Some more beginning stuff

[Sixty_Vette]

Well, still trying to learn this whittling stuff - LOL! Having issues with woodcoming off in chunks - not sure if it is the wood, my knife or a combo of both. Kinda frustrating though. At local carving club - members helped me sharpen/hone my knife - but did the same thing - so I am thinking more wood than anything!

Still not done with penguin - have to work on feet, general cleanup then paint!

The hillibilly is where I had issues - putting hand in pocket. Entire chunk of wood came of causing me to really thin him out - oh well - how does the saying go - there are no mistakes - only happy opportunities - something like that - LMAO

I would also like to take this opportunity again to thank Gene for all his efforts in putting his videos together. Thus far he has been the entire source of training & projects I have attempted in my very VERY short carving career! THANKS GENE!

Anyway - here are a few more things I have "ATTEMPTED"

for looking!

[uvawyo]

I think if you take much smaller cuts -- slivers. it will help or you are cutting the wrong way on the grain I have had this problem and that is how i corrected it anyway
the peices you have posted look good

[Tom Ellis]

Looks like you are started in the right direction. The videos are a great resource, and a club is always a good place to find help.

Keep it up, Tom

[brent]

I kind of like the knocked-kneed appearance of the hillbilly. Not sure if you intended that look but it beats the usual bo-legged look seen on a good many carvings. The spirits were nice also.

[Claude]

As Herb said, if your knife is sharp, then you're trying to cut too large of a chip, or you're carving against the grain. Grain on basswood can be subtle and difficult to find. After you have your roughout, or even if you're just starting with a square stick, look carefully at the grain and lightly pencil in a direction arrow on each of the four sides. If you can't see the grain, put a dab of water on the wood and the grain will show up clearly. The water won't hurt the wood at all, and will dry completely in minutes. You can carve immediately without waiting for it to dry.

Claude

[Midnight Carver]

Those all turned out nice. Way to recover on the hilbilly, he looks good.

Eric

[Whittled Thumb]

Its a good start for your first. I like the hillbillys, i've got many characters carved like them. Fact I use one for a knife handle. I read where a sharp knife can slice thru the cross grain at the end of the wood. Its a rule I use. I carve till i think its dull then strop then sliec the cross grain of a peice of wood then go on. Took me a while to learn to sharpen a knife. Now I sharpen my interchangealbe blades aswell.

Carve on!

[A_Swope]

You are off to a great Start
Keep up the good work and way to recover on the hill billy,
I know a lot of people including my self who would have just gotten mad after a mistake and started another one instead of finishing the first one.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

They all look good, keep at it.

Dave