there has to be a point

[Tim Wells]

When I used to rock climb out in California 20 odd years ago I'd get nervous before I started some move that would put me in an "exposed" position on a near vertical cliff and would hold myself back from climbing to my abilities. John Bachar told me one day while we were walking to a route in Joshua Tree National Monument that "the rock is the same 3000 feet off the ground as it is right next to the ground. You either have the skills or you don't". Granted, you have to push yourself to improve but not past your limitations. The margin of error is , well...

He was right and I approached it that way from then on and never had a problem. It's all mental preparation and conciousness. When you are hundreds or even thousands of feet (like in Yosemite) above terra firma and you're clinging to the granite face of a steep friction climbing route where you can unbalance and push yourself off merely by breathing too deep; that is when you have to know and trust your skills and your body.

It is similar I would think with picking a guitar in Alison Krauss' band on some stage or engraving a Purdey. Once you have the skills under your belt and they're consistent, just trust them and forge ahead.

 

[Dave P]

Ron, Involvement versus commitment can best be demonstrated by an egg and bacon breakfast; the chicken is involved, but the pig is committed.

Big-Un, a fighter ace was once asked what he found was the most difficult maneuver to accomplish during aerial combat. His response was "Advancing the throttle for takeoff."

I am constantly impressed with the level of thought on display by those that engage in our art form. I suppose it shouldn't be surprising as the level of commitment to excellence is not rivaled by too many other art forms, and there are so many different skills to conquer and manage. What does surprise me more than anything is the willingness of the true masters to help those less skilled to achieve their goals. This is not the case with most other fields of endeavor. I have found as a goldsmith that unless you are willing to pay, for the most part, the true masters keep their skills close to their chest, and like race teams get downright angry if anyone tries to look over their shoulder. Engravers on the other hand seem more than happy to move their shoulder a little to let you get a closer look. This speaks volumes as to the level of professionalism and high art that is the engraving profession, and I am very humbled to be a small part of it.

Thanks to all that participate and share their knowledge so freely.

Dave

 

[Big-Un]

Dave, it is surprising you mentioned race teams in your response, as I was a race car driver for several years before retiring from the "real" world. Sometimes I would actually throw up after a hot lap session, from the jitters experienced while buckling in.....it was too messy to throw up while in the car and traversing the track on the edge between sticking and sliding. I guess the jitters are just natural tendencies before any stressful endeavor and I just need to accept them and dive in. Its good to know that I am not alone. Thanks guys!

 

[jimzim75]

Hi Big-Un
I had people ask don't you worry about setting big stones like diamonds or emerald.
I tell them that they a lot more reliable that the small inexpensive imitations.

I'm sure you already do this but if I'm going to engrave something I use a practice sheet of
something that's as close as possible to the material I have to engrave. Just so I can tell
what's going on with the graver, the equipment and me. It's a lot less scary.
If I was never distracted, the world would be perfect. It's funny about engraving,
you have to be all there, engaged with the job.

 

[Ron Smith]

Imagine this,
As you progress up that road of skill, so do the pressures of doubt and insecurity, but then you are canstantly training your self to rise to the occasion. The bar is constantly changing, requiring you to rise. In the beginning, the jobs are realtively simple and the canvases of your art are within your scope of existence.(general public sort of stuff). As you acquire skill, your canvases change and become more prestigious, (gold, Silver, etc.). then when near the top of your creative potential, your canvases become staggeringly expensive, but your development will allow you to adapt to the need. Putting that first scratch on a $30,000.00 to $80,000.00 shotgun is a daunting challenge, so the "butterflies" never go away. The challenges just get bigger and that is engraving, but you just rise with them and overcome them. That is the advantage of the master and that is his story. Experience can only come one way. Step by step along with your evolving progress. It is a long and difficult road, but when those years are behind you, you will understand and cherish your envolvement even more. Be proud of any of your acheivements in this art as you have taken on one of the most challenging endeavers in creation. Painting, drawing, sculpting, music, and any of the other arts don't compare to the commitment and endurance that it takes to do this work, but the pleasure and satisfaction that accomodates it is the reward. It rarely is the money because we often times sacrifice that for the love of the art.
Chip on my friends, onward and upward,
Now, I got to get back to work................
Ron S

 

[Big-Un]

All of the responses about the "jitters" are awesome. My wife and I was talking today about my feelings and she remarked that I had always had that feeling whenever I started any kind of artwork. She said she noticed my jitters when we were first married and it is the same now, only with a different medium. We have been married 40 years and I believe she knows me well! I still have an ostrich egg on the shelf that is unfinished from last year when I was about to paint her favorite flower, the pansy, on it for her birthday. I have time to get it done this year, so all of you have helped me tremendously with my problem. Thank you all for being so kind and understanding with someone with a little "pressure problem"

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Hi Big Un

We all respond to various kinds of stress differentley. The jitters is just one way and it's part of who you are. Just go with it as the more you try to fight these things, the worse they can become.

Cheers
Andrew