[knightflight]

Originally Posted by artolver

Anita, I think you are an artist who hasn't quite mastered woodcarving.The elephant looks fine to me. The shadows are in place and the expression on his face is just plain sweet.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by artolver

The red cedar is good for you, it has color and grain to work with and the whitish color placed well across the bottom.

I got lucky with how the white band across the bottom just happened to line up with his toes! Guess it was meant to be.

Originally Posted by artolver

I think wood that is pretty is best for you.
I carve cottonwood bark faces and many other things. Faces is my favorite. I will send you some bark.
art

I would be interested to see them. Portraiture (in drawing) is my favorite so I am really looking forward to the chance to do faces. Some day maybe I will post some drawings I have done! There must be posts somewhere on this board where folks have shared their other art forms...

[knightflight]

Originally Posted by Marc Barger

how quickly [degradation occurs] depends on the wood you're using.

Thanks for the tip Marc. Would you mind ranking some "typical" types of carving wood in terms of how quickly they make a sharp edge "degrade" ?

[Marc Barger]

Originally Posted by knightflight

Thanks for the tip Marc. Would you mind ranking some "typical" types of carving wood in terms of how quickly they make a sharp edge "degrade" ?

Depends on the steel. A sharp butter knife will dull up quicker than a good carving tool that's been hardened to Rc 59-61, then hand honed and polished. But bass is what you'll probably be using and to the new carver, the later will seem sharp forever while carving bass. Myself I look for small little lines in the cut to tell me that there's something wrong with the edge. A little burr or nick. Some of us (I guess that means me) are anal about it being perfect, so are always honing that stuff out of there. Sort of an obsession. But in all reality, if you're sanding or stoning over the cuts you would make with a chisel, that small stuff makes no difference. And if you aren't texturing, I would think that the finish you put on the carving, would hide most of those small imperfections. So in other words, it doesn't matter! HA!!

[tgamble57]

Welcome Anita, welcome aborad. I have read the foram and you have got some great advice. The number one thing to remember in carving is safty!!! Great job on the elephant. I'm a begener also. Here is a couple sites that might help you out, also.


www.woodcarving.com

www.woodcarverswarehouse.com

www.carving-woodcraft.com

I hope it hilps and again welcome.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Here is the one site that every carver should have at the top of their bookmarks/favorites if they use hand tools.

http://www.littleshavers.com/

I'll be more than happy to fight anybody who disagrees (well, not really, I'm just a puddy tat).

[knightflight]

Originally Posted by tgamble57

Here is a couple sites that might help you out, also...
...
I hope it hilps and again welcome.

Thank you, tgamble57, for the Websites!

[knightflight]

Originally Posted by Plain_Ol_Ed

Here is the one site that every carver should have at the top of their bookmarks/favorites if they use hand tools.

http://www.littleshavers.com/

I'll be more than happy to fight anybody who disagrees (well, not really, I'm just a puddy tat).

From what I can tell in the short time I have been here, I don't think anybody will disagree with ya Ed! I did visit Rick's site. What a great resource!!