curlyoak Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 A pleasure to watch another masterful work of art. Your talent amazes me! Thank you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted July 31, 2019 Report Share Posted July 31, 2019 That is really a beautiful piece and great craftsmanship! I’ll be looking for it to be in the back section of FWW in the next few months. Good luck at the show. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnG Posted September 22, 2019 Report Share Posted September 22, 2019 How was the show? Did I miss an update about it elsewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post derekcohen Posted September 22, 2019 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted September 22, 2019 Thanks John. I came in second. Regards from Perth Derek 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted September 22, 2019 Report Share Posted September 22, 2019 You waz robbed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnG Posted September 22, 2019 Report Share Posted September 22, 2019 1 hour ago, derekcohen said: Thanks John. I came in second. Regards from Perth Derek Congrats! It’s a beautiful piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 23, 2019 Report Share Posted September 23, 2019 7 hours ago, JohnG said: Congrats! It’s a beautiful piece. +1 8 hours ago, RichardA said: You waz robbed. I don’t disagree. Derek, did you get a pic of 1st place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekcohen Posted September 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2019 This was the winning piece ... My piece ... Regards from Perth Derek 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mark J Posted September 23, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 23, 2019 While I recognize and respect the veneer work that went into the winner, the overall outcome does not come accross as beautiful, at least not to this beholder. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted September 23, 2019 Report Share Posted September 23, 2019 I agree with @RichardA you waz robbed, 1st place is not my taste and I won’t knock another persons work and I can appreciate the work that went into it but it definitely does not rise to the level of craftsmanship that you have in your fine piece, I don’t believe the judges took into account the mastery of woodwork that you exhibited with that piece 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted September 23, 2019 Report Share Posted September 23, 2019 The winning piece is going to be installed in a public rest room. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post drzaius Posted September 24, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 To my eye, the winning piece is overly garish and screams 'look at what I can do with veneer' rather that calmly showing it's beauty. I don't find it even remotely attractive. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bmac Posted September 24, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 9 hours ago, derekcohen said: This was the winning piece ... My piece ... Regards from Perth Derek Derek, I guessing that there were no hand cut dovetails in the first place piece ( maybe the drawer, but I'm thinking a router was involved). Your piece shows a love and dedication to the craft of woodworking. The other piece shows a love for veneer and an artistic flair, but it totally lost me when I saw the side mounted drawer slides and the false drawer/door fronts. Also the adjustable shelf and the bulky, ugly door/drawer pulls show a lack of refinement. Oh, and what the heck was going on in the 4th pic of the first place piece, the back of the drawer shows a total mess. I can't understand how you can do such detailed veneer work and be so sloppy with a drawer back. Not first place material. Your drawer bottoms ran SEQUENTIALLY and the inside of his drawer were a total glue mess. My vote is for yours, a true piece of fine craftmanship and beauty. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 I agree with @Bmac . We speak the truth and not because you’re a member here Derek. Had you made the 1st place “thing” we would have let you know the same. Metal guides, come on! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 I can't argue with ball bearing drawer slide in what is obviously a silverware drawer. The veneer work on the piece chosen as first place looks technicaly challenging, but is not particularly attractive, IMO. There are also several apparent flaws, however small, in the construction. It seems apparent to me that the judges leaned toward flash more than finesse. IMO, the harlequin table includes an appropriate hint of the festive nature that overwhelms the veneered cabinet. But the impeccable visual details and flawless execution of a deceivingly complex design make the table truly outstanding. I would most definitely have voted for your work, Derek. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 I know there is a lot of work to the veneer process in that piece but the overall quality in the construction is really not very impressive. There is so much more skilled craftsmanship displayed in your piece it really stands out compared to first place. I am really curious as to who the judges were, are they craftsmen themselves. I am befuddled!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post derekcohen Posted September 24, 2019 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 Many thanks to all of you for your very kind words and support. In competitions there will always be winners and losers. And opinions about the decisions. As to the furniture piece that was awarded first place, the maker is a very good woodworker, and he wins every year (except for 2017, when I won). He works exclusively with veneer on chipboard or MDF. His veneer work is stupendous. We are good mates and I tease him that it is kitchen ware. We have an agreement that I will teach him dovetailing, and he will teach me veneering. My wife argues that there should be one category for veneer work and another for solid wood. The competition rules state that they aim to reward design and craftsmanship, and to do so regardless of whether power or handwork is used. History tends to indicate that veneer is king. My view - which I have to avoid sounding like sour grapes - is that veneer used extensively can hide a multitude of sins and is not fine woodworking. It is just fine veneering. In my world, craftsmanship is about joinery and proportions and choice of materials. On another forum, one commented the following (which I really appreciated): "When Frank Lloyd Wright was working on the the Guggenheim Museum, New York State kicked up its dancing shoes with "Sir, you must be licensed in New York if you wish to be involved." Wright replied, "Okay, I'll take your test, but who's going to grade my responses?" Rather than become frustrated, I have made it my mission at my club to educate members about joinery and hand tools. I use machines as well, but I see how their over use can limit expression. Wide veneered panels look sterile. Machine joinery is not the enemy, but it can discourage flights of design fancy. A few weeks ago I gave a talk on the bow-fronted apothecary chest I built for the 2018 Wood Show (and which did not get a place). I think that it has only now dawned on members just how complex the joinery was. Many do not think about these aspects, or that many of the technical challenges of design were met by woodworkers over 200 years ago. On to next year! Regards from Perth Derek 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 What was the name of the competition? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 The outside looks great, it's plain and has little physical detail but relies on the veneer for visual interest. I think if he could have had some physical depth in addition to the outstanding veneer it'd help. I think it's somewhat difficult for me to appreciate because of the veneer used on the inside. As soon as you open the doors it looks like every kitchen cabinet sold in the US, red oak veneered particle board. I have to remind my self that you probably don't have piles and piles of red oak laying around in Australia like we do here. I think the piece is well executed though. I'd bet there are a lot of details that don't quite come through the pictures. Hats off to your friend, but i also think that your piece had an edge over his in craftsmanship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bmac Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 8 minutes ago, Mark J said: What was the name of the competition? Mark, he mentioned it was the Perth Wood Show. I think this is the link; http://www.fwwa.org.au/woodshow.htm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bmac Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 @derekcohen, I appreciate your humble and measured response. I think the saying "you don't know what you don't know" applies here. Perhaps you moved some of your members to the next level where they realize they don't know and are interesting in learning more. I for one want to thank you for your journals and your website. They have been very helpful and inspiring. Hand cut dovetails are now becoming a part of my projects, something 3 years ago I would have avoided doing. Looking forward to your next project! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 5 hours ago, derekcohen said: I think that it has only now dawned on members just how complex the joinery was. Many do not think about these aspects, And I guess this is the problem that can show up when judging, it's hard to consume the process in a piece in the time that is available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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