Precision vs. impressionism
Pete Cafarchio
and likes to work with his hands and with tools. We were talking
about what kinds of work we like, and he had an insightful
comment.
He loves doing detailed, fine craftsmanship work like building
guitars (and believe me, they're beautiful) whereas I like
unstructured, visual impact projects (kites, interior
decorating). By the end of our conversation we had settled on
the terms "precision" and "impressionism."
What about kites? I think they can incorporate both. Frankly,
when I read posts about "fine-tuning spars" and such, I can't get
excited whatsoever. But float some new critters off a line, or
figure out a stunning graphic or wild tail and I get pumped -
"paint the sky!" is my motto.
What aspects about this hobby are precision-like? What aspects
are impressionism-like? What aspects are you drawn to? How
about your friends? Does the internet draw more of the
precision-type? Does this make sense? Do you care? Are you doing
this on company time?
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The heavens are telling the glory of God and declare His
handiwork
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10211...@Compuserve.com
Brian W. Gordon
[snip]
: What aspects about this hobby are precision-like? What aspects
: are impressionism-like? What aspects are you drawn to?
[snip]
You must seek balance, Grasshopper.
Keith Kidder
James Ervin
Pete,
I really enjoyed your post. I like your Precision vs impressionism dicotomy.
I have thought of the same concept many times. I use a different set of words
to describe my feelings though. But a little backgroud first.
My father is an artist, complete and total with a creative mind set. My
stepfather is an engineer, very maticulious and very acurate. These two
gentlemen sort of merged in me and the result was kite making.
How I see the kite is two fold, it has a function that it must perform, and it
has a form that it can take. The engineering side resolves the functionality
of the kite, and the creative side resolves the form side of the equation.
The words that I prefer to use, with appoligies to Robert Pirsig (Zen and the
Art of Motorcycle Maintenance), are Subjective and Objective. The Objective
kite flys either well or poorly. This is the engineering side of the kite.
How well the kite is as an object.
The Subjective kite is the kite that you percieve, how you feel about looking
at the kite, what your internal reaction is to the kite ect. This is
comprised of the form of the kite (ie it's visual image) and partially by how
it flys.
The union of the Objective kite and the Subjective kite is the measure of the
quality of the kite.
A well flying kite that appeals to you is a quality kite. Any other
combination would not be a quality kite (to the viewer)
Some people would then percieve quality in a kite that others may not.
Thanks for the great post.
James Ervin/Blue Ridge Kites/Check out the new kite page at
blue...@inmind.com/ http://www.inmind.com/people/jervin/kites.html
(540) 586-9590 And the new Benjamin Kite Cartoon at
http://www.inmind.com/people/jervin/ben.html
____________________________________________________________________
Can I go home now? My brain is full.
Sam Francis
Pete,
First, no this isn't on company time. My company is too cheap for a
real internet connection ;-)
Second, I really don't think you can generalize about the *type* of
person on the internet anymore. Grandma's here now too, and she's
here to stay.
I both build and fly. I guess I would fall under precisionist. When
I equalize lines, they are equal! Not close, but exact. I know to
the foot how much line is on each single-line spool. Hate to use
tacky keyrings for bow lines. I buy nice molded dihedrals. There
isn't anything but Sampo ball bearing swivels on my lines. Don't like
arrow-nocks on my stunters (break too easy anyway). They come off and
machined end caps go on. All my bridles are tied neatly and trimmed.
If I ever get them all done...all wood dowels (except my fighters)
will be carbon. Dowels always seem to be warped.
Enough?
On the other hand, some of my favorite kites have sail repairs from
being holed by a broken spar. They're still not neglected though.
When I build (or buy) the kite has to have visual impact on me. I've
learned that means get some black on it first. My freinds say, "I
thought you said you had too many black kites?" "Uh, well yeah, just
one more." I have more survey tape than anyone I know. Nothing like
a 3-stack with 6-100ft tails ;-)
>"paint the sky!" is my motto.
Mine too. Even when I'm flying a stunter alone, I'll put up a few
single liners too (yeah, it's gotten *real* busy before).
>What about kites? I think they can incorporate both.
The master, and now he has a plaque to prove it, is Stretch Tucker.
His kites are absolutely stunning. Now, turn 'em over (I have), and
look at the construction. His building technique is art too. You
won't see any junk that doesn't have an exact purpose. Everything is
well done and works.
I think you can have it both ways. Of course there are great artists
that are lousy builders and great builders that can't have an original
thought. But to some extent I think we all can learn to improve on
our weak points.
Interesting query.
Have fun,
Sam
klanders
>about your friends? Does the internet draw more of the
>precision-type?
Maybe this whole idea comes down to the concept of hemispheric
dominance, left brain vs. right brain. I find that the process of
design and construction appeals to that part of me that actually
enjoyed trigonometry in college, while kicking back and watching my old
battle-worn rok flitting around against a blue sky reaches some
esoteric place deep inside. Plenty of sequential, conditional logic to
please Mr. Left Brain, and lots of colorful randomness to thrill Mr.
Right.
When a kite's on the ground, I find that I tend to analyze every
stitch, seam, and bias. But once airborn, all that stuff goes out the
window. I seem to say OOOOOOOOOOO! a lot. For folks not involved with
construction, there is a lot of impressionism. For those concentrating
on design and building, a lot of precision. Of course, there's a big
fuzzy area in between! Proof positive, once again, that kiting has
something for everyone.
Ah, torn between the desire to Experience and the urge to Analyze...
Happy New Year, Kerry
Dave Culp
> >What aspects about this hobby are precision-like? What aspects
> >are impressionism-like? What aspects are you drawn to? How
> >about your friends? Does the internet draw more of the
> >precision-type?
>
Quantity, always quantity. Big kites, fast kites; Give me more power, Scotty!
--
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312 Flaming Oak Drive |
Pleasant Hill, CA 94596 |
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Hayden1009
colour combinations of some stock kites (when I 1st got into stunt kites,
I thought that kite makers were colour blind). I WAS WRONG.
Although, both precision & impressionism takes creativity. The creativity
to invent a new structure or the creativity to make a flying piece of art.
What is probably unique to kiters is that often there is the unique
ability to combine both talents.
Alice Hayden