisket) etc. I'm also a brewer of excellent beers and ales. I
brew to my taste so I can be an artist in my own mind. I've been playing
with a home brewed pot 'still'. Maybe I'll be known as the best
'stiller' of apple brandy in the Catkills after the 'revenuerers' shoot
my useless ass.
Regards