Dying art?

[Capt Weasel]

I agree that it wouldn't be a saving factor. I know I was quite intimidated by them when I first start out and remember thinking that one day I'd like to be able to. Now I am.

What they did do was get me interested in the tool and not that particular facet of scrolling. What started out on was a wildlife pattern book then saw the portraits. I was able to see the versatility. A nice piece of intarsia might do the same for somebody else just like a clock would for another. The clocks are what intimidates me.

One perk of using the "not-so-well-known" scrollsaw is uniqueness. Might that help? At my first show there was only 3 of us scrollers but we all 3 did something different whereas the carvers,turners and pen makers were all kinda competing with each other in a sense. Whether anybody there caught on to that fact I don't know but that would be a point to show others.

When I teach my class next month I'm going to show them the basics which areas will require. I'll show them my work and also the intarsia pieces and the clock the store has hanging on the wall for sale and tell them that they can do any of that type stuff plus much more. All that with just a simple ole scrollsaw and the proper blades.

The catch is, we gotta get'em hooked.

[Jediscroller]

I don't think it's dying at all. Comparatively speaking, it's just not as lucrative as other forms of woodworking from any angle. Tool manufacturers and retailers make much more from turners and carvers than from scrollers so that's probably why they don't push the classes as much (IMO). As far as craft fairs, I think it's a case of most scrollers do it as a hobby and just don't do that many fairs. I see the same 1 or 2 at various times during the year at different fairs and occasionally I'll bump into a hobbyist doing a small fair. I also think a lot of folks who may start off doing fairs with scrollwork migrate toward more traditional woodworking as it's more profitable and sells better. I've built a small local following for my portrait type work so I still do it, but I've been moving toward more traditional type items (albeit slowly) such as jewelry boxes. I can see myself eventually doing very little scrollwork (for money anyhow) and more regular woodworking type projects. Perception probably plays a role as well. I think people recognize the work that goes into a fine piece of furniture far more than they realize the work that goes into a scrolled project.
While probably politically incorrect to say, the one thing that I think hurts scrolling compared to other forms of woodworking is all the copyright talk. I'm sure this turns at least some people off. Prior to getting involved in scrolling, I had never seen a discussion on copyrights in a woodworking forum. Heck, I saved my issues of Fine Woodworking that explained how to copy a furniture design based on photos of the piece.

[Sparhawk]

This is just me thinking and since I've never done a fair and sold very little I don't know whether it's even a plausible idea or not, but I'll throw it out there for discussion.

For the people who ask if pieces are laser cut: Would it be within the realm of possibility to videotape yourself at home cutting out different pieces and have a TV set up where that tape is on an endless loop. Nothing full length of you from start to finish but a couple minutes of you cutting out wood art, a minute of you drilling holes in a pattern, a minute shoiwng the sanding, and a minute showing the finishing as well as a couple minutes doing the actual scrolling. Then multiple people could watch the demonstration at a time while saving your breath.

Matt

[GrayBeard Phil]

Originally Posted by Toni Burghout

....Let's not forget how lasers are intruding on the territory of the scrollsaw. For those who what to mass produce instead of create, the laser is becoming more of a threat....

As much as we scroller's moan and groan about lasers....

Can you image the problems that Pyrographic enthusiasts (wood burning) must be facing at the craft fairs? With lasers now able to vary the diameter of the beam and the power of the beam on the fly, just how can one tell laser vs hand crafted pyrographic image?

Phil

[Neal Moore]

I think scrolling, over the last ten or so years, is simply making a resurgence. The craft/art sort of died off for several years and now is being rediscovered. Automation such as laser cutters etc. I suppose is very lucrative as far as mass production and profit is concerned but I don't think those folks will ever know the satisfaction of knowing that anything they produce is truly their own. I once was, and suppose I still am, a carver but since I discovered scrolling I doubt that I'll ever go back. My passion was decorative duck carving and miniature carousel horses but then the "duplicator" came along and,much like the laser machines, any no talent hacker could reproduce a nice bird and have someone else paint it for them. Scrolling is what it is!! It's fun and all the elements that go into it provide a lot of pride and self satisfaction for the craftsman and/or designer. I love it and I'm here to stay!!!

[Rolf]

The LI Woodworkers had their show a couple of weeks ago. We had 4 scroll saws set up and demonstrating for 2 days. We were cutting lots of 3d characters to give to the kids ( I think I can cut dolphins and rabbits in my sleep) I was surprised at how many people said they had saws, I think there are more scrollers out there than we realize, they just don't sell or promote themselves. I also met two young technology teachers a young lady and man, new to teaching. They have several scroll saws in their classroom and were looking for ideas on what kind of cuttings would be good to get the kids interest. Our club will work with here in the future and maybe do presentations to inspire the kids.
Bottom line is, if we want the hobby, craft , art of scrolling to grow We have to be the promoters.
I will be featured in our company news letter with several of my pieces as an add for an art show we have here at work.

[Pajaro]

I think working with ones hands to make anything, wood, steel, or stone is a dying art. Everything is designed, drawn, and produced by computers. Even music, how many Jimmy Hendricks do you see on the music charts now days. Zero. But that is the way things are. I started working with computers in 1975, talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time (nothing like starting at the ground floor). Grant it, computers have paid my way all my life. But they have stressed me to two hart attacks. If I make it 4 more years. I'll be done with them, or at least not making a living by them.

[Tor]

Yes, the mass produced mentality is very strong, and growing. I also think that craftsmanship and live arts are also getting stronger. Mass produced items just have no life force in them. I would actually lay some of the cause of the lack of interest in craftsmanship at the doorstep of compulsory schooling, although I hesitate to say this to avoid sparking another hot debate.

Tor

[Jediscroller]

Originally Posted by Pajaro

I think working with ones hands to make anything, wood, steel, or stone is a dying art. Everything is designed, drawn, and produced by computers. Even music, how many Jimmy Hendricks do you see on the music charts now days. Zero. But that is the way things are. I started working with computers in 1975, talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time (nothing like starting at the ground floor). Grant it, computers have paid my way all my life. But they have stressed me to two hart attacks. If I make it 4 more years. I'll be done with them, or at least not making a living by them.

I have to disagree with much of the above. Woodworking is stronger than ever, it's been experiencing a major resurgence, particularly among middle-aged executives. There's more choices in tools, particularly high-end than I can ever recall. I don't think companies would be investing precious R&D Dollars in a dying market. As far as computer deigns, thank goodness for them! The quality of patterns and designs have improved exponentially since the introduction of computers. If you ever tried working with one of the old hand-drawn patterns, you quickly gain an appreciation for the accuracy of a computer generated (enhanced) pattern. I see a lot of metal workers at fairs as well as tons of other craftspeople of all types. There's schools for arts/woodworking all over the country and they're all booked.
As far as music, there are some terrific musicians still around and still coming up. Nickleback, 3-doors down, metallica and many others all feature outstanding guitarists. As far as I'm concerned, these ARE the good ol' days.

[CROSSCUTTER]

Hip - Hip - Hurray

Promote, promote, and continue to promote your art.

Show, a complete start to finish sample of what it takes to make up a scrolled pieces, from the pattern to the pasting, to the drilling holes to the cutting out, to the finishing.

Show, your potential customers what it takes to scroll out a piece in stages.