[smurfy]

I have a Refsal blank of Karl Oskar that I'd like to modify to look like a figure that appears on the Pinewood Forge site. It's a woman holding her purse with her stockings around her ankles. Any suggestions? I'm kind of new to this and I'm a little frightened at the prospect of butchering a perfectly good blank while trying to modify it.

Thanks!

P.S. I finished my 1st character in the flat plane style the other day using Del Stubbs DVD "Figure Carving Scandinavian Style" with Harley Refsal " on www.pinewoodforge.com. It was fantastic! I'll try to post a pic soon.

[gene messer]

Smurfy .. Since you are a new carver .. can I make a suggestion .. I happen to know the pattern your talking about and Ia'm sure the roughout is similar to the pattern ... So here goes .. I have altered hundreds of patterns to create a different character out of .. but most of that is done by cutting out the character myself with a bandsaw .. At the time I cut the pattern .. I alter the amount of wood desired for bigger arms or leg's or something the character is holding .. you can do that .. but when your working with a blank .. it is cut to the shape of the specific character your doing .. Therefore altering it isnt as easy .. So if I might make a suggestion .. and I think I know what you are getting at .. to be able to carve a different character ... instead of trying to turn the blank you have into a woman holding a purse .. why not just alter that figure by putting different clothes on him ( put a coat on him or a pot belly or a tie on him ) .. or changing the shape of the hat .. or where his arms are in his pockets .. put them next to his side .. or change his facial features ( add a beard or mustache) ... These things help create a different character .. You can take the hat off and make him bald or put hair on him instead of just a hat .. This is a better way in altering a character for a new carver then trying to change their entire personally .. At least until you learn more about carving characters .. I realize a more experienced carver could due what you ask .. but dont frustrate yourself by trying to alter figures too much .. just learn to carve this figure better .... to give you a idea what I a'm trying to say .. Ia'm enclosing a picture of how from one pattern you can carve a number of characters .. All the little figures below are carved from one specific pattern .. I just changed their clothes .. faces .and personally .. different .. I hope I have helped you in some way .
God Bless ...

[wood-whittler]

smurfy,

gene is right you can take a basic pattern and make all kinds of folks from it,arnold smith from the board has a pattern that he has made almost a dozen different type carvings just look thru the caricature threads for the scott boys and you will see what can be done, another good book is pete leclairs "caricature carvings from scratch" where he takes a square block and carves a bunch of different caricatures. this is great carving cause even though you use his technique the carving is still your original because there is no pattern. give it a try and i hope this helps

bart

[smurfy]

I think I see what you're talking about. Gene, I wish I could look over your shoulder while you're carving your characters. They are absolutely amazing! Do you use only a knife or do you use some gouges? I know you credit Pete LeClair for some of your inspiration but I like the facial features you bring to your characters even more than his. Have you ever thought of doing a cut-by-cut tutorial for the members of this forum?