[Blake Lunsford]

I seem to be having difficulty getting the eyes, eyelids, and brows to look right on my caricatures. It seems as though I'm either cutting at the wrong angle or pushing too hard when I go to cut in the eyes after making the lids (pete leclair style). I have had lids split several times when carving bottlestoppers and busts. Does anyone know what is causing this and how I can correct the problem? Also, I am having difficulty getting the eye brows to stick out away from the forhead. I'm sure I'm missing something. Can you all give me some pointers????????

Blake

[wood-whittler]

blake,

when you run your gouge up the nose and between the eyes kinda take the gouge around the top of each eyebrow to make them stand out and then feather the cuts back into the forehead.

for the eyes make sure you buff your knife pretty good before starting this,also make light stop cuts it doesnt take much to make the eyelid stand out.also a thin bladed knife helps in this cut alsoif you dont have one just make sure you are using light cuts

hope this helps

bart

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Check out "Roughing out the Head" on my blog. Pretty well outlines the procedure. Sounds like your cutting to deep and the blade is weakening the wood if it breaks off. You have to be real careful when doing eyes. Your knife HAS to be extremely thin and sharp. Carve the eye 'mound' first, then the open part showing the eyeball.

[Thomp]

you have been given good information here

but only to conferm the busting and chunks tearing out I have found its the sign of using the wrong blade.
thick blades are good for hardwood but detail like this should be done with a very sharp very thin knive,,
i have some curved hook type blades i use there from warren but basicly mat blades for a exacto knife, being ultra thin and flexable only a pass or two on a strop and its ready right from the package, be slow going and keep the chips very small..

i have the same problem especally with fingers on compact small charters.

[Canopener]

Blake, I think you are doing some pretty nice work already, obviously it is the woods fault.
But seriously; you are getting some good advice. A sharp blade is important and this is where you may want to customize your tools for sharpness. For instance, I have this old x-acto spear point,[very thin] sharpened on both sides; and I can roll it around the eyeballs to cut the fuzzies and deepen the lids.
At the risk of being branded a total heratic, I have not had good luck useing Pete LeClairs method of carving, even though I like his work and many people here are adept with his style.
For Christmas, I got Marv Kaisersatts "Creating the Caricature Head" from Rick at Little Shavers. I am doing the eyes on a Sea Captain right now, and a lot of things seem to be coming together and I am getting the look I have been wanting. I feel like I have made a step in the right direction.
Everybody has their own style that they seem to be born with.
I also strongly feel that the eyes are the window of the soul of a carving; so keep at it buddy.
All chips are good chips.
Jim

[Blake Lunsford]

Thanks everyone!~ You've definitely given me some great advice. I think I am putting too much pressure on the knife blade and also using a knife that it too thick. I'm working on a santa ornament and am going to try Lynn's old faithful and see how it turns out. I will post pics when I'm finished.

Jim, thanks for the recommendation on Marv's book. I will definitely make it my next purchase! Also, thanks for the compliments, but I think I have a long way to go!

Thanks again everybody! I knew I could count on you for advice!

Blake

[Thomp]

what i was meaning about to thick of blade is covered here in the little shavers tutorial http://littleshavers.com/Sharpening.html
near the bottom, is an explanation of double bevel,. my el cheepo wallnut hollow chip knife had never been put to stone since i got it, i always used a cerimac stick or a strop, the bevel went round nearly, it was razor sharp but the bevel was wide, and small cuts were impossible it tore and pushed broke out delicate lips and such broke off fingers on carvings, i was at witts end using super glue and putting them back'

till i resharpened the knife on my 8" slow 850 rpm water grinder now the knife is my favorite again
it took over 2 years of carving for me to change the bevel by using bad practicus of the round cerimac...
good luck

[Canopener]

Thomp,
That is an excellent point. I was having some problems and then read that tutorial. Ahhhhh sooooo.
Jim

[Blake Lunsford]

Thanks Thomp....and you too Rick for supplying the information! I appreciate your help!

Blake