I have a favorite quote of many," functionless art is simply tolerated vandalism" - Type O Negative
I am an artist. I didn't start off working wood as an art form. I have painted since I was a child with my father as my mentor. I started woodworking as a means to an end….I needed furniture that was sturdy and was built with my own needs in mind. My woodworking has since evolved and I find myself spending more time discovering how I can place my own sense of artistry into a piece of furniture I build.
Do you find your woodworking to be a way to express yourself or merely a means to creating something functional?
I live as an artist per se. I am a working guitarist and music teacher. To reach the realm of artist I think there needs to be a large degree of practice first. As a guitarist I feel more and more comfortable calling myself an artist. I have practiced and performed countless hours now to date since I was 12 years old. So I have been putting in many hours a day for the past twenty years now.
As a woodworker, I am simply a builder at this point. I try to push into the realm of art and beauty, but I am nowhere near being an artist. I don't have the practice yet. I am simply a functional builder, even if I try to be an artist
I force my imagination into the structure and most of the time it is functional as well. To make the same thing twice, for me is torture but on rare occasions I'll do it with minimum modification. And if someone ask me to make them something they have seen in a picture, the answer would be no because even if it was a table made out of 2×4's and plywood, I would screw it up. Unless the project present a challenge, I normally stay away.
Woodworking is a way for me to create and do. I wouldn't call it art or even necessarily always functional.
My job mostly involves sitting at a computer, so there generally isn't any sense of having done something at the end of the day-just some electrons moved around. With woodworking, it allows my hands to create an actual physical piece, which is much more fulfilling.
JayT, you took the words right out of my mouth. I work in consulting, so best case scenario on a good day at work, I saved a giant corporation some money. I build because I need to create something worthwhile.
"Beautiful" does not describe nor compliment excellence.
That quote is from the White Book of Barnyard Philosophy. You are welcome to quote me at any time.
Bill
I've always said that woodworking is the perfect marriage of form and function. Things which look great but don't work properly are frustrating, things that work well but look odd get hidden, and ultimately, not used. There is a lot of artistry in selecting grain, matching parts, making and assembling shapes, but good design needs engineering and vice versa.
There is definitely an art to great design. There also a good degree of skill to make something look proportional, well fitted, proper selection of materials, reflects technique closer to cabinetry or fine furniture, and finish detail that takes extra time and effort.
You can just tell when you see someone's work if you have been doing this long enough.
But, if you do not take pride in your work, or care what it looks like, then it is reflected in the end product. And whether you like it or not, it is a reflection of the creator.
Definitely both for me, and I echo Pete; both in the same if I can. I make a lot of wooden computer cases whose sole purpose are to express my artistic flavor, but also make things like tables, shelves, shop projects etc that are mostly just functional. Depends on the project, really.
I like the discussion, and reading the responses. Great topic.
"Do you find your woodworking to be a way to express yourself or merely a means to creating something functional?"
My objective is to express myself by creating something functional. I believe you can improve function through art but art itself does not require function.
The Navajo believe that part of your spirit resides in your creation. So my work is like a metaphysical urn.
Do I believe any of that?-not the slightest. But it is a nice story to tell the client.
Its all art. Even the plane, utilitarian stuff. Some is just more artistic than others. Even the ones that claim utilitarian purposes are creating art. Just not as artsy as some others.
We must be the new kind of woodworker. haha. IT by day / woodworker by night!
Like another poster said I do things for me. If I get a WOW! from someone elses reaction it just magnifies my own feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment.
To incorporate the OP's question. Functional first, artistic second. For instance I have yet to buy a 15 dollar fishing pole rack because i have more than enough means to make something 10 time better myself out of walnut or something but I have yet to think of a design I like to get moving. So I know "what" i want to build now I need the artistic vision piece to inspire me to get moving and complete the equation.
Woodworking is a way for me to create and do. I wouldn t call it art or even necessarily always functional.
My job mostly involves sitting at a computer, so there generally isn t any sense of having done something at the end of the day-just some electrons moved around. With woodworking, it allows my hands to create an actual physical piece, which is much more fulfilling.
What shovelhead said…
It's hard for me to imagine wanting to spend my time building something that is "only" functional and I can hardly even picture what the end result would look like. People just about everywhere and at all times have wanted to surround themselves with objects that were more than just functional. But it's pretty artificial to draw such a strict distinction between things that are functional and beautiful or express creativity. Form follows function, as the modernists say - in other words the most beautiful pieces of furniture (or any other object) are those that best serve the function they were made for. I wouldn't consider anything I've made to be art, but at the same time I've tried to design and make things as beautiful as I know how.
Both. Every persons view of art is different or else we would all make the same pieces. Functional takes on a different meaning when it come to expressing yourself or art. Expressing yourself in whatever you do, as long as one person likes it, it is now functional. You just made that one person happy and thats the function.
I'd have to say both. My woodworking centers mostly around my scroll saws. Some say scrolling is an art, others say its not even considered woodworking. In my scrolling, I do several wolf & Native American scenes. To me, that is also self expression. When I start putting a project together, I spend a lot of time studying the pattern, deciding on the type of wood I'm going to use, looking the pattern over to decide where to drill blade holes, & most importantly, imagining what that project is going to look like finished. Its artistry in itself, and as far as its use, when it makes my client happy, its use has been fulfilled.
For me, it is a creative outlet, but I wouldn't call it art. I enjoy the drafting and the building as a way to keep myself busy, my mind engaged (it is always engaged and at least this way it is doing something useful), and my hands busy.
I have made everything so far to serve a purpose. A telescope, some tables, book cases, etc. What I wanted was not on the shelf in any store. Custom pieces were expensive (and rightfully so). So with a mind that fairly easily comes up with a vision and a plan, I eventually took the step to creating those things. Again, all based on a function or need.
-Brian
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