[AlArchie]

I agree, those are not 'beginners' carvings!

Al

[stevefrfla]

Santos: I agree, very nice.

Hi folks,If I,ve learned nothing else in my years of carving,Ive learned this,Its easier to remove a chip,than it is to put it back.Sometimes less is more.Thats my unasked 2 cents worth.Takr care and happy carving.
Mark

Good suggestions, Rick.

Mark, I'll agree with you on the 'sometimes less is more' idea. I don't take off one more piece of wood than necessary to convey the 'feel' I'm going for.....you can look at the bottom of my carvings, and sometimes you 'll see pretty square, pretty round, really cock-eyed, and everything in between. I'm just trying to find that Santa hiding in there...sometimes he's hidden deeper than others :-)

Teri

Mark,
I agree the goal of any artist (including carvers) is to say more with less.

I hope you understand I am referring to beginning carvers when I post in the beginning section.

I think the majority of beginners leave their carvings too bulky. I don't have to go back many years to see that in my own carvings.

For example, if a beginner ruins an eye on a figure, I can usually gouge it out and carve another in the same place.

Yup, that's true enough, Rick - my first carving was done on a 2x2...and that's exactly what it still looks like - a 2x2!

Teri