too old to carve.

#1 09-01-2003, 02:53 PM

I am 74 years old, trying to learn how to carve a santa, everything I do is wrong, I just don't know what to do. maybe I am too old to learn.

AlArchie · #2 09-01-2003, 03:03 PM

Joe, I can't seem to carve a Santa, either. BUT, I can carve fish, whales, walking sticks, and just recently took a relief carving class. Maybe you should try carving something else.

OR, see if there is a carving club near you and visit a meeting....I'll bet there is someone there could help you out. Carving, like everything else has a learning curve......most of us who carve have made a lot of firewood, before we finally made something that looked like we intended. Don't give up; get some instruction if needed, but keep trying. And learn to laugh at your 'mistakes'. I laugh a LOT!!!

When that first sucess comes, it's a great feeling!

Al

#3 09-01-2003, 03:03 PM

Don't ever think you are too old! I am 73 and have been carving for a few years now but can remember my first few pieces as I still have them. You can sure see the difference between then and now. I carve with some people who are in their 80s and 90s and they still are having lots of fun.
If you can find a group or club at a local senior center it will get you going a lot quicker than trying to do it by yourself.

Kenny_S · #4 09-01-2003, 05:35 PM

You are never to old to starte carving. My grandfather was a spite and whittler. Never did carve anything that a person could recognize, but did he have a blast sitting with his pocket knife, whittleing and spitting. Keep on trying joe. ALA said it best, we all have carved some real nice wood for the fire.

#5 09-01-2003, 06:17 PM

RE; Too old. I started carving at age 62 and am now 73. I am President of our club, I teach one day a month, I take at least one class a year from a professional. I carve every day and number all my pieces. I am now on 943! I show/sell in 7 shows a year. Too old - impossible. Big Al

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #6 09-01-2003, 07:31 PM

look through some of the sites, try www.folkworks.com they have some of the best santa carvers around...not to intimidate you, but you can see how the experts to it! and you can get a lot of ideas.....and if you join the carvers porch or knotholes, you will learn a lot and almost all of those people have a picturetrail site, you can look at their carvings and get ideas and see how they do theirs, you can also go on picturetrail here and see a lot.....about ninety percent of carving is technique and practice...the other 10 percent is more practice!! you can do it...no question about it! you just need to see and learn where you put the knife!! oh, buy a glove!!!! mandatory!!

Callynne · #7 09-02-2003, 07:11 AM

Hi Joe, welcome! Please don't give up, carving is such an enjoyable thing to do, relax and give yourself some time to learn AND enjoy it!
Are you just trying to 'pick up a knife and go to it?' If so the suggestions here are very good ones. I tried doing it that way, with just a knife and a learn to whittle book. I did okay, certainly couldn't have done it without the book, but things really started clicking for me when I found this board and learned so many tips on doing things right (and the easier way to boot!).
Join a club if possible, if not get some good books, your library probably has some. Start simple, you'll get much more advanced in no time! Any guestions, ask here, some one will be able to help you!
Good luck and I totally agree with Hi Ho, get and wear both a glove and thumb guard! Callynne

#8 09-02-2003, 11:19 AM

Joe,
You are young enough to have figure out the internet and found this site.

I remember when I first took up golf my dad made me promise I would not gamble on the golf course for 3 years. When I started carving a carving friend, half my age, (actully a high school girl in my wife's teen group at church) made me promise not to carve a face for 5 years. So I have not tried a Santa, woodspirit, etc. Got one more year to wait. Try a lettered sign or a landscape relief, much easier than the porportions of Santa's face.

I can't wait till I am your age so I have time to spend on all my hobbies.
Ah Chip

#9 09-03-2003, 08:15 PM

Hi Joe!

I'm glad to see you found your way into the Board. You'll find lots of good advice and tips here, as you learn.

I was thinking that maybe one or two of Ron Ransom's santa books might be good for you to start with - he has step-by-step photos you could follow along with, and they're simple enough for beginners to take a stab at.

Too old? Ha! I think not...I plan to still be carving when I'm 115 - maybe by then, I'll even be doing it right!

Teri :-)

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #10 09-03-2003, 08:45 PM

I think somebody should tell you that carving keeps you from getting old!! LOL