Question about improving as a carver

[jopo]

As with most things in life, I find that when I work on the same project a second time it is always better than the first attempt. The proportions are better, facial features are better defined, etc. My question is this. If I want to do two carvings of the same project (with the purpose of improving my carving skills, not of making two exact duplicates) is it better to complete one carving before starting the second? Or would it be better to do the two at the same time? That is, do the face on one, then the face on the second. Do the arms on one then the arms on the second, etc. until both pieces or complete. Any opinions?

[Tom Ellis]

Personally jopo, I would complete one, and then see where you need improvements. otherwise they will probably come out looking just the same.

Tom

[Bruce Bird]

Hi Jopo
I seem to finish one piece first then start the second.Maybe using the first as a model to help carve the second. You should do whatever works best for you.Do what feels right.

Bruce

[Robson Valley]

Carving one to completion is process where one thing leads to another. In the next carving, you can improve the overall process from experience. I'm really slow and have a number of very different WIP. Sometimes, something I've done on one carving gives me ideas how to do a similar method/technique on another.
I've done a bunch of carvings (The Animal Family), all faces then all antlers. As Tom Ellis says above, they did turn out sort of looking the same as that was what I wanted.

[Donsexton]

I like your thinking a carver could improve that way I know I have. By finishing one or almost finish before you start the other.

[Mitchell]

I agree with Bruce. Everyone is different..... What we like, don't like. Same for learning - some may learn better by watching and others by doing. You can get lots of different answers, but it ultimately comes down to your own personal make-up.

Either way - practice will make you better; no matter which way you decide to go about it.

[TexasSteve]

I am pretty new to carving and I think it is easier to finish one, then look at it, then use it to start my next one. I seem to be improving (slowly) by using this method. Everyone is different though.

Steve

[Robson Valley]

Without knowing for sure, I suspect that starting many different carvings of many different shapes in several woods might accelerate carving-thinking. Make a couple of new tools along the way.
Still, some people want to carve 50 Santas in 10 days? So be it.

[Dagwood]

well as far as finishing the first before starting a second, i cant give an answer as i usually have several projects going on at a time, and some of those change in mid stream. as others have said everyone improves differently. another option i havent seen yet is carving with someone else , someone who carves better than you is a good way of learning quickly. and practice practice...

[ABitoSlo]

In this particular case, "If I want to do two carvings of the same project (with the purpose of improving my carving skills..." I would say finish one because it sounds like you want to improve the carving as a whole - which tells me overall proportion as well as details matter.

But then what do I know. :-) I still haven't finished anything yet. As a really rookie carver, I have to decide when it's a lost cause and not worth finishing before I start over.