Design - Danger,Danger

Excellent Blog, Darrell. Thanks for sharing.

-- Dennis Zongker

Yup,that just about sums it up.
tom

-- "certified sawdust maker"

Well stated..I am not a person who easily puts my thoughts and feeling into words and most of the time I have a difficult time transferring thoughts through a keyboard…I find it easier to do it through my work..but you have done an outstanding job with both.

-- Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. http://www.FineArtBoxes.com

Well put. I personally believe that life in general involves a constant friction between opposing forces…and that our continuing challenge is to find the shifting balances (shift according to the needs of time, situation, etc.). This certainly applies to the friction between conformity and creativity as well. Loved the brain tease…and the stimulation to think about life contextually. Now my brain needs a time-out.

-- Todos los dias aprendemos algo nuevo.

You have put the process into words very eloquently Darrell.

It reminded very much of the words of wisdom I was given as a young boat builder by a much older co worker.

I was trying to get the “look” right for some small bit of cabinetry or deck box or whatever. He told me to build it to the golden rule. When I asked what that was his cryptic answer was simply “A man’s hand is built to the golden rule.”

About thirty years later I realized that my whole sense of balance in design was and still is influenced by this lesson in intuition so elegantly stated.

I have no idea if his reference related in some way to the golden mean. It seems to me just to be a reminder to keep in mind the balance inherent in the natural world when trying to make something man made “look” right.

-- Paul M ..............If God wanted us to have fiberglass boats he would have given us fiberglass trees. http://prmdesigns.com/

Sullivan’s Kindergarten Chats ruminations (probably under the influence) certainly have the ‘tug at the heart strings’ don’t they (ha)! Of course Sullivan had Adler to sort out all those things Sullivan was either to drunk or didn’t care enough to concern himself with. As attractive as they are, Sullivan ‘designs’ are really adornments to otherwise very capitalistic system of building (the old Carson Prairie Scott building in Chicago being a prime ex.). He isn’t exactly the best resource for trying to understand the nature of the creation of form, which is a difficult subject to say the least.

“numerous other systems for guiding our creative endeavors”
Good luck to you if you are using any proportioning system to ‘guide’ you in form creation, since they are proportioning systems they are completely form neutral. Proportioning systems are not magical. A piece of grid paper is a proportioning system. Does anyone really want to claim that a piece of grid paper is going to provide you with the ability to create a form? Proportioning systems are very valuable tools but they are not form generating tools.

and about this idea that the relationship between maker/form is on par with parent/child…

-- criticism: the art of analyzing and evaluating the quality of an artistic work...

Thanks everyone!
Design is a very personal thing – I am glad my little essay was enjoyed.

-- Darrell Peart - Seattle - www.furnituremaker.com - author G&G Design Elements for the Workshop

Thanks Autumn – I will have to make it to Wenatchee someday – maybe a trip later this fall to see my Uncles

-- Darrell Peart - Seattle - www.furnituremaker.com - author G&G Design Elements for the Workshop

Darrel,

Interesting blog. Went to a two day class about designing and building from Marc Laub who is well known in MN/StPaul area. Also looked for direction from books and video, as I have no one available in the area I live in. Foud Seth Stem’s book on designing furniture. Out of print book. I also discovered James Krenov’s writtings which are about the feeling and process of woodworking.

I have always had the feel, and love for some pieces and not others. The information I’ve gained in this journey , like your blog, has helped me to make sense of it all.

Hoping to put it to good use this winter in my heated woodshop/studio. Then I will make the mistakes needed to gain the knowledge.

Thanks for the blog!

-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher

Hi Doc,
You might have a look at “Arts & Crafts Design” by William H Varnum. It was originally published in 1916 but is now re -published in paperback form. It lays out a good, down to earth system of balance and proportion. The first 4-5 chapters give you the essential stuff. The book was very helpful to me in the beginning. Although I no longer refer to it or any other methods when I am designing, I highly recommend it when teaching – it’s a great starting point

http://www.amazon.com/Arts-Crafts-Design-William-Varnum/dp/0879056991

-- Darrell Peart - Seattle - www.furnituremaker.com - author G&G Design Elements for the Workshop

Thanks for the tip!

-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher

Very nicely said Darrell.
I too use the golden mean as a referance but dont let it restrict my voice.
I have always been a fan of your work and the Geene and Green style. I also like the Mission style but sectively as much of it is dull and clunkey looking, dark and heavy. I have learned to step out of my comfort zone, away from a particular style and express what I want to say. It was much harder than I thought. Its difficult to take a style and change it just a little without ruining it. I am not taliking about artistic license, doing whatever a person likes just because they can and who can say they are wrong. I am talking about being honest with ones self and admitting that all they have done is modify an old design and say they have improved it or made a new design. Regardless of what others think or say about this ’ new design’, a person
needs to be pleased with it. Thats not easy.

-- If I can do it, so can you. www.artboxesbyandy.com

Andy – yes – its kinda like the old Rick Nelson song – “Garden Party”

-- Darrell Peart - Seattle - www.furnituremaker.com - author G&G Design Elements for the Workshop

When I think I have a New idea, I find someone who has done it very well? LOL

Andy, you have taken box building to a different plane? I also believe we build newideas on old ones?

Darrell ordered the book, thanks. My current vocation is psychology, avocation is woodworker. need to continue where I can make a living LOL!

Interesting when we break down “Arts & Crafts” as an evolution?

-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher

A good blog Darrell. Well stated, and in many cases so very true. But given free rein, my intuition and inspiration has shown me some of my biggest mistakes. And what did I learn from it. Never give up, I’ll get it right eventually. If I feel that I didn’t “get it right”, then I have to learn to to adapt to changes and find another way.

-- Darrell, making more sawdust than I know what to do with