I am under way with my first ever carving.

[Boog]

Hello, I finally got my new set of carving knives and chisels. I went with Flexcut. I got a nine piece carving set and 3 starter knives and the strop kit. I have outlined my bear and have started carving, i am getting ready for the fine detail work now. this will be my biggest challenge because I am not that artistically inclined. My problem will be the shadowing for the different hair and muscels. Any sugestions? I have a picture that I took which I will try to upload now. Thank you.

[Lazy Carver]

Your doing just fine. Excellent choice for a starting set, and that is a mighty fine bear. I can't wait to see the finished product. Looking forward to it! Welcome to the WCI family of carving!
Sincerely, Rob (Lazy C.)

[Kadiddle]

Good to hear you are up and running. Have fun.
Carve On,
Kadiddle

[Robson Valley]

Good bear! You have the flat slope of the nose/forehead just right. Looks like the local boys (who are fast asleep right now).

Fieldandstream.com has fantastic archives of animal pictures for free. Lots of bears in there and not just dead ones.

[STAR]

I think you might surprise yourself with how much latent artistic ability you have. I thought I had none, many still do, but that is another story.

Lots of support here, I would have given up without help from the guys and gals here.

Pete

[Mark N. Akers]

Great start, keep up the great job, and welcome to the site.

[sappy]

Looks great to me! I like the expression you have started. I love my flex cut set, I'm sure you will too!

[Gergie]

Great Job, keep your tools and wits sharp.

[uvawyo]

Looks like an excellent start to me.

[twymanok]

looks like a good beginning, as far as shadowing besure to have a light shining from across the top of the carving it will help you with the cuts and getting the shadowing right. I notice a difference between using over head light vs across my carving.
remember with a relief carving if you goof you can always go a little bit deeper.