Quality time with an expert

[hockenbery]

I was self taught and doing quite well or so I thought.

I took a class with Liam Oneil who invented the side ground gouge and left with a different point of view and tool kit of techniques. About a year later I took a class with David Ellsworth and another leap forward. A class will do more to increase the pleasure (or profit) from turning than anything else you can do.

In the next two months Trent Bosch and David Ellsworth are each teaching 3 day classes here in central Florida. It is easy to bring a class to your own town and save a considerable amount of money. We have a few folks driving 1 to 2 hours a day for the class. Many great teachers Like David and Trent teach in their own studios. Each also can be found at various times teaching at Arrowroot, Anderson Ranch, John C Campbell and other venues.

MY big step forward
Liam told me I was holding my tools too tightly and he made me turn the outside of bowls one handed. A year later David told me I was holding my tools to tightly and he made me turn the inside of bowl one handed. I think I have a soft touch with the tools now, unless I'm watching David Frye turn.

I encourage everyone to take a 3 day to a 1 week class. In the past few years we have had class with excellent teachers here in central Florida. Classes in Lakeland have included Jimmy Clewes, Cindy Drozda, and Al Stirt' Classes in Orlando have included Alan Lacer, Michael Hosaluk, Stuart Batty, and Michael Mocho.

The point is you can have an outstanding learning experience in your back yard, the turners back yard, or at a craft school. Each venue has its advantages.

a one day workshop is great. Most people learn 10 time as much on a 3 day workshop and 15 times as much in five day workshop.

Happy turning
Al

 

[glenkey]

I've only been at it for about 5-6 years. Every pro that the local club brings in, trust me I'm there. Can't afford to go take a 3 or 5 day course, but would love to do so. The learning experiance is well worth the money spent.
We have Jimmy Clews coming in later this month and I am looking forward to his demo and classes.😀
Congradulations on the advancement of your skills.

 

[Brian Libby]

I agree, one day classes are good but, as you say, the multi-day classes are sooo much better!! 🙂

 

[john lucas]

I could not agree more but I'll take it a step further. I learn from my students. Trying to explain a technique to them will often teach me a new approach. It sometimes also makes me look at my own tool usage and discover something new.
At symposiums I always volunteer to run a camera if I can. I now how to turn a bowl but when I run camera for a bowl turner I watch his or her tool usage very closely. I check out the grinds and at the same time I hope I'm showing this to the audience. I always learn something when I run the camera.

 

[Donna Banfield]

Here's another plug for spending some time with another turner, but don't limit yourself just because you can't afford to go to a workshop or a well-known school.

It would be great to be able to do it with one of the big names; I have had the privilege of doing that myself, and have learned from each one of them. But don't dismiss some excellent woodturners who are really good at turning AND teaching, but haven't gained national recognition.

Where do you find them? Talk to the local turning club members, and ask them who in their club is really good at demonstrating, who always has a crowd of people coming to the meetings when they demonstrate for their club. Who has a background in education? Those people already know how to teach to a variety of people, and they often transfer those skills to teaching woodturning. I'll bet that the most of the big names or internationally recognized woodturners/demonstrators all started out doing it for a small audience or local clubs.😀

 

[Brian Libby]

Donna, I agree that local clubs have many talented people that are more than willing to guide less experienced turners. It is really nice when a person can have the full attention of the "teacher".

One of the great things about woodturners - they are always willing to share their knowledge. 😉

 

[John Jordan]

Don't forget that some local chapters, as well as AAW offer scholarships. AAW gives a lot of money each year, and many have benefited from using these to take classes.There aren't many conditions on it either. Also, some of the schools themselves offer scholarships, work-study, etc.

John

 

[KellyDunn]

Al, you are so right. We have a group of turners here who have been to major symposiums and report back just how much you learn. They are the ones who sign up for the hands on when we bring in a turner. They understand the value. And we have a number of turners who have been teachers at symposiums. They truly understand the value of attending an all day class for cheap. We have been charging our clubs members $15 to sit all day. Last up was Jimmy Clewes. We had a small turnout for how many turners are in the two clubs here. We always lose money when we bring someone in. Most have never spent the bucks it takes to go from Hawaii to Utah or an AAW symposium. Air, room, meals, entry fee, a few beers. Every symposium I have gone to has been worth every dime. So maybe really jacking up the price here will get folks to think they are paying for quallity steak instead of spam. Not sure how to get it across(have tried for a bunch of years) that this is so worth your time.

 

[MichaelMouse]

Is there more to learn from a student's error or an expert's success? Working with the inexperienced causes you to think, often forcing you to explain something you did not understand though you have done it a thousand times. I have to say there are more Eureka moments as a teacher than a student.