Tomorrow is the annual Spirit of Wood carving show sponsored by New England Wood Carvers, Inc. I will enter the birds pictured above in the competition that is the part of the event. Each fits a different category so I have a chance to win four ribbons - catbird in life size song bird, puffin in life size seabirds and loons, loon in miniature seabirds and loons, and great blue heron in miniature shorebirds and waders.
Competing carries the danger of disappointment if carvings don't win a first, second, or third place ribbon. More dangerous is the possibility of judging a carving as poor if it doesn't win a ribbon. But, the truth is that good carvings don't always win. There are multiple reasons. Someone may enter an even better carving that wins over a good carving. Judging is subjective so if a judge doesn't like a particular carving style a high quality carving can end up a loser. For example, carving friend created an extremely unusual base for one of his carvings and got mixed feedback from the two top carvers at the show. One said it was an extremely good base while the other said it was the worst he'd ever seen! Sometimes, judges make mistakes. A mountain bluebird a friend entered in a competition did not win a ribbon. My friend asked the judge for feedback and was told the bird was very well carved, but it just didn't look like an indigo bunting.
Competing carries the danger of disappointment if carvings don't win a first, second, or third place ribbon. More dangerous is the possibility of judging a carving as poor if it doesn't win a ribbon. But, the truth is that good carvings don't always win. There are multiple reasons. Someone may enter an even better carving that wins over a good carving. Judging is subjective so if a judge doesn't like a particular carving style a high quality carving can end up a loser. For example, carving friend created an extremely unusual base for one of his carvings and got mixed feedback from the two top carvers at the show. One said it was an extremely good base while the other said it was the worst he'd ever seen! Sometimes, judges make mistakes. A mountain bluebird a friend entered in a competition did not win a ribbon. My friend asked the judge for feedback and was told the bird was very well carved, but it just didn't look like an indigo bunting.