I'm not sure that I can accept the statement that there is all art in handmade knives, Paracelsus. I wish it were true, but it is not, IMO. To say that it is, is to extend the definition of art to include all craft items. I think that art is a subjective experience of appreciation. As an old lit major, I believe that the novel may be the highest art form. There are some fantastic pieces of art in the library, but the vast majority of the books there are not books with which I associate the word art in conjunction.
Personally, I think genuine art is relatively rare. A great many people practice things which could be examples of art, but which fall short of that rather lofty description. From my perspective, art is much more an occasion of vision, in one form or another, made real through creation of something. Admittedly many forms of art require tremendous physical gifts. Painting and sculpture are 2 prevalent forms of art. I don't understand much about sculpture, so it often is lost upon me. But, for example, virtually every painting I've seen by Monet and Pissaro just knocks me out. They are phenomenal pieces of art, IMO. But, Ive gone to more than one shopping mall with paintings crowding the mall space, and not been moved by a single painting to the point of thinking I could call it art.
One other part of art, IMO, is that there is an element of uniqueness. In knife making, making knives with a face is often talked about.While I tend to view most of the knives and those who made them that are talked about in such language as artistic, there are a few glaring exceptions. The knife makers I tend to see as most artistic are those whose designs are not only artistic, but essentially look different from those of their peers as well as other knives they have designed.
Along that line, I was startled by Viper using Darrel Ralph as an example of a craftsman. While I acknowledge that he is a one-man band of talents and skills that make him a supreme craftsman, I nevertheless think of him as one of those few makers who exhibits a great deal of artistic ability in his designs.
Craftsmanship is extremely important in the world of knife making. As someone pointed out earlier, there are a goodly number of extremely good craftsmen/craftswomen who make knives. But, only a few of them produce art, at least on a regular basis, IMO. I am a person who sees a great deal of simplicity in the best art. So, I do agree that a simple fixed blade without bolsters can indeed exemplify the best of art in the world of knifemaking. Still, I think that great skill at one or more aspect of knife making is too often confused with art. I guess the best example I can use is engraving.
I know there are knife makers who are extremely talented engravers. Ive seen knives that were literally covered in intricate engraving done by the maker, that have been referred to as pieces of art in one or another magazine. In only a few, quite rare occasions have I perceived such knives as being works of art. Even if the engraving itself is very artistic, it doesnt often transform a knife into a piece of art, IMO. Engraving has little, if anything, to do with the essence of any knife, it's functionality.
Sorry to be so long-winded. I tend to be frustrated when things I dont perceive to be art are labeled as such, and at least as much so when genuine art is missed by the majority of observers.
Maybe all I've been trying to say is that true art trancends craftmanship.
