[Ashbys]

Hi all,
I do a lot of web surfing to study different styling and different designs to push myself forward to try new things. The web is a great resource to study the talents of many of the finist carvers today. The styling and presentation from each is as varied as their subject matter.
I truly enjoy studing the work of Chris Pye, his use of the V tool alone is amazing. His work is truly a pleasure to see and enjoy.
Dimitrios Klitsas work is stunning with an old world classical touch. Interwoven lines are knitted together making beautiful flowing lines.
W.F.Judt present stunning presentations, with his background being stamped to highlight his carvings , beautiful , yet crisp and clear.
The Anri site shows beautiflu carvings , but the finish of their carvings show nothing or very little of the cuts and develope of the carvings. So as a study guide an excellent site for finishing , but little value as studing the carvings.

The I happen upon the work of Terry Wolff, where I become completly confused. In my opinion his work seems underdeveloped.
I see the many wonderful carvings presented here and I end up wondering what makes this mans work so valuable when it to me looks so childlike. Is there something I am missing or something that you could point out to me, so I could as least try to understand.

Thanks all
Ash

[Irish]

Hi Ash,

In my opinion, one of the greatest assests of wood carving is the extremely wide variety of styles that a carver can chose for their work. In your examples it appears that you have a preference to very controlled and polished carvings. Both Bill (W. F. Judt) and Chris have use a 'classical' style in their wood working where the actual cuts that are made into the wood are not used as part of the finished image. Instead these cuts are used so that your eye sees only the carved element of the work. The cut, therefore, is the means but not part of the work.

I believe the Tom Wolfe's work would be considered a more informal style of carving. Here the carving strokes become as important as the finished element. As an example, you may want to carve the nose of the face of your character but also allow the planes created by the chisel and gouge strokes to remain in the finished work. Such a finished piece incorporates those plane marks or tool strokes as a necessary part to the whole. They say "not only am I a statue of a charater but I am was created through carving".

Now compare these two ideas to the abstract shore bird carving that I think everyone has seen. You know, the real smooth bodied sandpiper that has no wings, no eyes, no feathers, and a wooden dowel for legs! This carving style not only does not show the carving stroke work but it also leaves out a dramatic amount of information about the actual subject.

So you can see that in carving you can control, adjust, or fit not only the amount of carving stroke information but also the amount of element information in your work. That we have such a great choice of possiblities, something for everyone, is a wonderful part of this craft. You get to carve not only what you want but also the way you want to and I get to carve my projects the way I want ... Both Are Right! And if someone else comes along and does it totally different then either of us do ... Well, They Are Right Too!

Again, in my humble opinion ... if you leave out those fantastic carving strokes and chisel planes in a stylized carving, whether it's a 3-D little dude or relief landscape you may be leaving out some really great "Stuff"! And, leaving those strokes in at just the right places can be a lot harder then smoothing them out.

Susan

[Ashbys]

Susan,

Thanks, makes a lot of sense. But I like Tom Wolfe's work. It's Terry Wolff I am confused about. But I got an unexpected answer for it as well.
I can enjoy many different styles, and many different idea's. I personally am not a great supporter of abstract, but it doesn't mean I can't enjoy it. And yep I know the bird , one of them is standing on my TV. Dowel leg and all.

Part of my problem has been concept, that is something I am sure I will fight till the day I die. I have been trained for years in close tolerances, and finite points. In doing so I often become narrow minded and need wake up calls to look around, and realise there are still many ways to complete any given task.

Thanks again.
Ash

[BasketballJones]

Wow, a year ago , I wouldn't have understood much of what Susan wrote. Now, I not only understood it, I found it interesting. I enjoy websurfing and comparing different carvers/artists, learning carving history. I am even beginning to checkout other mediums like paintings. I guess old dogs can learn new tricks.

[Irish]

Ash,

I knew that you referenced Terry not Tom. But I am not very familiar with Terry's style so went with someone I knew for the example. I will add here that one of the things that makes someone's work "valuable" is the selling power of the work. The best example that I can offer is in fine arts and the works of both Picasso and Grandma Moses. Odd pair there but please bare with me for a moment. These two artists have seen extreme popularity not only in their live times but still today are very marketable.

Why?, you ask. Well. I'm gonna tell you!, I say.

When the average person looks at the works of these two artists they have the same quick impression ... "I could have painted that!" Because of the simplisity of both work styles, abstract and primitive, it appeals to the buyer because it re-enforces the buyers value. With me so far ... ? If I think that I can paint the same painting as Grandma Moses, and her work sells for a kazillion dollars, she has value and therefore I have value because I could have done it.

I believe that this is one of the great appeals to more primitive or whittling styled carvings. The rustic or unfinished look appeals to the buyers/viewers self-impression that if they only took up wood carving they could do it too.

I by no means am demeaning rustic or primitive carving styles. In fact it is a style that I have never conquered! I try! I did a folk art chicken plaque recently with the full and commiment intentions to keep it simmple ... but, NO, I just have to get in there and fuss it up!

Boy, am I on my soap box tonight or what? Now, I just have to ask ... are you an engineer?


BasketballJones ... ROTFLOL! That is too good for words!

Susan

[Ashbys]

Susan,
Well am I an engineer?
I did a mold makers apprenticeship. But I operate a small company doing metal molding. I have done tool making and metal finishing for a little over 30 years.

Ash

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Ash,

While your surfing check for works by:

Harley Refsal
Marv Kaisersatt
and
H.S. "Andy" Anderson

[Ashbys]

Thanks Ed!
I will .

[squbrigg]

Ash, you bring up a great topic for discussion. For me, the web has opened my eyes to many new and exciting things in the world of carving and ship modelling. When I began modelling 35 years ago, I worked and learned alone and with only a very few books to guide me. Then when I began carving in other forms, again I turned to what few books were avaliable and learned from them. The advantage was that I developed my own methods and styles, loosly based on what the books taught, and I found I had no limitations, except my immagination.

With the availability of the web, I am talking to and learning from carvers and ship modellers all over the world. I get to see what and how they do things. I have been exposed to new forms and methods and am keeping my mind open to all that I learn and see, utilizing those that I find helpful. I find that by browsing the web and talking to others who carve, my own horizons are being expanded, I am learning many things and trying skills and techniques that I would never have been exposed to otherwise. It's a real education!

It's also a life-saver. Since my accident, the web has become my window on the world, and my backfence, over which I get to talk to neighbours all over the world, and enjoy their company. This site especially has become my social net.....and I have made good friends here. Kind and generous people who take the time to say hello and help you along the way. Carvers are the best!!!

Bob

[Ashbys]

Bob,

I have to say this board and this fourm is amazing. I spend many hours at work, my average week is between 60 - 70 hours a week. But I am on call 24 hours a day for problems and issues, that always seem to happen. My wife said she should have married a doctor , he would be home more.

In putting in long hours year after year, you learn three things, one life is short, time never waits , and stress is a part of life. Carving has allowed a lot of my life to change, even in a very short period of time. A change that without the net would not have or could not have happened. Now I have a carving center set up in my office. Since I am using all hand tools for the work, there is no noise, and it is easy to set down the tool and take care of any problem that should arise. The computer sits in the background and the e mail notifactions ding so I know when there has been something sent in. Makes it easy to read and keep up.

There are so many great people in this world, so many talented open people it is a shame that it is often put behind us because of the closed door attitude that we have become accustomed to. I know people that know more about people on the net than they know about their neighbors, very sad. But very true.

For me learning to carve is a journey, one I look forward to doing for a long time to come.

Ash