Need "first" carve recommendation

[bnoles]

I'm brand spanking new at this, but have been doing as much reading as possible and think I am ready to make a first attempt at carving up my first mess.

I am hoping my beginners tool kit from Little Shavers arrives today and I am heading to Michael's to grab a couple of pieces of basswood for practice. All safety measures will be in place, so the worst thing that can happen is I destroy a piece of wood along with my ego.

I am at a lose though as what to carve as my first project and hoping to get some recommendations from you seasoned carvers. Should I do a relief first or something else? How about a nice direct link to a project that would be good for a new wanna be carver?

Anything you can offer will be greatly appreciated and taken to heart.

TIA

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

yes...get your wood from Heinecke....you will enjoy it a lot more!

[RUssL.]

Go to Lora Irish's website for great beginner ideas, patterns and advice.
Just do a search engine with her name for the website URL.

RussL.

[Tom-H]

Hi Ho is right, correct, right on, tells it like it is. There are two required ingredients for a successful (at any level) carving experience. Sharp tools and good wood. An awful lot of the basswood sold at Walmarks, Hobby Lobby, etc. is hard as "Hammered cat Poop" (That's what Thomp would say")
I have seen several new carvers get discouraged when they try to carve that kind of wood. If you have to buy some of this wood, and it's the only wood you can get; try to take your pocket knife to the store and try a little cut at the end grain. If it cuts HARD try another. Just don't get caught. You'd probably be charged with breaking some type of homeland security law.

Tom H

[pallin]

Look through the Carver Galleries on this site. What items appeal to you? When you sit and look at your blank piece of wood, what image do you see inside? Make it an expression of your creativity. You will enjoy it a lot more.

[bnoles]

Y'all are too funny

For some quick wood, I used some coupons to grab a few small pieces at the discounters to get me by until I can order and get some of the good stuff you mentioned at Heinecke.

I am a very stubborn old coot and not easily discouraged by hacking away at some old piece of shoe leather. Head Bange Heck, it probably makes for better practice and helps determine if my sharpening skills are adequate

Russ, I will swing over to L S Irish and check out what she has. To be quite honest, I had forgotten to check there first as I usually do.

Phil, you must have been typing the same time as me and caused me to come back to edit. Your suggestion is great for those with more perception than I. I am a great copycat, but poor orginal artist. If I look at a piece of blank wood, I see a blank piece of wood.... DRATS!

Thanks for the great tips and now on to business at hand.

[JIM QUILICI]

Bnoles,
just for comparison i went to michaels last friday and here is the prices for wood comparied to Heinecke's
3 x 6 x 12 = $6.45 at heineke's
3 x 6 x 10 = $35.00 at michaels
unless you have unlimited money sources ( or not retired ) not a good place to buy wood.
Jim

[CuttinUp]

I'm kinda like you...I look at a piece of wood and see...well...a piece of wood. I am new to carving as well but have purchased a practice stick (for wood spirits). It has steps by step instructions for eyes, mounth, ears, etc...kinda neat if you can copy things. I look back at my first eye carving and the latest and see an improvement. One thing that changed in the middle was I bought better quality tools.

[Graywolf71]

Just my opinion but a good place to start is "flat plane" carving. It doesn't require masses of detail and it teaches you the basic cuts you need to know anyways. once you get down flat plane then you can move on to heavier detailed styles.
And if you look through here, Gene Messer has some very fine tutorials on flat plane style, i know cause i tryed 'em and they taught me a few things i didn't know.

Michael Gray

[vic n]

Here's what I tried first and had a ball doing it:
"Carving The Minature Flat Plane Santa "

Here's some more:

"Carving A Simple Small Figure From A Block Of Wood '' A Beginners Tutorial

And: Carving A Little Guy Face In The Flat Plane Style
These are simple patterns that don't take a lot of prep work and can be carved in one day. Good Luck! Vic