Need some artistic advice

[OldNineFingers]

This may seem like an odd question but I am not an artistic, imaginative person. I would like to know how many of you folks copy something when you start carving. I want to do a spirit but try as I might I just can't see the face in the wood. If I look at a picture I can do a fairly good copy of it. Is this something that most folks have a problem with or am I just a dunce? Now was that a silly question or what? Please let me know what you other beginners are experiencing.
Thanks for your help,
Ray

[Ron T]

Hi Ray, I think you're pretty darn artistic if you can look at a picture and get a reasonable resemblance out of your carving.

It's still hit and miss with me. Some of my carvings are great, I think, and some plain ole stink, I think.

It's just practice. I'm now designing my own faces so I don't copy pictures anymore. That's one reason I miss from time to time.

I think you're doing just fine.

[OldNineFingers]

Hey Ron T. Thanks for the reply. I am on your email list that comes to my homepage everyday. I enjoy your stuff. I emailed you once about full time RVing and you replied. Do you remember?
Ray

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Hey Ray there is no such thing as a stupid question unless ya never ask it then it's a stupid question. I just carve, don't use any patterns and rarely use a center line. LOL I am not sure if this will even help, but Ron is right practice makes perfect.
Carl

[Ron T]

Originally Posted by OldNineFingers

Hey Ron T. Thanks for the reply. I am on your email list that comes to my homepage everyday. I enjoy your stuff. I emailed you once about full time RVing and you replied. Do you remember?
Ray

Hi Ray,

I remember but I had to go to my guest book. I thought you were octoolguy or something. Didn't put the two together. I was wondering where you'd gone. Now that I know, you'll be hearing from me.

[AlArchie]

Ray there are a whole lot of folks out there who make a living making patterns, blanks and roughouts for another whole bunch of folks who use them to make their carvings.......some will ALWAYS need patterns and some will evolve their skills into creative areas. No matter which group you find yourself in, you can have fun and relax carving. There really aren't any fast rules to this hobby.

Welcome to the bunch!

Al

[RoadKingMN]

Ray,
Whether you use a pattern or pictures you are learning the proportions of a face or figure or whatever you are carving. After time these will become second nature to you. You will probably start to find yourself really examining peoples faces. Sometimes you have to be careful about that. Just keep at it and don't hesitate to use any method that helps you advance your art.

Brian

[sbirkes]

Originally Posted by OldNineFingers

..... I would like to know how many of you folks copy something when you start carving. Ray

I have a file full of pictures from magazines of faces that I use for reference. Smiles, frowns, open/closed mouths. All sorts of expressions. Reference and research is part of creating a piece.

[K. Ellenburg]

Hey the way I look at it your a step a head if you can look at something and get a good representation of what your carving. Wish I could do that.
Just curious did you get your name before or after you started carving? LOL
Kevin

[Joy]

Patterns are great. When you are just starting out you are focusing on how the tools work and what you can do with them. By using a pattern you have one less thing to worry about. As you advance you may rely less and less on a pattern and add your own ideas. But however you do it the main thing is to have fun and enjoy what you are doing.