Looks like I've come to this campfire at a point where I'm libel to burn my fangers. Oh well, wouldn't be the first time. So don't Bogart my frens.
I've often regarded selfboweryin' in particular (versus lam or glass) as more like a seduction than a process or method, at least once I'd run clumsliy through enough projects to appretiate the difference. Much like a seduction, you get better results when you listen and respond appropriately to cues from your partner.
I reckon that may be the hardest thing to communicate to new bowyers. They seem overly focused on how, how long, how wide, what wood, etc. perhaps out of necessity. Then after some number of projects hopefully the intuition kicks in sufficiently that the wood becomes responsive enough to give up the clues to guide the bowyer's hands... so to speak. An older hand will tell you the mechanics ain't as important as the communication. If I go much farther I may need a shower and a smoke.
Also, I think they say "form follows function" or something like that wrt to design and engineering. I think that holds for this craft as well. I don't impose my predisposition on the stave. It tells me, by virtue of function solely, the necessary and corresponding shape.
Seeep eeep... eeer.
