Relict knife "T-rex

[Ito Matsumoto]

Damask steel, blackwood

[Clifford Brewer]

Definately out of the box creativity, ECCELLENT !!!....

[Tyler Miller]

I really love your stuff, Ito. Do I detect a bit of inspiration from the forum here?

[Petr Florianek]

Its nice!

 

... but too much serge-ish not to give a credit to him, IMHO

[SBranson]

I love the two part blade. That looks great but overall I'd have to agree with Petr.

 

What's the purpose behind the shape of this? It looks like it would work best as some kind of froe.

[Serge Panchenko]

I think this is what he was going for.

 

[Claude DUBOIS]

I dont'like this kind of stuff,it seem's to be a pale copy of the Mr Virgil England art works, words are missing me to explain what is the difference between real art and usual work .

[Ito Matsumoto]

I draw inspiration from the work of Serge.You can call this work a replica wizard Sergei Panchenko, which I do with my accent.I like the style of relic blades and I want to learn it, but to master this style and make his own - should go to the original sources. This work does not pursue commercial goals.In this paper, I did not try to get as close to the original. But in doing this work, I realized the general concept of this style and soon you will see more of my work. The desire to work in the style of the relic blade I had previously said Serge, maybe He will say here about this. Excuse me if someone disappoint you or let this work.

[SBranson]

Fair enough.. I think that your explanation could have served well in the original post and would have preempted the comments that followed.

 

In that case, since he was mentioned, you should look at Virgil England as well. I know Serge has acknowledged him as an influence.

 

 

 

Edited December 10, 2012 by SBranson

[Kevin Colwell]

Good to give credit where it is due. But, it can also be taken too far. All of us have been influenced by several others. I don't give credit to the great Chinese smiths every time I make a dao, though people can clearly see that I am taking their art form and trying to advance it in the present and into the future. Jesus doesn't give tribute to a long line of Japanese smiths every time he makes a katana, neither does Walter or anyone else. yet, we all know that they feel a deep respect for those that came before by the passion and quality of their work. none of us thank Don every time we make a knife, yet he has influenced each of us. and on and on.

 

Good work. you are trying to find a new line of expression as an artist. That takes courage as well as skill. Virgil and Serge have come before, and thanking them is good form. However, your work drawing from the same well as there's is also a form of thanking them. That fact should not be lost, either.

 

thank you for sharing your work. I look forward to seeing more of this direction from you.

 

kevin

[Sixto Ramos]

I agree with Kevin.

I'm new to this forum, and almost as new as a bladesmith, so maybe my opinion is not that valid, but I think imitation is an obvious way of acknowledging the worth of someone's work. I learned to draw, to photograph and of course to blacksmith by copying the work of people I admire. Then I started reinterpretating that inspiration and finally I got to a style of my own.

Someone may argue that a writen acknowledgement is in order so no one feels offended. Probably true. That same person may not have been carried out but the excitement of accomplishing something similar to what the people you admire and respect have done before, and the wish to share that with those same people and the rest of the comunity.

[Richard van Dijk]

Exactly what I was thinking Kevin, after a while we all develop our own style, Ito has already shown that with other pieces, only this style is quite distinctive so much easier to recognise.

 

Richard

[Ito Matsumoto]

The influence of the works of other masters certainly in our business. We take the early work and try to repeat it with the addition of its emphasis - as we gain experience. But to do something different - you need to master the basics, and this is done by means of copying.

And Tricks (forging, polishing, etc.) Don Fogg had on me is also not a small effect. So how do you get experience without copying and repeating? There is a Chinese proverb: to perceive the words of any person, as the words of his teacher (you can always learn and all - you just have to take if not the best, it is only necessary).

Thank you all for your attention and understanding. The process of learning and becoming masters lasts a lifetime, but I can not call myself a master ever. If I tell you about myself "I - Master" - means a "master" I have come to an end - there is no more fire in me no more sparks and all searches are completed (this will be the saddest day of my life.)

And more ... I share with you my successes and failures as a large sledge brotherhood ... After this we all here today - we share with each other their work, we assess and evaluate our work - all of which help in the development and creative growth ... Thank you all for your attention ...

[SBranson]

No one has questioned copying as a means to learning. The only reason this thread has drifted this way was because of the simple lack of this explanation.

 

To post work that looks so much like another's and not mention the influence is what is in question here. To equate that so broadly to all katanas or Daos is not the point. Those are obvious and related to hundreds of years of tradition not a particular individual. This is a piece that was initially presented as an individual's work without explanation that this was a study of another individual's piece. It was noted that this looks kind of like copying or a plagiarism of sorts.

 

It's fine and well to mention after the fact all this other stuff about influences and learning and proverbs but by not disclosing the "study" in this particular case where the shapes are so clearly lifted from Serge's design is not good form.

 

I'm all for working with others' styles and methods but if you post a copy then, for your own credibility, I think the influence needs mentioning.

Edited December 11, 2012 by SBranson

[Alan Longmire]

Personally, I thought the mention of influence was implicit in the very title, "Relic." This is an example of the barriers of language, I think. Ito did not intend to slight Serge at all, rather this is an homage. And good one at that!

 

We are all on the same page here, no disrespect was intended.

[SBranson]

I don't think there was ill intent either as Ito is well respected for his work here. Perhaps the "relic" word on this forum is equated with Serge but it is used by others on other forums. I have used the term myself on occasion and unless I'm mistaken, that term was not coined by Serge himself and I seem to remember that it was used by another maker (perhaps John White iirc) in describing something Serge made several years ago, before Serge began using it as a moniker.

 

Perhaps I'm wrong and I missed it..

 

Keep up the exploration!

[Claude DUBOIS]

I apologize, would'you excuse me Ito-san . i have not well understood the sense of your work and i realize my english language level is not enough high .

 

Onegai shimasu Ito-senseï

Rei!