Problems with faces

[mediamst]

I am getting much better at carving. I have done several santas following video tutorials etc but when I cut a roughout on my bandsaw and try to carve, everything looks good but the face. I am stuck. I cant get a face down... Anyone have any suggestions? Should I buy a practice stick? anyone know of any good tutorials?

Thanks!

[big dave]

post some pics it will help us see where you are at

[mediamst]

Ok. As you can tell with the Santa's which I followed step by step, they turned out... Well, ok. But when I am working on my own, on a roughout... This is what I am ending up with. Over and over. I am getting frustrated and don't want to give up on it since I am getting so annoyed

[Iowa Carver]

It would be my suggestion to pick up Jack Price's Carving Small Caricatures book. Even though it is on small 2 inch miniatures, the same techniques can be applied to bigger carvings. It really helped me a lot. The step by step is fairly simple and the shaping of the face to carve is part of the overall shaping of a carving.

Corey

[morganwoodcarver]

I had something similar happen to me the first few carvings I did. I got some scrap wood and did nothing but eyes, noses and experimented with facial expressions. I am still learning every day, but the main thing is not to give up. Keep working at it and it will all come to you.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Probably the very best book that I have seen on faces is Marv Kaisersats "Creating Caricature Heads in Wood and on Paper. If you follow the steps, it's almost a fail safe. I just wish it covered from the shoulders down. Great book by an outstanding carver and teacher. Doesn't receive nearly as much attention as it deserves.

[big dave]

when learning i found that a center line down the front and back of the carving will help keep it even, i always work all over the carving roughing in the whole thing before adding any detail,that way you can get everything in proportion

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

One other thing that comes to mind is the eyes. They are difficult to make come out even. If you to them first, before the mouth and smile lines, if they come out uneven you can adjust the rest of the face to match. See some of Pete Leclairs carvings as an example.

[doris]

your problem is maybe that you are looking for a "formula" to carve faces, there is no such thing... my advice, look often on fotos, or in mirror, and do get the big shapes down first. in the sideview pic you can see the big shape is ot correct yet, but you have already started carve smaller shapes like in the mouth area. better try first do all big shapes, only after that, smaller shapes..last is details, like eyes etc
also, it is much easier to carve bigger, since in small when your cut is wrong by 1mm it means a lot aand may ruin the carving, but if the carving is bigger, 1mm wrong might still pass as ok...
another point, try clamping your work, so you have both hands free for control. you will notice cuts are easier to make, less effort, and thus easier to control direction of cut...i would sttrongly recommend to try this at least,,,

[Soggy]

Originally Posted by Plain_Ol_Ed

Probably the very best book that I have seen on faces is Marv Kaisersats "Creating Caricature Heads in Wood and on Paper. If you follow the steps, it's almost a fail safe. I just wish it covered from the shoulders down. Great book by an outstanding carver and teacher. Doesn't receive nearly as much attention as it deserves.

What Ed said!.................. I was having similar problems..............bought Marv's book ;followed it set by step and now things are startting to come together. Although I think that most carvers are "never" satisfied with their results and continue to try and improve all their carving life.
My .02 cents worth
Wayne