I quickly read the Chris Pye carving tutorials Wiktor has now put on his site and have to say they are great!

Many times I read posts both here and in other groups where it is assumed just ownership of a tool is the answer to a successful project completion.

Skills, both learned and natural, are completely overlooked or deemed unnecessary and often, burning electrons, or tool acquisition is the panacea to poor skill levels or workmanship. So go read Chris's excellent teachings and apply liberal doses to every project.

Practice, practice, practice and skill will come. But above all keep the passion alive by participating in whatever form of Galootism you have chosen as often as possible.

Thanks Wiktor and thanks to Chris for confirming the principles of learning by observing and doing.

Peter

Peter and Gentle Galoots,

Let me preface my remarks by re-affirming my support for Wiktor's endeavors and the skills that are taught via tutorials such as by Chris Pye. I also respect Peter's comments on acquisition of skills.

I believe though that I must come clean before the assemblage of Galoots far and wide. I am a certifiable NeanderBub! There are on this list many true craftpersons who seek to learn lost and forgotten skills. They also practice, practice, practice. They do spectacular work.

As a true NeanderBub I really like to muddle along with a little information, but with more appreciation for the process of independent discovery. And, I love old tools. And, I probably do not do most of them justice! But, I preserve them and enjoy using them just the same.

Now, I do not denigrate the skills of those who practice to achieve perfection, but that isn't what I want to do. I would have made a lousy apprentice. As Edison said about the process of inventing the light bulb--he now knew a thousand ways not to make one--or something similar to that!

Unlike Edison, once I have mastered something to my satisfaction, that I set out to accomplish, I am ready to move on to something else. I get bored easily and I love unstructured learning. Hey, and sometimes I achieve remarkable results and sometimes I need a few stitches along the way.

Are there other NeanderBubs out there or am I majority of one--sort of out standing in my field--as in by myself? Surely there must be some Galoots out there who go for breadth of knowledge rather than depth and perfection. If you still want to know how many things you can fix with a piece of baling wire you may be a NeanderBub! If you know what baling wire is you may be a NeanderBub and not know it! Stand up--not on four, but on two feet and show your hairy sloped forehead with true pride. Paul in Normal

PS I'd duck and run for cover, but some of us NeanderBubs don't know enough to come in out of the rain! We excel at outdoor fleas though! Rust is our legacy.