Art Knives and Working Knives

As far as I can possibly see,… what the world really needs is some more tarn sarned, dag nabed, cotton picking cutlers art right now… darn tooting!
 
Interesting thread. Every year I make myself a different large knife to go play with and abuse. They are always engraved because I am testing the engraving as well, to see if it dings, or whatever abuse I put it through does it destroy the engraving. This year I will add gold inlay to the engraving to see what abuse it takes. I have made up a 11 inch damascus bowie, ivory handle to go with it.
I keep hearing you cannot cut with pretty knives. Bull. In Oct when I do my show I will hand it to the guys attending the show and they can cut cans, rope, boards, golf balls, whatever we have here so they can see for themselves. I do not have the talent to make art knives. I do make functional knives that are dressed up but not art. At the end of the year if the knife survives then I sell it as is, I don't even clean the dirt off of it. This years knife I am taking to the Amazon jungles to see how the ivory holds up and be able to take the trip off of my taxes.:)
Hi Tai, you scandalous rascal you.
 
... and you all thought I was crazy... ;)

Glad you tagged on Fisk. It's been a while.

Ugly knives don't cut any better than pretty knives. They just get used more.
 
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I can definitely see beauty and functionality in both types of knives, and sometimes, as Brian pointed out, that line of distinction between the two can get a little blurry. My mentor, who I have known my entire life makes both types of knives. He has been doing it a long time and I have yet to learn a fraction of what he knows. But whether it is a work knife or art knife he puts a nice keen edge on it and it cuts as it should.

I am an artist since birth (pencils, paintbrush, sculpting type of artist) and I make knives. I have yet to blend the two completely, but I feel my work knives have a level of artistic quality to them whether other people do or not. One day I hope to have the skill to successfully merge the two and make an expressive piece of art that cuts like a mother!:D

In the end if it can cut like Fisk has mentioned then the maker has done a great job. If the edge geometry is a kin to a chopping ax then it's more of a knife shaped object. If it's not even sharpened to be useable then it may not even be that.
 
.... There's only one thing worse than a pretty knife that won't cut and that's and ugly one that won't cut. ;)
 
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Patrice Lemée;10897603 said:
I fail to see the need to use the past tense in this statement. ;)
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LOL :)

Tough crowd... You just can’t win.

Ooops, should have said, "There's just no winning, is there?".
 
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Defining art can be fairly elusive. To many it almost inherently means, that which has no "practical" purpose.
 
Phil Dwyer said:
Defining art can be fairly elusive. To many it almost inherently means, that which has no "practical" purpose.
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I see what you are saying Phil, but those who think that way are just plain wrong. I posted this link on another art thread, but think it's worth posting again.

http://www.self-help-healing-arts-journal.com/art-benefits-brain.html

"Many people question the purpose of art. They acknowledge an aesthetic approach but ignore any possible positive benefits of a more practical nature. Contrary to popular belief, art is not purely aesthetic. It is not a product with no possible effects outside of the obvious - an "artistic" product. Art is not of less use than science in preparing individuals for the "real" world. In fact, the contrary is true. Art is very important in helping the brain reach its full potential."
 
You won't get an argument from me on that Tai. I believe art is very practical, in a tangential sort of way. Sort of like meditation. It serves no direct practical purpose, but is one of the most practical activities one can undertake. It can positively influence all manner of ones practical undertakings via the core effect it can have on one. Art and artistic processes are of the same ilk as meditation.

Never-the-less, as can be seen even in this discussion, the idea of art often includes (perhaps unconsciously) some sort of conception of that without practical purpose. For instance: a user or a safe queen, high performance knife or pocket jewelry, art knives and working knives, etc.

BTW, good link to a good article! That's why I teach practical or applied arts at a Waldorf high school. I prefer to call them Earth Arts though...art of/with substance! :)
 
Good point Phil.

But on the same token I would argue that science has no "direct" practical purpose either. It's what artists, engineers etc., do with it that counts.

You can't eat science,... art maybe.
 
... You can hide a hole in the wall with a painting, and/or use a small sculpture as a paper weight. Ha! :)

Architecture is included in academic art history studies. I’d say it’s pretty practical.
 
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