grouper52
Masterpiece
Several threads recently have included discussions about Dan Robinson's techniques, with people asking when a more technique-specific book might be coming out. His carving techniques were of special interest to Al, and I think others also share that interest. I thought I'd start a thread to discuss the possibility of such a book, and to point out other ways to learn the carving techniques.
First, I'm not going to write such a book, but Victrinia Ridgeway expressed an interest in doing so when we were early on in the process of writing and photographing Gnarly Branches. There were discussions on having a section of Gnarly Branches focus specifically on techniques, but writing such a section did not interest me personally, and it did not not seem to fit into the overall flow of the book very well, and it also would have made the book prohibitively long. Vic, therefore, wanted to write another book strictly on techniques, which was appropriate given that she is actually a student of Dan's (I am not, formally), and her husband, Eric, is as well. We talked about a second book on technique, and I would still be willing to help with the project with some writing and photography if asked (perhaps especially a section on Dan's collecting techniques), but styling and horticultural techniques I would leave to them. However, most of what it took to produce Gnarly Branches - and I was surprised to learn how much of the book boiled down to this - was organizational skills and the ability to sustain motivation and effort over an extended time. That's the real work, and my heart's not into doing that again for a technical book.
Perhaps those interested in such a book need to draw Vic and Eric into this discussion and motivate them to get it started and bring it to completion.
When I realized that Gnarly Branches was the bird-in-the-hand, and that a technical second book was more likely a two-in-the-bush possibility, I made a conscious decision to try to weave a great deal of Dan's techniques into the flow of the narrative and the photos in such a way that a careful reading - studying, actually - would allow the motivated reader to come away with the ability to get started on his own. I believe I succeeded in this to a fairly great extent. Except for the actual hands-on feel, and the hand-eye coordination involved and learned slowly in practice over time, someone interested in carving, for instance, can learn almost everything there is to know about how and why Dan does it merely by reading the chapter, The Primacy of Deadwood, and other parts of the book, and then studying the photographs, some of which even illustrate the actual techniques being performed, and most of which demonstrate what the finished product or the work in progress actually looks like.
For those who want to learn Dan's techniques further, I have two additional suggestions. First, call Elandan and see when Dan will be doing workshops or even demos around the country, or in other countries sometimes. His workshops are expensive, but you will be working with great old material, and much of what Dan will help you with IS the carving, although all his other styling techniques can be learned there as well. A typical workshop, for him, entails bringing 12 great trees and 12 die grinders. Bring some protective gear!
Secondly, call Elandan and see when Dan when be there working on his trees (which he does almost every weekend), and make a pilgrimage to spend a weekend with him. He loves to teach, and is superb at doing so on all levels. He'll gladly teach anyone who really wants to learn, and to explain anything you really want to know, and the chances are fairly good that he will engage you in hands-on training if that's what you really want.
To summarize: 1) Get Vic and Eric involved in their book idea. 2) Really read and study Gnarly Branches. 3) Spend some time in hands-on training with Dan.
I hope that helps.
First, I'm not going to write such a book, but Victrinia Ridgeway expressed an interest in doing so when we were early on in the process of writing and photographing Gnarly Branches. There were discussions on having a section of Gnarly Branches focus specifically on techniques, but writing such a section did not interest me personally, and it did not not seem to fit into the overall flow of the book very well, and it also would have made the book prohibitively long. Vic, therefore, wanted to write another book strictly on techniques, which was appropriate given that she is actually a student of Dan's (I am not, formally), and her husband, Eric, is as well. We talked about a second book on technique, and I would still be willing to help with the project with some writing and photography if asked (perhaps especially a section on Dan's collecting techniques), but styling and horticultural techniques I would leave to them. However, most of what it took to produce Gnarly Branches - and I was surprised to learn how much of the book boiled down to this - was organizational skills and the ability to sustain motivation and effort over an extended time. That's the real work, and my heart's not into doing that again for a technical book.
Perhaps those interested in such a book need to draw Vic and Eric into this discussion and motivate them to get it started and bring it to completion.
When I realized that Gnarly Branches was the bird-in-the-hand, and that a technical second book was more likely a two-in-the-bush possibility, I made a conscious decision to try to weave a great deal of Dan's techniques into the flow of the narrative and the photos in such a way that a careful reading - studying, actually - would allow the motivated reader to come away with the ability to get started on his own. I believe I succeeded in this to a fairly great extent. Except for the actual hands-on feel, and the hand-eye coordination involved and learned slowly in practice over time, someone interested in carving, for instance, can learn almost everything there is to know about how and why Dan does it merely by reading the chapter, The Primacy of Deadwood, and other parts of the book, and then studying the photographs, some of which even illustrate the actual techniques being performed, and most of which demonstrate what the finished product or the work in progress actually looks like.
For those who want to learn Dan's techniques further, I have two additional suggestions. First, call Elandan and see when Dan will be doing workshops or even demos around the country, or in other countries sometimes. His workshops are expensive, but you will be working with great old material, and much of what Dan will help you with IS the carving, although all his other styling techniques can be learned there as well. A typical workshop, for him, entails bringing 12 great trees and 12 die grinders. Bring some protective gear!
Secondly, call Elandan and see when Dan when be there working on his trees (which he does almost every weekend), and make a pilgrimage to spend a weekend with him. He loves to teach, and is superb at doing so on all levels. He'll gladly teach anyone who really wants to learn, and to explain anything you really want to know, and the chances are fairly good that he will engage you in hands-on training if that's what you really want.
To summarize: 1) Get Vic and Eric involved in their book idea. 2) Really read and study Gnarly Branches. 3) Spend some time in hands-on training with Dan.
I hope that helps.