Little Tips

It has been a while since I gave any tips on carving; so here are a couple.

Most carvings I see have 'flat-feet'; which means the feet appear flat on the bottom edge. It is easy to greatly improve them by simply carving a very small miter on the bottom edge of the sole.

The look of any carving may be improved by chamfering most, if not all, sharp edges. The chamfer needs to be very small, perhaps a 1/32 of an inch. It adds another facet or dimension to the carving. Â*Try it sometime, Â* it works for me!

[groozier]

Thanks, Rick. That is a great tip. groozier

Yup, thats a good tip Rick. Also not only the feet but any surface thats not being shown should have all saw marks cut out. As my intructor told us 'make it look like this figure was carved out of the middle of a tree trunk'. He said tha gives it a finished look.

Your instructor is correct, it's the little things that make a good carving stand out.

Thanks Rick,
I need all the help I can get! Â*I was taught to finish all sides, including the bottom. Treat each carving like a piece of art. After all, that's what it is! : :

Although I consider my work to be art as well, I use the bottom of the base to make test burns or cuts and to try out different detailing techniques. Sometimes this gets covered with felt or leather, but when it doesn't, I look at like an artists 'scribble sheet'. I feel it shows something of what the artist went through to finish the piece and lets the purchaser see a more personal side of the artist.

Good point Moonraker!

Moonraker, that is pretty deep. Â*I will have to consider the philisophical significance of leaving a trail of artistic endevor on the bottom of a carving. Â*:
Do you think it would be reflected in the sale price of a carving? Let's say, maybe a hundred years from now on 'Antiques Roadshow' or Ebay?

Definitely! It may be like the marks left by the makers of fine pottery or sculptures. Without a signature on a work of art the value is greatly reduced! On the other hand, they may think it is the babbling of someone who didn't know how to sign an 'X' for his signature.... only time will tell!

[Captain_Bandaid]

I sign all my stuff 'Harold Enlow' and it really helps get the price up! Just kidding.............honest!