Artistic vs. Mechanical

[china]

As others have said, I like to think that I am both, unfortunatly the artistic part is still very much on the think part

[azrider]

Esantro, that is a really nice bag. I spent some time checking out your website, and all of your bags are very nicely done. It also is a great example of something being very funtional, but nice to look at when its done. The simple lines, clean edges, solid construction,and stitching all combine to make an nice piece. Do you consider your bags artistic, or simply funtional?

[esantoro]

Esantro, that is a really nice bag. I spent some time checking out your website, and all of your bags are very nicely done. It also is a great example of something being very funtional, but nice to look at when its done. The simple lines, clean edges, solid construction,and stitching all combine to make an nice piece. Do you consider your bags artistic, or simply funtional?

I never focused on the artistic. Everything was to be about function. The more I focused on function and thought about what stitching or riveting in a certain areas is supposed to do, the lines started coming together on their own. For example, some bag makers will have an extra line of stitching that is merely decorative and doesn't serve to hold anything together. Lack of such attention to real function, I think, plays out negatively in other areas of such bags as well, and leads to a nagging sense, though maybe not articulated, that something is off.

ed

[cybertracy]

i always tell people who come in somewhat intimidated, but wanting to learn leathercarving, that it's called leatherCRAFT--you don't have to be an artist (although it helps) to do the craft well, just be able to use the tools as intended and follow directions (and practice). The art is what truely sets the bar up there for us crafters though.

[JohnBarton]

It's both. It's a mechanical process with the end result being artistic. You have to be a bit of an engineer to put leather pieces together in such a way that they are very functional and durable. That's mechanical. Making them pretty at the same time - that's art.

Any of us with sufficient experience and a little common sense can throw together a functional and fairly durable briefcase in a matter of hours. I know that If I did that though mine would look like a kindergarten age kid went nuts with the rivet setter and razor knife. It would hold stuff and close and so on but it wouldn't win any prizes for fit and finish. NOW some people can use the same materials, same tools and get that rough industrial look to the point where it is art.

Not me.

What I do have a decent eye for is composition which my wife the ballet dancer says is also a form of art. I can "see" the way I want a design to turn out and usually they turn out well enough to please the customer.

But if you ask me to draw a tooling pattern - forget it. I am lucky if I can draw a daisy. Which is sad because as a kid I did have a little talent for drawing but I never developed it.

So, yes, when you create something then it can be art. Now some hold the view that if it's useful or functional, as in a bag, then it's not art. This debate will never end. For me, when I look at something and it gives me the warm fuzzies inside when I look at it that's art or love or nausea...... I like to go with art or love.

[resqman]

I would say both. I have been beating on stamping tools for about a year. So far I have been using patterns for all my layout. My mechanical side of this craft has improved but is still far from where I want it to be. Certainly I can use the 7 basic tools and beat the leather until there is a recognizable shape. But the artistic side of doing it well enough that you overlook the individual stamping tools and look at the design still needs more practice.

As a scout leader, I have the opportunity to introduce leatherworking to a number of boys. They tend to be much more pleased with their work than I am with my work. Their expectations are at a different level. They are happy to have something where there was nothing. The purely mechanical side of it is often enough for their first several pieces. Then the art of doing it well comes into play and they either chaulk it up to another introductory experience or decide to spend more time and improve their skill.

[ArtS]

I'd say both. It depends on the piece that I'm creating. Some things I get to use my artistic skills and add beauty to function. Others end up being more function. I used to do a lot of artwork but now I try to direct that creativity into my leather work.

Art

[outcast]

I say probably both, but I lean heavily towards mechanical. When I build something it will serve a function. Of course I will do what I can to make it look as good as I can make it, but if it is pure art with no function, I really have no use for it.

[FredF]

I think anyone who creates (or enjoys creating) things that have a visual art component to them could be considered "artistic". It's not so hard to see why someone seeing such a thing might think the person that made it is artistic (even if the object made was copied and making it was purely mechanical). The person seeing this would never know that. I don't think this is the same as being an artist though.

I think the Mechanical side is the means to the end. Drafting, Handling the tools, assembling, stitching, finishing, etc. are all mechanical functions.

The artist, I think, is the person who has the vision, and can bring that vision to fruition through a complete mastery of the mechanical functions.

With regards to "form follows function", it is exactly that: Function is the purpose for the design. Form, is how we make that design appealing. It does not mean that form should be ignored. It shouldn't. Good design doesn't ignore form. It understands the place of both. I don't think an ornamental stitch line is wrong, anymore than ornamental carving is wrong. I don't think a table that can support a 2000 lb. fishtank is good design, if it is not pleasing to look at. It could do both.

Ed, there is no way you can say that your bags are only functional. They are functional, yes, but they are also aesthetically pleasing, and that is no accident. You put some thought into that. Made some choices, both is shape and color. Othewise there would be no practical reason to choosing brass over bronze over stainless. There would be no reason for color choice, the shape of the flap, the proportions of some of the elements, etc. There is definetly art involved in these cases.

Just my two cents.

Esantro, that is a really nice bag. I spent some time checking out your website, and all of your bags are very nicely done. It also is a great example of something being very funtional, but nice to look at when its done. The simple lines, clean edges, solid construction,and stitching all combine to make an nice piece. Do you consider your bags artistic, or simply funtional?

[yan]

Everything I used to do was pure function. Need something to hold my hammer: grab a piece of leather drill a couple of hole, put a couple of rivets and there you go: a ugly but functional ''hammer holder''

One of the raison I am on this forum is to removed the ''ugly'' part of the last statement and eventually put a ''nice'' instead