For weeks into my class in the high school, most of the students are saying (' gee, what a difference a center line makes!) It is amazing how many carvers still do not use a center line and you wonder how they make the carving symetrical. Sometimes it's the little things that make a good carving. Big Al

...they are also crucial when you step away from symetry...such as a turn/tilt of a head to the twist of a body...

...it also comes in handy when try to rough in the human form, where a centerline can be used to dictate the position of a rotated wrist(or other body parts), which is important since the human wrist is roughly twice as wide as it is thick...

...fyi for those of you interested in creating figures of your own design i found a cool website which simplifies the drawing of the human figure in stick form...

http://www.fenyx.com/tutorials/body1...nstruction.htm

[mikeg]

Most, if not all, of the caricature carving books I've been reading emphasize the use of a center line. Having ignored that bit of advice, and seen the results, I can appreciate it all the more!

Still on that vertical learning curve!!!

mikeg

While a centerline is important, carving symetrical to the centerline is to be avoided unless you are carving toy soldiers.

[Nancy_G]

Before I move a block of wood with it's pattern to the band saw, it has a center line drawn on all six sides. When the carving is 100% complete and ready for paint, I remove the center line. I couldn't carve a thing from a 1/2' bird to a 16' Santa without that center line.

[Colin_Partridge]

I also use a center line for most of my carvings except that once I get the face where I want it the center line disappears although when I am teaching I always tell them to keep putting it back in. Again I dont always practice what I preach.
Colin

I tell students to draw a center line on a leg, arm, etc. just to keep you ' honest' when carving in the round. you can still carve asymetrical using the center line as a guide. It's good to see so many center line advocates. Big Al

I have carved with a centerline and without a centerline. My experience is that the carving with the centerline is a better carving. I guess I usually do what Colin said. I put the centerline onto the area of the face and by the time the face is close to being finished, the centerline in gone except for the tip of the nose.

Jerry, Hartwell, GA

[mdallensr]

Another vote for centerlines. I've seen some really lopsided songbirds, carved without centerlines. You don't need or want perfect symetry in an animal, but you shouldn't get everything out of whack at the same time. The nose or beak really needs to be in the center of the head, and more than a little straying of the eyes, ears and mouth can give a Picasso look to a realistic carving.

[oldbearx2]

Hey all I know that it makes it a lot easier if you're doing a carving and you want to turn the head to use a center line. Helps keep everything in line so to speak. have fun, carve.

Harold