Carving Faces

[Richard Carmen]

Help.............Any suggestions for the no vice on "beginners methods" for carvingthe face? Especially the eyes?

[E George]

Hi Richard,

For eyes check out the summer issue of Woodcarving Illustrated. There is an article by Harold Enlow with step by step instructions on carving eyes.

There are many books on sculpting faces. Take some time and check out books by Fox Chapel Publishing. There are books on Native American faces, women faces, and caricatures. Any of them will get you going. I refer to a Dover Publication called Design and Figure Carving by E. J. Tangerman when I do a figure or head.

A carving club is a good source for technics and some have seminars presented by nationally known carvers.

There are also basic art books that show proportions for a generic face. Go to an art supply store and look at their books. Spend some time in the local library looking at books on sculpture. Go to art galleries. All of this will help you in your carving.

Get some plasticine clay or barrow you kids Play Dough and practice making faces with that.

I know I haven't said anything specific about carving faces. It, like other aspects of carving, is a journey of carving the next one a little bit better than the last one. Ask any carver and he or she will tell you that they are still on that journey.

I sure others on the WCI forum will provide more ideas.

[steve brown]

I have a step by step DVD on carving a face and eyes. Check it out. CarvingVideos.com or Steve Brown Woodcarving

[Nomad]

I'll chime in on Steve's video. His technique is pretty slick. Very straightforward and it sure has helped me carve faces.

[ka0fan]

Another place to get an eye tutorial is 3Crosseswoodcarving - Home. Gary has his method posted there.
And grab a 2X2 and practice eyes and noses on the corners it really helps.
Best of Luck
Have A Great Day
Terry

[Magicman]

Another place is YOU-TUBE Look for Gene Webb videos on different parts of the face.
Larry

[Buffalo Bif]

From one beginner to another- I am struggling with faces and eyes too, maybe a little further along the road than you are, Richard. I'm not a realistic carver, more of an impressionist whittler. Couple slits where the eyes belong work- we all know they are suposed to be eyes. Keep watching the forum, you'll see a face you like on somebody's post, and copy it. My first step was to find a way to carve a face without eyes, or mouth- lots of beard and mustache, hat pulled low where the eyes go. I use scrap pieces of bass and carve only eye areas over and over til I start to see something I like, then I use those 'eyes' and start adding noses. I still haven't done an eyeball or pupil, and may never do so.

[Donsexton]

Look at Ian Norbury he is one of the best face carvers alive.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Youtube has many videos, also the tutorial section here on the forum.

Dave