Over my head

[wade clark]

Dave,
I never know what I can chew til I bite it off!
ISpringer and Al,
Part of the beauty of carving is that, because it's wood, you can stop and walk away. It can sit for months and not change a bit...until you're ready to change it!
The other thing about carving is, for me it's an Obsession! I can work on several hobbies or projects at the same time, but only one obsession. I'm obsessed with finding a farm right now. When I find it, I plan on focusing on my wood carving obsession again, and for a long time. But until I find that farm, at least 10 or 12 hours a day will be consumed by it. Can't wait to get back to carving...on my farm!!!
Wade

[Smokey]

Art in any disipline, (music,sculpture, painting,etc.) is a matter of inspiration. When a scene presents inself, at the right moment, the artist is inspired to replicate the experience or parallel it. I guess the idea is to prolong a favorable experience.

If the carving no longer has the initial inspiration, I guess it would be difficult to achieve the same outcome as originally percieved.

It seems to me that the original passion and inspiration that brought about the concept needs to be rejuvenated. It may call for revisiting the original subject, place, event.

[Hugh]

Well I might as well jump in here with my two cents worth. I have read the posts over, and they cover just about everything. My own problems lie in not having enough reference. In your case, reference might be a small problem. Grin In a lot of the magazines I read, the popular method of achieving the presentation you want, is to use scuplting clay, and make a model of your carving before starting. It takes time, but you can remove material and replace it to your hearts content. final product should be vastly improved. Teaching carving, lots of people can not see where they are going wrong, and in the event after repeatedly showing them what is wrong, they are encouraged to hold the carving up to a mirror. for some reason this will show you the things that you don't like quicker than standing back looking at it. Hope this helps Cheers
Al Archie, if your stalled with the puffin, I might be able to help, as I just finished one, and have lots of real good reference.

[AlArchie]

Hugh, thanks for the offer, and I'll take you up on that....but later. I am up to my armpits in a steam engine relief right now, but when that's done, the puffin is next on the list (I hope). My problem is not so much lack of reference....I have tons of that....as it is getting the thing fully pictured in my mind's eye. I've only carved a couple birds and the concepts haven't quite locked themselves in yet, if that makes sense. Also, most birds are "squatters" and puffins for some reason want to run around like people, standing upright, giving them a whole different body structure. Maybe I should have started one in an "on the water" pose, more like a duck, but I've got him standing so am stuck with that for now.

I'd appreciate a picture of your own finished puffin, though! I most humbly need inspiration............oh, well.......

Thanks,

Al

[Hugh]

Archie, I had the priviledge of measuring a real adult puffin for this project. Let me know if you want measurements. Cheers

[AlArchie]

Thanks, Hugh, only now I'm REALLY intimidated! What a beautiful carving!

Al

[JIM QUILICI]

sometime we can hold that piece of wood to our eyes we can't see the carving. I always have a couple of carvings that I think need more work on them so I put them at the top of my carving table so I can see them and soon I can see what needs to be done. I bet 90% of carvers have this problem you (we) have. I tell my wife no carving is done till the fat lady sings.

Just old Jim