Nice interview, John.....
You and Richard Raffan were early, and major inspirational turners to me.....after I purchased a VHS video from the both of you. Raffan came out with his video and book a couple years prior to yours, but I'm guessing yours came out around 1990, or close to it.
I don't know where those videos are today, but they are probably stashed away somewhere in a dust covered box! Musta watched them both more times than I can count on my fingers and toes.....twice over!
You seem to have evolved to fine tuning a particular style that is very distinctly yours......and, I am no different. It was never planned this way, because "my style" has much to do with evolving to the point of doing particular basic shapes repeatedly, until I can do them flawlessly, and maybe....."masterfully". Turning is still a creative outlet, because these basic shapes are altered with minor adjustments. While doing this, there is some loss of overall creativity, because of the repetition......but, my whole focus has shifted somewhat to the mechanics of lathe turning, from that previous endeavor which we might consider "art expression" in it's pure form. Surely, the latter isn't lost, but the former takes on more of my attention than it did when I first started turning.
You are correct that turning, as a money making proposition, is probably limited to the $200-$500 range......mainly because the opportunities have shifted focus over the past 3-4 decades. (Besides, we seem to be overflowing with turners who produce items that would sell for many thousands of dollars!
) Although making money has never been my main focus, it nevertheless, is something I hope to do successfully. The thing that destroys any enjoyment for me, is working in my shop with a need to be cost/time efficient. I don't want to be a "production turner", but understand that the areas I'm focusing on will require a certain amount of production in order to succeed. There seems to be a tug-of-war between the capitalist and the artist going on within my soul......and, I must make choices between a desire for money and a desire to have complete freedom to putter, experiment, and to never lose that inner sense of "artistic" creativity.
Can you relate to any of this.....or, wish to comment?
Anyway.......thanks for the inspirational input you were to me during my early years!
-----odie-----
BTW: You are absolutely right about the confrontational aspects of trying to communicate on the internet. One thing that would help, is resolving to allow others to have opinions that are different than yours........but, for some people, I guess that's just too much to ask!
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