My take on the 5 minute Wizard

[Gear Dog]

Well I've been looking for something like this to work on my carving techniques for a while. I wanted something small that I could work on during my commute. This project was perfect because I kept a few blanks in my bag in case I finished one too early. I guess I skipped over the part where you split the square to get 2 triangles. I'll make sure to do that on the next set.
I'm no where near the 5 minute mark but I'm learning a lot. The wizard second from the left is the one from the magazine, the rest I did on my own without any reference. The first one was one of the last I did and that one I didn't even use a pencil for reference marks. Please feel free to comment good or bad I'm still learning.

[chuckt]

Hey Geardog - those are great. Really like the variety. How long is your commute? Train? Anyone hassle you about having sharp instruments on board? I ask because I've been toying with the idea of trying to carve on my hour long train ride into and out from Hoboken NJ. But I've been hesitant due to people possibly freaking out - "Knife!!!".

As for critique - your overall faces look great but you need to work on the eyes. Small eyes can be really tough - but your one on the end on the right looks like one of the best to me in terms of showing actual facial structure. You can always paint in the details.

All in all - a great start. Well done! I gotta get back to trying some of these.

ChuckT

[Grimnir]

Very nice! I really need to get working on them

[Gear Dog]

Thanks for the comments.
My commute is a little over an hour as well. I try to get a spot where there are three seats and sit against the window with my bag saving the seat next to me so that I don't get crowded in. Then after we pull out of the station I open my backpack in my lap to catch the chips. I try to keep the knife low in the bag so not to really attract any attention. The funny thing is anyone who sits next to me finds it interesting and strikes up conversations with me.
I think as long as I don't leave a mess the conductors are ok with it.

[Sharon of the Dell]

I think you are doing real good on them. Practice makes perfect.

[chuckt]

Hmmm . . . well then, I think I'll have to give it a try. I kinda hoped that doing small things like these 5 min wizards would be doable on a train and now you've given me the courage to try it. So Monday I'll give it a shot. Thanks!!!

Also - I hope you don't mind the eyes input. I certainly can't do any better, but to my eye that was the one area I thought could use something more. But I am REALLY impressed with your creative variations. I have a tendency to just copy and not try different things. You've got that in spades it seems though. Well done!

ChuckT

[Gear Dog]

No worries I know I've been avoiding the details in the eyes.
I picked u pa few books at my club GTG last night and there is a few pages on face details. Stay tuned there will be more.

[Robert Cahill]

Geardog,
Like your carvings I have been practicing with those also. Most of mine are not triangled either just the ones I think will hang on the tree then I scoop out the back when done. You might like checking out a book by Jack Price, Carving small characters it is great for on the go carving.

[Gear Dog]

That's the book I have and I'm going to be cutting a bunch of blanks tonight.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Hey Dog! There isn't any right or wrong! If you had fun and you want to do more then you must be doing something right. I didn't have any way to split them either so mind are all square instead of triangular. I believe that you'll find that they are easier to carve when they are triangular.