Gretna Bark Carving

[ElWoodTroll]

I participated in Ken Armsbury's Bark Carving class at Gretna this past week.

[Thor]

Hey Elwood,

It is an interesting carving, and I would like to ask if you can post some more detailed pictures. It's hard to see the work you put into it with just the one photo.
Thor

[ElWoodTroll]

No way! Yoou'll see all my "oops" and "oh ohs"

[Thor]

Oh, much better! Love the mushrooms...
Now, did you enjoy that style of bark carving? Will it stick with you? Curious, because I tried it, and I just couldn't get past feeling like I was carving dirt. Your's looks like you really enjoyed it, and I do like seeing the details Is it going to hang? or be on a pedastle?
Thor

[ElWoodTroll]

Originally Posted by Thor

Oh, much better! Love the mushrooms...
Now, did you enjoy that style of bark carving? Will it stick with you? Curious, because I tried it, and I just couldn't get past feeling like I was carving dirt. Your's looks like you really enjoyed it, and I do like seeing the details Is it going to hang? or be on a pedastle?
Thor

My "style" If you want to call it that is a departure from the norm ( I think "unusual" and "off the map") were used at the retreat. This being my second carving, I don't think I've established any style yet. I have enjoyed doing these two pieces ( I included a pic of the first one (notfinished yet)) because it's easy to explore unusual form. Once you get past the tough shell it's really easy to shape the wood . I had the oppurtunity to visit Art Olvers wood shed and see the kind of wonderful things that can be done. This one will hang on my souvenir wall for carving classes

[Micky]

That is one fun looking carving. An inspiration for me to haul down my book on bark carved gnome houses.

[MelNM]

Only one thing I don't like about it, its in the beginners section. I really like your carvings and its hard for me to beleive you have only been carving for such a short period of time.

I plan on doing one also, I have a lot of cotton wood bark in the garage. How did you finish it, I like the way it came out thanks for posting it, even though you just put it in the beginning section Wink .
Mel

[chuckt]

Hey - I really like your first one even more than the second, and I liked that one a lot. Nice job! I took a gnome home bark carving seminar with Tony Erickson (http://woodakoodashooda.com/) at the North East Woodcarver's Roundup last summer and really enjoyed it. I still haven't completed the home I started, but I have a whole boxful of bark that I am planning to carve woodspirits and gnome homes out of. (I really do have to knuckle down and spend some more time carving and less time READING about carving.)

I love these little whimsical houses and actually - I'd LOVE to live in one IRL 'in real life' (or one that captures that feeling anyway - and of course a LOT bigger considering I'm 6'4"). I haven't done a lot of carving but I did find that once you got past the rough exterior bark, the inner bark was quite pleasant to carve - though you need sharp tools so as not to crush and crumble the bark.

Anyway - nice job. Can't wait to see the finished version of your first house. It's got a really neat wavey feel to it.

ChuckT

[chuckt]

Oh - what is GRETNA btw??

ChuckT

[ElWoodTroll]

Originally Posted by MelNM

Only one thing I don't like about it, its in the beginners section. I really like your carvings and its hard for me to beleive you have only been carving for such a short period of time.

I plan on doing one also, I have a lot of cotton wood bark in the garage. How did you finish it, I like the way it came out thanks for posting it, even though you just put it in the beginning section Wink .
Mel

I like whimzical houses for that very reason .You don't have to be an experienced carver to get something that fun to do and fun to look at. If you inpect my work close up you can see that I'm still very much a beginner but Im work'n on that. Most people use DEFT spray laquer to finish with. If you want to see the grain however, use an oil that doesn't darken the wood as much