[Ron Davidson]

This is a small 6" caricature I just finished. Kenny S. asked me how much I relied on touch when I carve. Well Kenny this one I did all by touch. It took me about 12 hours since I had to keep taking my glove off. Sometimes I left it on and used the tip of the knife to gauge where and how deep I was. I must say it was fun and I will probably keep relying more on touch since I never know how long the sight I have left will last. Don't hold back let me know what you think. By the way I actually have a friend that looks like this.
Ron

[wade clark]

Ron,
I'll be honest with you. Before reading that you had carved this entirely by touch, I'd say it's different than anything I've seen before. Then to read it was entirely by touch, that difference became art. I see a link to the soul. I think that is what makes art great, that link to the soul. Dali, Picasso...the reason their art was/is great is that link to the soul.
I took a look again and was thoroughly impressed, not because it was done by touch, but that it has depth that I would have missed at a glance.
I think this is art, not to mention good work. I'm being honest with you. It's very good.
Do keep using every resource you have, but keep exploring this one too. Especially keep enjoying it!
Wade

[rick-in-seattle]

I tell ya Ron, if I tried that by touch, it would be painted red by the time it was done; you constantly amaze me.

I once saw a carving done completely while riding a horse at a gallop by Ivan Denton

[Kenny_S]

Ron, Again, Amazing Carving. I like the others am amazed at your talent. A carving with feelings by feel, Outstanding.

[Bandaid]

Great job Ron, you continue to amaze.

Reg

[JIM QUILICI]

Ron,
Someday you are going to be a famous carver .........you aready are here at this site. really good work.
Just old Jim

[AlArchie]

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with carving. My grandmother was also blind, had cataracts and lenses removed in the late 40's. She could manage to see some form with really thick glasses, but that's about all. She was also a china painter before loosing her sight, and somehow, she managed to do some very exceptional work after her surgery. I remember her holding plates up near her eyes (about 3-4 inshes away) and painting away. She said she could not see the forms she needed but remembered them and she could make out the colors as she placed them, in her memory, onto the plates and other services. Here's a couple pictures of some of the pieces she did. She had painted three complete dinner sets for 8, and no two settings were the same, but each individual setting had the same floral pattern.

It seems like art has a way of finding an outlet in spite of the setbacks!

Al

[Ron Davidson]

That is very beautiful work Al. She had a wonderful talent. A person would be amazed at what the memory stores, simple things like tying your shoes or clipping your toenails when you can't see your feet. You ought to see try and shave!



Ron

[Mottles]

Ron, wonderful character carve he made me smile you put such personality into this little fellow. I know someone who looks like that too!
Keep up the good work fella.
Al, your grandmother was a true artist, absolutley beautiful fine workmanship.
Kathy

[Lightningbolt]

Ron:

After a first glance of the second picture I thought that the face sure resembled ex-president Jimmy Carter. It was all those teeth at first then looking at the entire face and hair, well that's just what came to mind. Now I'd like to see a Ronald Reagan!!

You are so very inspiring and I appreciate the fact that you can find so much satisfaction in persuing something that to most of us is a visual art. When I see visually impaired folks like yourself sharing their experiences it really reminds me to also work more at my own sense of "touch".

Actually, I believe that I already have a strong connection with the sense of feel and find myself using it all the time in addition to my eyes because I always seem to be running my hands all over the wood throughout the carving process. I think that using my hands to help facilitate that artistic connection with my brain helps me to do much better work than just relying on my eyes alone. Touch is essential.

You certainly have more to teach (or remind) us other carver's than perhap's even you realize about using ALL of our senses while exploring the maze of becoming full-circle artist's.