Clarification on Carving Tree Bark of Rick Jensen

[woodspiritslover]

Dear Bark Boy and friends, here is a question related to Rick's book. Carving bark (for those wonderful whimsical houses) we are using only the bark? In other words at the back side of the piece of wood there is no part of the tree body? Plain Bark all over? Perhaps stupid question but would appreciate the reply of Bark Boy or whoever has gone through his book. Thank you all for the precious advices you always share with me generously.

In the meantime I have started my first caricature little guy on birch (yes I know hard wood - I read it already here in the forum but it was the easiest to find and the quality looks really good).

Thanks againCheers

[BobD]

Yes...it's all bark. The cottonwood tree bark can be 15+ cm thick (6-inches) or more...so it's all bark, no trunk, no sapwood, just bark.

Birch is harder than many of the woods we carve here in the US, but it's not as hard as beech or hard maple...so you'll be fine. It's a little bit harder than Cherry, which I carve all of the time.

Bob