`Writer/Artists' Bamboo Tools & Accessories

[Mark Meckes]

`Writer/Artists' Bamboo Tools & Accessories
...and the list goes on ...
- Bamboo Pen sets, collections (the more the merrier!)
- w/Bamboo Pen-caps ; desk top pen-holder; case
- Bamboo Ink (?)
- Bamboo Ink jar holder
- Bamboo Ink blotting paper/ holder
- Bamboo Pen-nib sharpening block, accessories holder
- Bamboo Brushes
- Bamboo Brush pots
- Bamboo Palette
- Bamboo Pencils
- Bamboo Pen/brush vase
- Bamboo Paper clip holder
- Bamboo Measuring/marking rulers-templates-gauges
- Bamboo Letter/stationary holder
- Bamboo Tubes for scroll paper
- Bamboo Easels and frames
- Bamboo Spatulas, scrapers, shapers and molders
- Bamboo Paper
- Bamboo Tools for (bamboo) papermaking
- Bamboo Desk,table
- Bamboo Chair
- Bamboo Lamp
... Bamboo Eyeglass frames
... Bamboo eyeglass holder
.. A Bamboo frame of mind!

[DragonLady]

Now this interests me! I paint with a bamboo brush sometimes, and I was just looking at an auction for a magazine with a set of gorgeous "brush pots" that I would die for.

Does anyone have any instructions for how any of these things are made? Any books you can recommend or people who might be able to teach some of the techniques?

[Mark Meckes]

I've heard of people willing to die for the freedom to express themselves .... but never for a brush pot!
Yeah I know (I hope) ... you were only figuratively speaking ;)

Instructions? ... well it's a long list, and there may be some instructions to some ways of doing some of the things.
Often we can find information by looking at other specialized fields, and applying some of the principles and practices towards bamboo.

But don't let the lack of instructions hamper you.
A big part of the joy of being creative is the discovery process, though often the results are mistakes or ensuing sense of uncertainty, whether it is the 'right way' or could be done better.
I know the feeling ... Why am I trying to re-invent the wheel when it has been invented so many times over?
Well, especially in reference to bamboo and westernized society ... one of the things in our favor, believe it or not ... is that we are clueless to working with bamboo.... for the simple reason that bamboo is not native to Europe, with one species in the US that was largely decimated through the clearing of farmland ... and though many species were introduced a century ago .. never really found it's way into educational curriculums.

What's so good about this?
Well ... firstly we don't have grandma or pop saying ..
DO IT LIKE THIS. WE KNOW BETTER!
The downside of long held notions or traditions is that it can stifle innovation ... habits die hard ... everybody does it this way or thinks that way because that's the way they always did it or thought about it.

True ... one could also say that what we know now is from lessons learned from others including the mistakes others have made ...

The other advantage of having an 'empty canvas' and no instructions is the freedom it gives to experiment, to try various tools techniques and combinations of mediums.
There's a much greater chance that whatever you come up with ... even if crude in form ... will be unique!!! ... and your experience will be unique.
You will gain a special satisfaction from your own discovery. ... regardless of the fact that someone else somewhere else may have discovered it before you :)
-------
On the Plus side of having instructions ...
We can benefit greatly by learning from the experiences of others. Equally important is to learn about other ways of doing the same thing. From this we can learn how to develop our own style of doing things.

On a personal note ... when it comes to writing and drawing ... these are the two last things I have ever had a longing to do.
I've had a notorious reputation throughout my life as being the worlds worst letter writer.
I rarely ever write - except for this site.
I've never had an interest in drawing or painting - the only times I tried to ... years ago ... was such a struggle ... I knew straight away I had no gift of this talent ... but I like to sculpt :)

However ... being of a curious mind ... while working with bamboo some time ago I played around with making some pens and simple brushes, trying out some simple brush strokes, and making paper.

See: Bamboo Quill Pens (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=392)
Bamboo Pen and Ink 'drawing' (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=498)
Pressed pulp for papermaking (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=702)
These are all topics I'd like to return to and show how I did what little I know. ... I cooked up a fresh batch of bamboo pulp about a month ago and hopefully I'll get to it back to it soon as I've got some ideas that have been brewing on sculpting with pulp.

Oh yeah, then I got a pyrography tool. What a trip, when your canvas is round! This is when I finally began to learn how albiet simply to draw.
Pyrography on Bamboo Beads (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=262)
And a few more pics (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3022)
... another topic which I'm looking forward to writing about one of these days ...
Mark

[DragonLady]

I've never had an interest in drawing or painting - the only times I tried to ... years ago ... was such a struggle ... I knew straight away I had no gift of this talent ... but I like to sculpt

If you can write your name, you can draw. It's a birthright of humanity -our ancestors drew on cave walls with sticks and mud -and their works are just as masterful as those in the museums and galleries. All it takes is willingness to learn, and a lot of practise. You have to teach both your hand and eyes new skills; and that always takes time and work. There are several good books available and a huge wealth of information available on the 'net. And sculpture is an underrated art form these modern times, IMO.

Thanks for the links! The one about quill pens is very interesting, and I just may have to give that a try one day. :)