couple of new carvings

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I usually just post a pic or two and say they are new or just finished thinking I would get some comments, but after reading some of the posts, if I want a critique, I am supposed to ask for it lol...ok shoot! We can all use a good honest review and we learn from it....so if you have any helpful suggestions let me know..thanks Dave

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I try to post two pictures and the site says I am posting 5? So I have to make two posts, wonder what that is about? anyway here is the second one. Should explain I guess, I have been trying to come up with my own design/style whatever you want to call it...for santas, I am not too unhappy with this guy or the previous one..but would like comments ...thanks

[Kenny_S]

My thinking which is somewhat cloudy, most of the time, is critiquing is telling the carvers what he has done wrong or right eh? And, it is a person opinion of the carving, but then, if you change what you have carved then you have changed your style to the critiquer's style. JMHO and to me the only one that counts!

Opppps, there I go again, voiceing what shouldn't be. HEHEHEHEHE

So critiques is what you want, critique is what you get. I like the first one better than the second. Not that the second was bad at all. Matter of fact Dave, I thought it was great. However, Just by the photos alone, the first looked smoother. Something I normal don't accomplish.
So Dave. Ya done great! Good enough???
If you can't learn from looking at other's carving then you are not learnable.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

actually, there isn't a "lot" of difference between them except the first one is almost twice as tall as the second....pictures are really pretty deceiving on a lot of things...but what the hay, best we can do right? lol

[Kenny_S]

You are so right Dave. Learn that motto in Scouts when I was young, "Do your best".
Not someone else's but "Your Best".
Photos are deceiving!
Yep, Like taking aphoto graph of someone, Puts the pounds on them. Well when you are fat like me, what is a few more pounds!!

Your Santas? They look great.
What to change on them, Nothing!
If you changed them to what I thought, They wouldn't be YOUR carvings. eh?

Best to you, I am out of here for a few days. I know Thank the Lord he is gone a few days. eh?
One last parting shot," the wprld needs to loosen up a bit" Maybe less wars if it did!

Maranatha!!!!! Amen

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Happy 4th Kenny!

[mwilleson]

Dave,

I like them! I think they have a nice, simple design. I like the red one a bit better because he has more form to his body. The dark one is more cylindrical.

Now a question...what are you hoping to accomplish by devloping your style?

Are you looking for an easily reproduced (i.e. fast/efficient) style for resale; are you looking for a style that whenever anyone sees it they say "that's a Hi Ho" (you can market them as Hi Ho's Ho Ho's....but I digress); or some other goal.

The reason that I ask is your two santas appear to be kneeling and they both have a staff. Two fairly unique traits for a santa, so in effect you have started a style. The question is where do you want to take it?

[whitecree]

Kneeling? (takes a closer look) Hey, I think you're right!

I like the red one better than the other. It may be just a trick of the photo angle or the colour, but the red one looks more cheerful.

Improvements? I'd have to try one or two myself before I'd feel too comfortable criticizing too much, so I'll suggest maybe a bit of ruddiness on cheeks and nose to show he's been outside a lot.

I like these, simple but effective. Sometimes, less is more.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

My own style mostly for the santa swaps etc..haven't tried to sell much, did sell one on ebay...poor bidding...really not much worth the effort.....and I would have to sell for 30 years to get back the investment I have in tools and materials ha ha...........if I want to make some money, I would have to go back to painting, and even that, people would rather buy plastic nowadays than the real thing.

[Tom-H]

I agree with whitecree, simple style, less is more can be very elegant, as in the darker Santa. If this is your evolving style; it is very pleasing to look at. I like the darker Santa best, but have to admit that I was not sure that he was a Santa. Both of the carvings appear to be very clean carvings. Tom H