Carving Faces

[buck-i]

Have been carving for about 2 weeks and enjoying it. When it comes to the face, either a chip breaks off or something happens like it doesn't look like a face. Will I do better with more experience or should I be buying a book to help? Maybe I need a small detail knife. I am trying flat plane. I have Harley's book. Suggestions needed.

[GaDoug]

Books, videos, tutorials are all helpful – but nothing helps as much as experience

[Tom-H]

From one Buckeye to another Buck-i;

Practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, ditto, etc, etc.....

Don't really need a new knife, detail or other. Just a sharp one will do. With practice, (did I mention practice?) you will learn to tell/feel precisely where the knife blade is at all times. It'll come! Just don't get discouraged...Had an ol'l lady carver tell me that after 1000 faces you'll be good. I chuckled to myself at that. But you know she just might not be too far off. But hay! I'm a slow learner, or a fast forgetter..

Tom H

[Thomp]

carving sharp tools and knife control, practice keeping your chips small, speed will come in time..

lots of good information has been given here..

[gene-messer]

Try this video on carving a figure .. the head and face are described in the process
YouTube - Woodcarving A Figure Out Of A Block Of Wood Part 1

just look to the right for the other parts of the carving process

Gene

[buck-i]

Gene, your videos have really been helpful. I can't thank you enough. You have helped so many, I'm sure. Keep them coming.

[Ron T]

When I carve faces, I make sure I use a sharp thin blade and I try to make thin shavings. If you press or push too hard, the small short grain parts pop off easily.

[BRIAN D]

buck-i there are numerous places for tutorials
Don @ WoodBeeCarver
littleshavers etc. keep looking & practicing as has been said before. Hope it helps.

[Irishman]

Check out the free tutorials provided by Irish. She outlines the basic steps very well. Also, try a search on this site, someone probably broke down the process for you to follow along - maybe the tutorial section for a start. Try and get comfortable with the roughing out phase and don't detail too soon. Also, the face has very few flat surfaces so try carving from a corner peice of a block and you'll get the idea. Also, Mark Gargac has a very well illustrated CD on carving woodspirits. And as you heard.....practice, practice. Try some log carving for a time with a medium soft wood such as poplar. So you spoil a few, keep at it and it will come. Get back to us if you need any assistance. The group has been very helpful with my challenges over the years.
Patrick

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

I like a sharp thin blade like Drake knives, but like the others said practice practice practice. Hope that helps. Have fun, it will all come together with practice.

Dave

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