Scott Clark Woolley Dvd
Decorating By amandasweetcakes Updated 4 Jan 2007 , 1:40am by RisqueBusiness
Does anyone have his DVD's? They are not cheap and I'm wondering if it's worth the money or if I'd be better taking a hands on class for sugar flowers.
i have one of them and i *love* it. i really want the new orchid dvd that was recently released as well but i am hesitant as christmas just pasted and i don't want to be greedy, lol! he is an AMAZING teacher though, in my opinion, dvd's can be better then taking a class because you can stop and rewind.
I have them all, plus his book. What would you like to know?
Let me give you an overview. First, I am the first one to admit that I'm totally biased here -- I am a huge fan of Scott's work and I really respect him as a teacher. We've written on email, spoke on the phone and I listen closely to what he says. (It helps when you respect the teacher 
) The first video is kind of general. In it he teaches an orchid, a rose, a lily and a couple of filler flowers. It's a good selection to see if you want to indulge in this medium. Also he teaches how to make gumpaste from scratch, what tools you will need and what they do and his method of working with gumpaste. Scott is known to have a very specific way of working with gumpaste and that is what he teaches.
In the second video, the Heart of Cake Decorating, Scott bakes a cake and decorates it. He goes through each step, from mixing the batter, prepping the pans, crumb coating, smooth coating, fondant covering, making the fondant and decorating the same cake two totally different ways. He also has some cool ideas about cake boards too! I didn't think I'd want that video, but when I did I found it was my favorite one. I watch it over and over and learn more each time. And I have to say, Scott is a stitch! You can tell by watching him that he just loves to have fun and you can't help but laugh along with him!
I wasn't originally going to get the orchids video, but after speaking to him on another matter we got to talking about lustre dust and coloring the flowers. I happen to love lustre dust but I have noticed that my cakes are so bright you need sunglasses to look at them. He suggested the orchids video because in it he has quite a bit on how to color the flowers/the proper use of petal and lustre dusts. He also has a lot of good information on wiring flowers and bouquets. It is a two-disc set and I watched just the first one and came away with "WOW!" as my first response. Truly the amount of information will blow you away.
His book is designed to be used in conjunction with the videos. He has instructions for something like 150 flowers in it. Many of which are either already on or are going to be on his videos. He has a series of 9 videos planned for gumpaste. One of the big differences between Scott's videos and others is the fact that he is not so much demonstrating how to put together a cake, but rather how to create gorgeous flowers. He doesn't use molds to achieve results, he shows you how to do it yourself. I'm fairly new to gumpaste myself, but what I've learned I've learned primarily from Scott. They are expensive, granted, but you will learn more than you ever imagined in these videos. [Geez, do I sound like the ultimate infomercial or what?? 
] Anyway, I hope that helps some. 
i forget to mention that i got his book "cakes by design" as well. of all my books, and i have *alot*, this one is probably my favorite. however, if you have no knowledge of gumpaste it might difficult to follow, it was for me anyway. oh, and if you *do* get the book, you must try his chocolate cake recipe, absolutely delicious.
He is "for real"? By the look of his websites, it seemed he was very unprofessional and somewhat afixiated with the supernatural.
Yes, Scott is "for real." We've written and talked and he is very down to earth. He is into metaphysics, which isn't my scene and it does bother me, but I'm not paying him for that, I'm paying him for his experience in gumpaste and teaching me. I don't understand why you would think he is unprofessional though. He holds a very high professional standard and it's reflected in his book, videos, website and his artistry.
I never affirmed he was unprofessional, I was skeptical about him though by the look of his website; it wouldn't seem like a website for someone so high in the Field and someone who is very sought after in the Field, do I make sense? It was his website that prompted me to be skeptical about him; it just didn't fit (especially when he had all that weird stuff about astrology and the such).
Looking at his website, I have to say it's not very professional looking. The website that is. It's flashy and cluttered and every single thing you click on opens to a new page so when you want to look at photos you have 3 pages open just getting to the one category. For instance I had his home page open, clicked enter which opened another page, clicked wedding cakes which opened another page with small thumbnails, so that is 4 pages already and I haven't even seen a full sized photo of a cake yet.... too much too flashy and way too many open pages for one website.
Also I saw the price of his DVD's.... $200.~ for a movie... I'm sorry but that's a bit much. I understand he may be good at whatever it is he does but come on now $200 bucks for a disc that has him doing what ever it is he does on it.... is it really worth $200.~? I'm sorry I feel I could find at the very least 50 things I could spent $200.~ on better then that.... for instance a started KA mixer at walmart is $200.~.... just think he's a little full of himself to offer it at such a high price.... I'm sorry and I'm sure I'm going to get lashed out at but it's just my opinion.
I am one of his biggest fan. I am honored to be able to call him friend. I Have his bookn signed by him. I love his down to earth way of explaining how he did something. I don't remember how I got his book or from what sight I saw it on but he is a teacher of sugar art. I wish I could go to where he lives and take his classes. This year is already a bust. Just had surgery on my right hand/arm and am slated for the same on my left in less than four months. So right now all I can do is read and one handed type. Maybe my husband will feel sorry for me and get me a couple DVD sometime this year,
I took a class with him and found him, at that time not to be a very good teacher.
Don't know if he's changed..
This was my OWN personal experience with him...not to say others haven't had a WONDERUFL experience with said gentleman...and if they have...I'm very glad!
There is a difference between Scott the man and Scott's work in the sugar arts. I have found him to have an on/off button which I've inadvertantly pushed (never could figure out what I did to set him off like that) but we always made nice afterward. My original comments in this thread are about Scott's work, his videos and book, not Scott the man. It is regrettable that he has this explosive reputation, but I liken it to the artistic equivalent of a mad scientist. Regardless of what Scott the man is like, I firmly believe his work stands on its own.
There is a difference between Scott the man and Scott's work in the sugar arts. I have found him to have an on/off button which I've inadvertantly pushed (never could figure out what I did to set him off like that) but we always made nice afterward. My original comments in this thread are about Scott's work, his videos and book, not Scott the man. It is regrettable that he has this explosive reputation, but I liken it to the artistic equivalent of a mad scientist. Regardless of what Scott the man is like, I firmly believe his work stands on its own.
I'm glad that you made that distinction here for people considering taking his classes, as I was afraid that I would turn people off him, which is something that I would feel terrible doing.
But, in MHO...if I'm going to spend THAT kind of money to follow a good gumpaste teacher I would spend it with someone with a less explosive personality..
That "personality" is part of your professional demenor...if you can't take the "heat" get out of the kitchen!
I have taught many techniques and been a demonstrator at shows and I have so wanted to yell, shoot, kick and just plain punch out people...but I've NEVER EVER lost my composure..
True that the minute I was in my room or at dinner with my peers..we'd exchange war stories..lol and laugh our silly heads off..but while I was "ON" I am an ULTIMATE professional. 
I know I had an experience last Fall where a student exploded at me during class (I was the teacher!!) for no other reason than she was mentally ill apparently, and I was nice to her and let her stay, but the next day I called the powers that be and had her removed from the class. As it turns out I should have thrown her out right then and there because NOT ONE PERSON SHOWED UP for the next week (which was the last class.) 
I don't know, sugar is supposed to be fun, yet I've met some of the most unstable people in this industry... Thankfully they are few and far between~ 
AMEN TO THAT Bobwonderbuns!! lol
were you able to call everyone and explain? (hopefully!)
Nah, but the few students who came to me privately and asked if they could switch to the same class I was teaching on another night I let them in. They were the serious students anyway, the others gave the impression of bored housewives. Oh well, live and learn... 
But back to the subject of Scott's videos, don't let his volatile nature throw any one of you off. His work stands alone and I found that I can rewind the tape as many times as I need to without having anyone go off on me because I'm not getting it. I own quite a few CDs on cakes and fondant and gumpaste and I like Scott's on gumpaste the best. I learn a lot and my work has improved dramatically. That's just my opinion.
Thanks everybody for the great info. I really want to learn how to make beautiful gumpaste flowers but I'm not sure that I can find anymore time away from my 3 kids to travel and take a class. Which is why I thought the DVD might be the way to go. At least I wouldn't have to worry about being thrown out of class 
I have never met the man, nor watched the full videos. However, dd and I were looking for fun vids for her to learn decorating, and she thinks he's hilarious! His work is impressive, for sure. Remember, he is an artist in the full sense - writes and composes as well as cakes. She laughed through his songs, especially the "stick in the mud" line about NYC. Really, how is his personality in the videos? Is is like Richard Simmons and other personalities, where you can't focus on the good because it's overwhelming, or is it all teaching?
I have never met the man, nor watched the full videos. However, dd and I were looking for fun vids for her to learn decorating, and she thinks he's hilarious! His work is impressive, for sure. Remember, he is an artist in the full sense - writes and composes as well as cakes. She laughed through his songs, especially the "stick in the mud" line about NYC. Really, how is his personality in the videos? Is is like Richard Simmons and other personalities, where you can't focus on the good because it's overwhelming, or is it all teaching?
Scott is one of the few that can be entertaining and teach at the same time -- usually by cute quips and (horrible!) puns! But the jokes are so bad they're actually funny, I found myself laughing in spite of myself! I remember years ago he told me "It's Sugar, it's fun!" and that became my motto. And he doesn't overdo it either. During the orchid video, he's very focused on the orchids and explaining what goes where and why. Personally I find them to be enjoyable, but then again, I'm biased...
OK, I checked out a site where you can order these DVDs. I says they are rated PG because of some rear nudity. What does this guy do? MOON ya at the end or what?
Oh yeah, that... At the end of the first video he decides to relax -- by whipping off his clothes and jumping in a pool... 
I admit, I'm a bit of a Puritan and my first reaction was a loud gasp, followed by uncontrollable laughter... I forgot to mention that because I don't watch that part anymore (once was MORE than enough!)
OK, I checked out a site where you can order these DVDs. I says they are rated PG because of some rear nudity. What does this guy do? MOON ya at the end or what?
Oh yeah, that... At the end of the first video he decides to relax -- by whipping off his clothes and jumping in a pool... I admit, I'm a bit of a Puritan and my first reaction was a loud gasp, followed by uncontrollable laughter... I forgot to mention that because I don't watch that part anymore (once was MORE than enough!)
I read your post and I am laughing so hard with tears! Are you serious? There really is rear nudity? I can't imagine watching an instructional video and the instructor decides to strip and jump in the pool and not edit it out! 
I think he thinks he's got it, so he's flaunting it... But no, he's not bringing new meaning to "the naked chef..." 
(or maybe he is, who knows??) But seriously, I suspect it had to do with a promotion for Waterbearer Productions which does all his videos -- a waterbearer is "an unashamed naked man in the water..." or some such thing and that is the logo on the videos, a guy in the water pouring out a pitcher of water (which is supposed to be creativity or something I guess...) It's funny too, I took the disc over to my cake teacher's house and we were watching it and at the end I gasped in horror and she looked at the screen rather analytically before remarking "nice cheeks"... [We'd better end this conversation before we get banned to another part of the website...]
Oh, LORD...let one of the women that put out instructional videos or DVD do that and see the SUGAR WORLD come to an end as we know it.
That REALLY should've been edited out...why would I want to see anyone's REAR END unless he had stuck a gumpaste rose up his bum! lol
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