1st carving in 50 years

[BullRunBear]

Just finished the first carving I've tried since a Cub Scout project during the Eisenhower administration. It's the 5-minute owl from the Fall WCI. Well, the 5 minutes became a couple of hours but it's done. It's not worth a photo (besides I haven't got the hang of the digital camera yet). However, it is recognizable as the magazine project and that is a moral victory. I can see a bunch of places for improvement but that is for the next attempt, which starts later today.

To say this was fun is a great understatement. It is a physical pleasure to feel the knife slicing through the wood. And it's a thrill to see a figure emerge from a blank piece of wood. (And doing so on purpose. ) My wife mentioned that I looked relaxed and contented while carving. Definitely a step in the right direction.

This was a great learning project and my hats off to Jan Oegema for his photos and directions. And the examples and encouraging atmosphere on the forum here are wonderful. I may never be a good carver but I will definitely have fun in the process and that's what I want.

Jeff

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Boy......I have been in the carving doldrums, but sure hope it doesn't last 50 years LOL

[vacation212]

50 years is a long time between carvings,good luck.

[Kenny_S]

Welcome BullrunBear.

HIHO, get back to carving ya hear. We are waiting!!!!!

[cgm]

Hi Jeff, welcome to the forum. Sounds like you got the bug, enjoy!
Carl

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Welcome back to carving Jeff, have fun!

Dave

[Grayhorn]

Way to go BullRunBear, Carving is fun and relaxing. Since I got the tools and set up my room I've spent a lot of time "having fun". Al

[Joy]

You have discovered the reason so many of us carve.....not for the end product....it's all about the "process". Enjoy!

[BullRunBear]

Folks,
Thanks for the welcome. Since we are still house bound with a chance of 20 more inches of snow tonight, I am well into the second project. I'm trying a stylized (sorta) whale. By the time it's done I should be able to post photos.

This has been so enjoyable, we're planning to put a 'carving corner' in the hobby room with good lighting and comfortable chairs. I predict it will get a lot of use. Let's see, Susan and I just have to learn to use the knives and palm gouges, experiment with various woods and techniques, keep reading the forum and WCI to ask questions and get inspiration, etc. Yeah, that should keep us occupied for a while.

Regards from snow bound Virginia,

Jeff

[jmischel]

Jeff, welcome to the forum, and welcome back to the world of carving. I have a similar story: I carved a few projects as a Boy Scout back in the early 70s, and then put down my knife until about 18 months ago. It was a rocky start, but I got the bug in a serious way last April and I'm still going strong.

No lack of ideas or inspiration here on the forum, and the people here are both knowledgeable and willing to help out. It's the perfect combination.