[Fred Zavadil]

OK, here is my second, the first is buried somewhere in my studio, it was a small relief carving and I cannot find it.
Mark, Doris, yes, it is the ability to observe -see and remember, then applying all of them.....where was the horse when I carved this one - I did not remember much.
Fred

[mark yundt]

O.K.,,your second,,,that's it,,I quit!

[Ashbys]

Mark if you need an address....

Oh and make room on that bench... I just went into retirement.


Wow , that is amazing Fred ...

Ash

[Fred Zavadil]

Thanks Ash and Mark - I have to say that you did not bad either on your first.

I have to return to Mischief's first post - and the question if she gets the hang of it.


The answer is yes, the best advices were already given by many. What Nick, Doris, Mark, Susan and Ash said here about observing, drawing, seeing, learning and trying new things is what will take you to the next level.

For me, the most important thing is observation, I do it constantly and everywhere, I was told many times that it is polite to look into a person's eyes when I talk to him/her, however, it is almost impossible for me to do - in few moments my eyes start "hopping" all over that person, looking at the hair, facial features, the way their clothes wrinkle, hand position, posture.... just "sucking in" all I can (if you ever meet me, it is not because I am not polite). The "seeing" comes when I start working on something, it is in my mind; at many times what I carve could not work in reality (best example are wrinkles on my fabric carvings), but when I apply my "seeing" of the fabric, it works perfectly. I also use a lot of books to do my studies - anatomy, old masters, and anything what could eventually help me "see" better and I start each of my works with a sketch.


Hmmm, I guess I am just repeating what the others have already said.
Fred

[susieq]

Fred....your work humbles and inspires quite a few of us here..... Mark, I still want to come apprentice with you ....

[mark yundt]

Susieq,,with the shear volume of work that I have bid on,,and much of it soon to arrive,,any help from you or others is GREATLY NEEDED! I have to quote it knowing not all jobs come to fruition for a variety of reasons,,but all indications point to me getting hammered. And unfortunately with my nature I have a really hard time telling clients I can't accept their job unless they can wait 1-2 or more years. Or simply refuse any additional bids then pick and choose which jobs I really want to do.

With this economy as it is,,I don't have a clue as to what is happening. I always like seeing bigger jobs but this has gone from "wow,,this is neat,,to O.K. this is getting ridiculous,,to absurd,,to now I'm flat out scared "

In the past I have even resorted to visiting carving clubs looking for help.My responses were people stared at the floor or just looked at me blankly like I was nuts. I told them I could show them how to carve what was needed,,no-one believed they could.I saw what they were carving,,I know what I need done,,,none of this stuff is rocket science. I have personally seen in other shops where almost literally people off the street were introduced to chisels,,sat down,,and started carving on whatever job was in the shop at the time.
I had carved ducks with power for a year. With that experience my first beginners project with my mentor ,using chisels for the first time,was a leaf on leaf moulding for a Penthouse in NY city. If I had believed I couldn't do it,,it never would have gotten done. But I was determined,,and believed I could do it somehow,,and given enough time and I did. And by the way,,was well rewarded for my effort. After that,,well...I thought I could carve anything and couldn't wait for the next challenge.

I still believe this work can be done,,,I just need the time to figure out how......As the song says " he'll get by with a little help from his friends"

[susieq]

Mark,
I really wish we lived closer together..... I would come just to learn from you....will work for knowledge.... I bet you will hear from others who are closer to where you live, who will take you up on that. I have always hated living in Florida....add one more reason to the list now.

[mark yundt]

Susieq,,if you ever have the urge to visit Bethlehem,,do it during the holidays. Being that Bethlehem is the Christmas City,,we have a sister city in Germany ,,but host a Christkrindlmart for several weeks prior to Christmas. All sorts of items are available in an amazing display indoors. This is noted by Travel and Leisure as a top travel destination.The work you do I am certain would sell out and be a huge hit,,aint nothing like it,,just be sure to bring enough! Tour busses flock from 3-4 states away. There is nothing there like the work you do. Really,,google Bethlehem Pa,,go to area attractions and see what I mean. In addition to the Musikfest at the end of the summer,,over 1000 performers ( music ) and is the largest free music festival in the country ( over 1.25 million visitors that week) it takes over the whole city as well as the Celtic Classic Games featured on ESPN that are held here.That's not even considering the Sands Casino project currently underway ( 800 million) that will be open in 2009 in the total renovation of the former Bethlehem Steel Mill site.
O.K. I've sold my city cause I love it here,,but if you ever want to visit there are more interesting things to do than just visit me....believe me. Could make a neat vacation...

[susieq]

Thanks for the information on your town, Mark.
It sounds like a great place to visit...or live. I may just have to make the effort to get there one day.

[mark yundt]

Call me crazy but after I went on like that,,it got me thinking. With such a big event such as this,,and how many like it might there be around the country how could something like this work for all of our benefit. What I mean is,,there are so many carvers on this site,,,many do Santas,,snowmen,,angels etc. that what would be the difference if all these pieces got sent to one location such as the Christkrindle Market,,,one person manned the booth,,the booth fees then would get spread out over how many carvers,,,everyone wants to sell something somewhere,,and rather than open your own booth in your own town,,get in on one big show such as this one,,and there could be plenty of inventory?
And what if there could be some sort of sponsorship like say,,,Woodcarving Illustrated,,,has the magazine there as promotion ,,,plenty of people for sure would be initiated to the craft and magazine,,it would be manned by carvers,,and it could be promoted as something like

Woodcarving Magazine Illustrated presents a "HAND CARVED CHRISTMAS"

It wouldn't be much different than any person with a business setting up a booth at one of these events and displaying carvings from all over the country? And besides,,many of the carvers can be found right in the magazine! We'd all benefit,,it would be cheaper,,,you'd get great exposure to a captive market ( ya gotta pay to get in) and they come for 5 or so weekends right before Christmas. There would be carvings in so many styles,,in many price ranges,,,
Maybe it's silly,,,but who knows?
Gee,,,this really got off the track from the original post...sorry,,s just pop in my head and out they come....just have to run with them.