What would you say - best beginner tips

[One Thumb Carver]

What would say to a new carver other then Practice, Practice. We have to learn nose, eyes, mouth, hair and so on . Is there a good starting place? A good way to learn use knife? I’m not trying to be a smart ---- It would be great if I can focus on one then another then another. To complete a project. Looking at the whole is sometime mind boggling and My mind doesn’t take much to boggle

[Mitchell]

Practice some more.....

Carve what you like and use some instructional books to go by.

You learn by doing - that's why "practice" is the most often given answer.

Don't be afraid to make a mistake; you may feel like you have wasted time by not carving something that is presentable - but you do gain experience.

[Nomad]

I have learned a lot from instructional videos. There are a lot of great ones out there, for the beginner and advanced carver.

[Buffalo Bif]

Bill, I think you hit a very important point- break your project down so it's not so mind boggling. Focus on the feet, then the legs, or maybe the hands- jump around or take things in order as you like. When you are happy with one item go on to another. I had no eyes in my first carvings, currently I do eyes flat plane style, couple vees or triangles, and have yet to try hair beyond a beard or mustache. (they hide mouths and chins!) Hats work on the head. Nothing wrong with making viewers use their imagination- if its on top of the head and not a hat it must be hair. Everybody knows eyes go either side of the nose...

One major breakthrough for me was to do multiples of a holiday ornament- after a dozen or so I found I learned a lot. Keep it simple, pick a pattern, make a dozen, step by step, and have fun.

[Robert Cahill]

I have one instructional DVD by Harley Refsal and a CD by Jack Price and I learned a lot but the one thing that sticks out is until seeing them I never used a slicing cut . I wonder how often we do not use proper cuts. We always read we should know where the end of the blade should be but until seeing a Picture of Tom Hindes really choking up on the blade I had not given much thought to the way I make cuts. As you can tell I am not good at explanations but hopefully something to think about.

[uvawyo]

Practice more yet
wear a glove
start with fairly simple projects then if you like the project do it again with more detail

[One Thumb Carver]

Thanks to Mitchell Norman Buffalo Bill and Robert uvawyo A lot of good info also thanks for taking the time to respond to me Have a great day

[rgham]

Check out youtube carving vids and definitely visit Lynn Doughty's blog at:

OutWestWoodCarving

[kasee]

Never throw a piece away as long as there is usable wood left. If it is messed up let it set for a while, days, weeks, ect. when you are ready work at correcting it. I have learned nearly as much from correcting my mistakes and others as I have from instructions. If theres wood left theres still a chance.
Ken

[Kadiddle]

Bill, maybe there is a club in your area, good place to learn a few new tricks. Sharp tools are also a must, properly done they are also safer. Some study sticks, the steps are there so they can be done step by step. DVD,books, a class if possible, a carving buddy, the public library. Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps.
Carve On,
Kadiddle