[Bandaid Buddy]

Are there any tutorials for carving ears? Thanks

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have seen some study sticks, but sorry, can't remember where? Maybe a google search?

[Thomp]

onlt thing google showed was http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooFz2Y7AwDk
its a video and too slow loading for my dialup connection

[Donald K. Mertz]

What kind of ears do you want to carve? realistic, caricature or in-between? Jeff Phares wrote a book entitled "Carving Ears and Hair" published by Fox Chapel. Most of the caricature carving books show a style of ears. Ears like Eyes are all carved differently, meaning that there is no right way to carve eyes or ears. Each carver learns to develop a style that fits what they are carving. The best tutoral is to learn by doing, practice making ears, eyes, or whatever. Nothing takes to place of practicing and don't be afraid to make a mistake, for there are no mistakes in carving, only learning experiences. A part of the practice is to read carving books, (read as well as look at pictures) study up on human facial proportions and be observant of ears or eyes you see in the mirror or in photographs and then the mental picture will help guide the hand to carve what the minds sees. As I have often said, "The hardest part of any project is getting started, but once begun wonderful things happen." Even what ones learns in a tutoral needs to be practiced, so start making those ears.

[Thomp]

heres a quick fake ear, i made for this charter, it worked with the palm tools i had on hand.. hope it helps some for you or gives you a better idea. or a broader selection of tools than i have.

• using a #9 - 1/4" -6 or 8mm gouge shape the top and rear side,

then shape the rest of the ear with a fine pointed detail knife on the outside, the ear tapers from rear to front

• i took a sharp #5 -3mm gouge with a very light touch, i worked the inside,

you got to be careful because the thin edge will chip out if you get too rough or if the tool is dull...

but with 3 chisel cuts and some quick knife work you can reproduce it. i don't pop out the chips. i leave them hang, and trim them off with the detail knife, it keeps down tearing and chip out.

lets face it on caricatures, most times only lines of deception that features exist, nothing is to scale especially on the first tryouts of new methods.. paint or wood burning brings out most fine details.

just don't put the ears too far front or back, and you might want to get them even in height .
i use 2 straight pins i stick them in where i think the hole in the ear should be on each side, then compare from every angle and adjust one or both pens till it looks like they go straight through the head.. like one long pen...

looking like Steve Martin with the arrow through his head skit he dose

or just cover them with hair and don't deal with them...

even some great carvers admit they carve the hat over one eye or ear so they can finish faster and only having to carve one, eye or ear, theres not much alignment problem that way.. but you need to develop your own short comings..

sorry if this falls short or confuses you, hey i tried..