Let's start with a little test;

Assume you wish to carve a Clown. Â*We all know what a clown looks like; right? Â*

So grab a pencil and draw a quick sketch of a clown from memory. Â*For this example, just draw the clown's head and shoulders. Â*Go on, it will only take a minute.

Done? Â*

If your memory and drawing ability is as poor as mine, your clown looks a bit disappointing. Â* I wouldn't expect a clown carving to be much better than the sketch depending on memory alone.

Most of our memories of objects are formed when we are quite young; also most of us gave up on drawing clowns around our tenth birthday.
So there we are stuck with a child's 'Bozo the clown' memory and drawing ability.

The answer isn't to give up on carving clowns; Â*
(just don't draw them in front of Â*anyone over ten).

So we agree that having a pattern and a couple pictures of clowns might help?

[mdallensr]

Absolutely! I've carved several bears, and spent a fair amount of time researching bears before I started. Now, when I see other bears, carved or otherwise, I can tell who's really seen a bear and who hasn't. Many carvings and even patterns look more like dogs or wolves than bears; the face is pretty tricky. Every animal has a couple of signature characteristics, and if you miss those, you miss the essence of the animal.

It is for me. Especially things I am around a lot. Becoming more aware of what I don't see. Ron A.

[Callynne]

I definitely agree, I have to have lots of reference photos to go by. I want my pieces to look as real as possible and I just can't pull that out of my head, I need help 'seeing' it the way I want to carve it! Callynne

[Colin_Partridge]

Totally agree if you want to carve something study it and you will carve it much better. Before I started carving about six years ago I was a taxidermist for many years mostly for friends and myself although I have done a few commissions. I would study video's of the animals and birds as well as get every book I could on the subject. (Oh to have internet in those days). Now I mostly carve faces and it can be very disconcerting if you are talking with me because I tend to study the face of who ever I am talking to. At first I didnt realize I was doing it until someone asked me if there was something wrong with them. Now when I do show I tell people not to worry if I am looking at them strange I am just studying their faces. Yes reference material is essential if you want to do a good job.
Colin

[Kenny_S]

Know one old time carver who does not use any referrences except for his mind. No roughouts, no lines, just what is in his mind. His carvings are outstanding.

However, I do not disagree whit all of the posters here. I use references also. Not all the time, just depends on what I am carving.
I admire those who do and those who don't. For those who don't, It istruely a gift from God. JMHO!

[jamesfa]

i believe if you want something to look realistic(birds-ducks)
then all the reference material you can get can help you.having said that a lot of my caricature are carved using a basic sketch/pattern and the rest is out of my head.
that is way right now i'm trying to finish a duck-hopefully i will learn a little patience, and refer to ref.material.

[Texas_Jim]

For me, 3D reference material helps the most. I can't draw and really don't have much artistic ability but if I can have a model to use as a reference then it helps a lot.

So, when I carve a bear, I look for bear models such as you would find in the kid's toy department. I have also found some good stuff at 'dollar general' type stores. I might adapt a particular model to my original intent. If I want to carve a lizard on then I might adapt some sort of dinosaur which is easier to find.

Just some ideas.