[mwilleson]

I went to the 2005 Carve-fest in Faribault this weekend. I took 2 short seminars, including a 2 hour seminar with Marv. It was the first time I had seen any of Marv's carvings up close in person. Here are a few of my rambling thoughts regarding what I saw and what I learned from Marv. I do not claim to be an expert on Marv Kaisersatt, but I was able to talk with him for a few minutes and after seeing his work a few things really stuck in my mind.

I wish I would have had a camera and a tape measure. I would like to have had some close up shots and taken some measurements.

Seminar thoughts
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We worked on a Santa head from a bandsawn blank. The head was on a base so that it could stand on a shelf. The seminar was only 2 hours so we obviously couldn't get into a complex project or subject. Marv's purpose in this workshop was to pass on some of the techniques he uses when he carves. His main points are probably not revolutionary, but they were good keys to remember. Here they are in no particular order:
1) Marv draws lines on his carvings then taking the wood away and then
re-draws the lines in again.

2) Marv's constant comment was "make it rounder". Too many carvers, especially beginning carvers just knock the corners off, but leave a carving too blocky and square. We've all done this and seen this. This was an important message and really gels with the teachings in his book. MAKE IT ROUNDER!

3) Work a carving as a progression by blocking everything in first. Too many
people start working details too soon. Marv believes if you keep blocking everything down in unison the details will fall into place on their own.

Again, nothing revolutionary, but in 2 hours it's hard to accomplish anything
too detailed or complex.

Carving observations / comments
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The first thing that struck me when I walked up to the table with Marv's carvings displayed was the size of the carvings. They were larger than I expected. I really wish I had brought a tape measure along to take some measurements.
The next interesting thing I noticed was that there are some details he painstakingly applies, while other details are left out.

For example, when you look at the hands he carves, he doesn't do any fingernails, but the fingers are all well proportioned with the appropriate creases and bends. Things like buttons are more implied than detailed. Shoestrings may be a simple raised block or a few marks with a v-tool.

Contrast that with a pair of suspenders for example. He doesn't simply make a raised suspender in the typical way a lot of carvers would. He may have one side kind of hanging off the guys shoulder with space carved completely around the suspender and under the guys arm so it really is hanging there.

I mentioned this observation to him and he said that his goal is to create details that are all captured at the same level by the camera. In other words he doesn't fuss with buttons, fingernails, and small things like that, but focuses more on details a camera will catch.

There are also things that unless you really look close you may not notice. On the carivng of the three guys playing pool, the one leaning over the table taking the shot is actually stepping out of his shoe that is on the floor. Again, these are the things that really give a carving life or movement.

His faces are outstanding. Not only are they well carved, but he really works hard to give the right expression to a carving. None of his figures have the common blank stare. His faces really support the characters situation. So the guy whose being hit in the head while sawing the log has a pained look on his face. One of his carvings was a guy dancing with a tall, attractive, buxom woman. He has a priceless look on his face suggesting that he feels like
he has the world by the tail and is happy as can be.

I asked about the finish and he confirmed that most of his carvings are unfinished. He said he only takes them to Bettendorf IA and then home so he didn't spend a lot of time with finishing. They are only occassionally displayed at an event such as Carve-fest or Ivan's studio. His latest piece, however, that he just won Best of Show with had a Minwax water based sealer. It really looked much the same as the unfinshed carvings so I think I'll try it.

A few parting thoughts
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Marv was really a nice gentlemen to talk with. He is very unassuming and opening shares his ideas and techniques. I'm sure he is quite proud of his carvings, but he doesn't seem to treat them as priceless objects. We were standing there looking at one and he just casually picks it up, turns it around and shows me a few things and has me touch it to feel the finish.

His carvings begin with a sketch, then a more detailed sketch, then he works them out in a clay model to determine sizing and placement. Once he's happy he takes the large tools and roughs out the block, working to block in all areas before progressing on to details. The blocking continually gets more detailed until all that is left is to add the details.

He is starting to experiment with stylized caricatures. He likes to work out the lines and proportions. He is also starting to apply color to these stylized carvings. On these he is also using a water based sealer and then watercolors, finished with a wax coating. He said he really likes this combination as it allows him to work the colors more to create different shades and combinations. It can also be removed later if you wish.

All in all, it was a short seminar and a short time talking with Marv but I was impressed with him and his ways. I came away inspired and had some of the solid basics reinforced. He really spends a lot of time designing and thinking through a carving. I am going to try and focus on these basics and apply more thinking to my next carving.

Mike

[Big_Al]

Thanks for the great insight on Marv. I feel that he is more human after hearing your take on him. I would like to be a fly on the wall of his studio when he starts a carving - what a cd that would make. Big Al

[Anthony Filetti]

Mike,

Thank you for taking the time to shed some light on this great carver's techniques. I am still amazed at his work. As far as size goes, I encountered a similar situation when I took my first classes from Gary Falin and Phil Bishop this summer (my first classes) the roughouts provided are much larger than I anticipated.
I wish you had brought a camera too, as I look forward to seeing any of his carvings!

Great post!

[Old_Gord]

Hey Mike, thanks for your thoughts on Marv Kaiseratt, much appreciated, the man sure is a genius.

.

OG

[Mitchell]

Thank you Mike. Nice summary of your time with Marv.