[Mottles]

Wood Spirits

12 inches Tall

Basswood block

Finish: two coats Danish Oil, two coats burnt umber oil paint wiped.

Hi All:

Well, everyone gets so darn serious this time of year including yours truely. So I thought you all needed a good laugh. So here is my attempt at some tree spirits.

I finished the carving of the first wood spirit using one cornor. Then decided it was to my benefit to utilize the back corner for another wood spirit. As I need all the practice I can get.

My wood spirits are based on one of Susan Irish’s e-projects she was kind enough to send me. Now in no way does my wood spirits measure up to Susan’s wood spirits. But she along with you all have given me the courage to keep trying. I know each one will get better as I improve my carving skills.

As always I appreciate your thoughts, comments and suggestions for improvement.

Kathy
I know Susan is going to wonder where is the long hair and beards on these two. Well, I thought it would be easier if I just consentrated on the face and small beards. I know big time cop-out but promise the next one will have a full beard.

[GeorgiaCarver]

These are excellent! I especially like the eyes and the mouths. You should be proud of this carving.

[Mottles]

Hi Whatsthat, thank you I have found the eyes are the hardest for me. On the first spirit my knife slipped and I took off the (viewer's right) nostril. Fortunately didn't loose any of my skin! grin None of this carving is easy I so admire all you carver's who do such excellent work.
Kathy

[Kenny_S]

LaUGH at what Mottles? I see some fine carving.

[Clifford_Parker]

Look like a couple good "attempts" to me. Nice work and keep doing them. The eyes are the hardest part for most of us and practice is the only way they get better and easier.

[Irish]

Kathy ... how much stronger than your first work! Great improvement. Get a few more wood spirits under your belt and I think you will definitely have the hang of those delightful little faces.

On your next carving go about twice or three times as deep with your first v-cuts. This will make your face larger. And larger is soooo much easier when you are just starting out.

Great work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Susan

[squbrigg]

Great work Mottles, if you never venture outside of your comfort zone, you will never improve! Well done. You are gaining experience , practice and are becoming more comfortable with your tools and your wood, each and every time you do a carving. Your skills are improving with your experience. Keep up the good work.

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Way to go Kathy! You wouldn't want to see my first attempt at a face LOL...........I think Len has a tutorial on his site "Diamond D" you might look at that, in fact there are several tutorials on woodspirits ...do a google search. Those of us that are not close to all those great classes are doomed to learn by "practice, practice practice"! ha ha keep after it!

[MelNM]

Kathy, good job, I agree great improvement, something that really helped me with the last set of eyes I did was Susans little tutorial, specially the part with the 1/16th u gouge when I was cutting the eye lids. Here I go trying to get you to be a tool junky like me.
Mel

[Mottles]

Morning All (9:16AM MT) Just fired up the computer boy the Internet is slow, everyone must be Online Christmas shopping. urrgh....

Kenny_S: You sweet talker--LOL thank you I hope to be one day.

Clifford_Parker: Thank you, your right they are attempts and your also right 'you have to keep doing them.' And I will!

Susan: The very first carve 'Prescott Valley Pard' even with all the mistakes I learned. I'm pleased that some of sunk in and it shows with these guys. The first corner spirit I made additional mistakes and did feel unsure about my ability. By the second one I felt more at lease and just enjoyed the process. Had I have not had you e-project to fall back on I don't know if the result would have been the same. Meaning not so good! tee hee My second spirit has little beadie eyes doesn't he. I'll remember about deeper v-cuts too.

Bob: Thank you, and boy did I venture outside of my comfort zone--way outside. Seriously you are right we have to give ourselves challenges. It's very easy to stay inside that box comfortable with ourselves and our abilities.
But it's much more interesting outside and learning about new things.

Dave: Thank you too, I'd love to see your first face I think your just trying to make me feel good. tee hee
I'll take a look at the suggested site and I have gone a google search for wood spirits--lots out there. Some of them make me want to get a chain saw and go carve a dead tree.
Yep I noticed that we are greatly lacking in folks that carve and teach in my area. The Wood Bee Carver's club in Prescott of which we each have been are the only ones I know of up here. There is a big show in I believe in March 2006 in Scottsdale. I'll let you know when or if you know please let me know. whew that was an interesting sentence...

Mel: Thank you, Susan does have that in her tutorial I got, but I need more practice implimenting it. lol I did buy a set of six long handled carving tools from Susan and it helped greatly. I'd been struggling with just my bench knife and knew I needed more tools. So now, I can't use my original excuse 'I only have a bench knife.' So if things go wrong I have no excuse for lack of tools just lack of experience...
Mel I can see how easy it is to be a tool junkie it's my pocket book that will hopefully save me.

Well, as always you all make me feel so good--your friendship, help and encouragement mean so much and give me the courage to strive for excellence.

Kathy