Observing a carver

[Tom-H]

I don't quite know where the best place to post this is, but it certinally will benefit beginners. After all the carving "how to" books are bought/read, classes and seminars are attended; I think the most benefit to a new (and experienced) carver is sitting one-on-one with an experienced carver.
Important as well as little techniques can be picked up. All those things that really cannot adequately be described in print can be seen. How the knife is held for various cuts in different situations. How the wood is held when making specific cuts and adjustments. The relationship (positional and movement) between the wood and the blade as a cut is started, continued, and finished.

Yesterday I was sitting on a bench in a local park and whittling. I do this everywhere (drs office, auto repair shop, shopping mall, etc.) But for the first time ever, an old guy sat down beside me. Since I'm nearly seventy when I say old guy, I really mean it. He didn't say a word, just pulled out a pocket knife and a block of wood. Finally he said howdy; and asked if it was alright if he joined me. This park is in the country and is 120 acres large. We were the only ones there, but of course it was ok for him to join me. As I watched him I immediately realized that he was a really good carver. I started picking up little things as I watched. It was evident that he was not a real talker, but still I learned much from watching. He carved an Irish Sitter dog that was amazing. Then just as fast he he sat down he was off. I didn't get his last name or if he was just visiting or just moved to the area. But I know I'll be watching for him again. There's just too much to learn from a one-on-one observation of a really good carver..

Tom H

[Eddy-Smiles]

Tom... What you so adequately described is just a classic example of the old axioms that"you're never too old to learn something new" and "no matter how much you know there's always someone out there that knows just a little bit more." Like yourself I always carry my carving knife and a block of wood with me so that when the opportunity presents itself I'm well prepared. In fact, just this weekend we met my daughter at the zoo and enjoyed a day with the grandkids. While there one of our super monsoon thunder storms came through and we had to take refuge in a pedestrian tunnel. It wasn't long before I had my knife out and was making chips. I got a good hour in before it cleared up enough to continue our visit. The point is that I would have given my right arm to have had some old dude like you had come along and sit down beside me and want to share a few moments carving. What an opportunity! What a priviledge! What an honor! That certainly was a very special moment in life.

[Thomp]

i know what you both mean,

i didn't have a mentor set beside me bit rather tom H sent me a santa pin, then made a study stick and sent it,

while holding it in my hands i can see how its done, and where i was going wrong, enough to get me over the hump of faces,

on left face of last years blacksmith, i had since enough to quit while i was ahead

on right resent moonshiner,,

apparent is eyes, not totaly finished,
but the edges of cheek and mustach line development and help on where that line disappears behind the nose wing was of great importance, in the construction of the face on right,

while reading marve keversattes book, and the hands on experience of toms study stick came home..

although i used marves method on the eyes, looking at the different positions i could put toms stick into gave me the i can do that attitude,

although i don't feel anything i got or have done anything worthy to put into competitions.

i am learning some new things from old fellers, think i capable of calling tom old im 56 and not a young rooster by any sorts..
so see there old dogs can learn new tricks

[KeithC]

Tom, I completely agree with you. As a complete beginner I would love just to sit and watch an experienced carver. That is how I got started in intarsia. However, there just doesn't seem to be enough of you guys to go around. So, I find I must rely on other methods for my beginning education, such as books, carving forums (such as this one), local carving clubs and any other format for learning that I can find. Wish that I could find someone like you mentioned. I'm sure my learning curve would be a lot smoother than what I am experiencing now.
Keith

[Donna_T]

Keith,
You're so right--we learn so much from each other. I think that's one of the reasons so many of us encourage new carvers to find a carving club to associate with--the one-on-one help you get from them is immeasurable. But taking a carving workshop from a good instructor is another step.

Sounds like you had a great experience in the park. I hope he returns and you develop a carving friendship. Carving friends are the BEST!!!

Donna T

[susieq]

What a neat experience.... Hope you get to sit with him again.
This is why I always recomend people new to carving, get hooked up with a club or carving group if they can....just to watch folks who know how to carve, know how to use their tools. Just watching is so much better than trying to get it from a book. Even videos are not quite as good as being there in person.
susieq

[AlArchie]

Tom, you may never see this old gentleman again. There are some serendipidous encounters in our lives that seem to come along at opportune times just to add meaning to life.

Angels show up in the most unlikely places and then are gone!

Al

[squbrigg]

The old expression: "Ships that pass in the night" , comes to mind from your story Tom. Leaves both wondering who they were, where they had been, where they were going and what stories could they tell. I do hope you get to cross paths again with the gentleman. Life is full of such wonderful encounters, if you pay attention to them, as you have.

Bob

[Thomp]

tom just keep the frequenct visits to the same place, he probobly heard of another old coot carving in the park anf was just currious,
so if you keep up appearances he might get currious again...

[tucker1931]

Hello to all. Just found this great forum yesterday and am sure glad to become a member. I used to whittle as a boy and have thought about it for years. Even bought some tools a few years back, but just never got to it. The last couple years I did some pyrography but now feel is time to move on to the good stuff.
I've read a lot of articles and looked at a lot of pix. I'm interested in doing some spirit carving on cane or post. I have a few pieces of cedar rail fence and am hoping to get started soon.
I have a great plan, being as I live on the banks of the Grand river here in Ontario Canada, If you want to drop by, I show you how to catch some big (really big) carp and you can show me how to start out on my first wood spirit.
DEAL, OR NO DEAL??
Thanks guys.