a rolly polly santa emerging from the wood

[susieq]

I had a block of laminated basswood left over when I cut out the blank for the mermaid ships figurehead...miss Maggie May... this left over block was roughly 10 inches tall and about 7 or 8 inches wide and probably over 4 inches deep, with a glue joint running right up the middle of it.

I notched the top corners to leave a square bit right in the middle of the top, sticking up, where I could start working on a face. Yesterday I worked several hours roughing the face and again today for about 3 hours...I am slow.
Here are pics of what I did yesterday...he is going to be a rolly polly santa, really simple, in a hooded robe. The notched piece of wood is just like the one I used for this piece but is not the exact one because as usual, I forgot to take pics until after I had started carving.

[susieq]

Here are the pics of what was done today....as I said, I am a slow poke. I always envy those who can carve a whole piece in one day. It will take me that long just to decide on the details to put in...

[Curtscarving]

Looks to be a goodun. Waiting to see.
Curt

[xsailer]

Fun to create something new and from scratch isn't it. Nice that you're sharing your progress. Thanks

[wildhare]

Hi Susieq,
He is going to be another Great one from you. Are you using a power carver to rough him in? I love you Santa's and am curious about your approach. Maybe one day mine will be half as good.
Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Wanda

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Nice. I love it when you can see these creations just seem to emerge from a featureless block on their own. Neat!

[Merle Rice]

Looks like another good one .. Merle

[susieq]

Thank you for the comments......it is fun doing something from a block of wood with no blank cut out, everynow and then. Wanda, if you carve nothing but santas for over 15 years, your work will be way better than mine...lol. I have no doubt of that.

Yes, I am using power to rough him but I have just put him on a carver's screw so he can be mounted in the carving vise I use when gouge carving. I did whack the corners off of the blocky body, with a big gouge and a mallet. It's quicker to do that than to grind away for half an hour with a big kutzall. From here on in, I will be using both power and gouges on him.

Well, time to take an arthritis pill for my hands and head for the studio.
Thanks again for the comments. I will try to remember to take pictures as I go.

[bigEd_H]

I love seeing WIP pics. Your santa is taking shape well. Can't wait to see him once he's completely out of the block. Keep us updated.

Ed

[Keoma]

a rolly polly? is that one of those with a round bottom ? Ooooh I got it! Can't wait to see it! What a good idea! Could probably do a snowman too,eh?