Afraid to start...and then....

[Callynne]

Colin's post made me think about something I've been curious about for some time. It's not about being uninspired, it's more about being afraid to start, that I might not be able to do the piece.

I have my drawings all done up, the view from all four sides. I bandsaw out the piece and it sets there, a rough, angular shape not resembling at all how I want the final carving to turn out and I'm just plain scared I'm not going to be able to do it.

Almost reluctantly I begin, a chip here, a chunk there...and then the magic begins....I begin to 'see' an ear....a hand....a toy sticking out of Santa's bag and bit by bit the entire piece comes out of the wood. And I'm almost possessed till I get it all out. I am amazed every time it happens.

I asked an elderly gentleman carver I met, how long it took for that fear to go away. He said it happened right away for him, well, it's going on five years since I started carving and it hasn't gone away yet. I'm just as afraid of each new piece as I was in the beginning and I was wondering if any of you feel that way too?

Okay, time to get off this computer and start chipping away at that next piece...to see if the magic will happen again! Wish me luck! Callynne

[wbeery]

Having the same problem. After the rough out, I often view a carving for several days (weeks) before making the first chip. Then a few more days of viewing and contemplating. Etc. Etc..... I've been working on an eagle bust for 3 months and I'm fearful of tackling the feathers. I keep setting small goals for my self..like tomorrow I'm going to do one feather....
I expect maybe it is part of being an amateur carving hobby enthusiast as opposed to a professional. Just happy my lively hood doesn't rely on carving.

[Irish]

Hi Callynne, I have never been afraid to start ... my fear is that I simply am going to totally destroy-ruin-mangel this one! It's sort of that feeling that this time the truth will come out and I will fall flat on my face because ALL of the others have been sheer accidents or beginner's luck. My fears tell me that the last piece could never have happened because I have some skill in this craft.

I have been an artist in one media or another my entire life, well, since I was 13 ... and I still get that feeling with every project except oil painting. The bigger that project the bigger the knot in my stomach. Now, as you noted about ten minutes into the work it's gone and forgotten. I think I don't freeze up with oil paintings because you start an oil with a sepia mix of mud brown all over your pure, clean white canvas. Your rub this in real good, then you start your painting. So with oil the first step is to 'ruin it'!

So, it's OK to make mistakes. It's OK to not do your best with this one. It's OK it simply ruin this one! In fact, it's OK to end up with a carving that is only worthy of being firewood. At least it's creative firewood.

Susan

[BobD]

I have the opposite problem...I don't have a problem starting, but when I get about half way through the carving--I get disappointed in myself and stop! I just get the feeling that there is no point finishing because I'm going to screw it up! THe only way I can get something finished is if I have a strong deadline that I need to meet, and then I feel so rushed that I no longer enjoy it...Now I see why Van Gogh hacked off his ear--maybe I'll just go watch another episode of Carnival! Or load up another PS2 game LOL

In fact, I have done nothing more on the greenman that I started weeks ago. Chris Pye's carving is so awsome that I just know I can't finish it that well! I started a viking caricature, and just started roughing it out--but lost interest in that as well! My segment for the friendship cane is almost done--but I can't find the gumption to make the last few cuts and to sand it!

Colin was right!!!!!

Bob

[Irish]

Bob ... Please take this with a BIG grain of salt ...

Van Gogh did not cut off his ear because he could not do his art. He cut off his ear because the man was ragingly crazy. The art history books often say that he "fell into a fit of depression followed by rampaging fits of rage" and was hospitalized, for everyone else's safety. And he didn't quite take all the ear, only part, just enough that he almost bleed to death. Then after having done the dirty deed he decided to send the ear piece to a girlfriend ????? Guess he didn't want to waste it.

Anyway, every piece has an UGLY stage. It comes just before the "Oh, Man, Look what I just did!" stage.

Susan

[BobD]

My wife loves Van Gogh--I was taking a few liberties with history to try to be humerous...and I admit, I shouldn't have.

Thanks for the advice, thoug...it gave me the motivation to go up and carve a little during my lunch hour!

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Originally Posted by Irish

Bob ... Please take this with a BIG grain of salt ...

Van Gogh did not cut off his ear because he could not do his art. He cut off his ear because the man was ragingly crazy. The art history books often say that he "fell into a fit of depression followed by rampaging fits of rage" and was hospitalized, for everyone else's safety. And he didn't quite take all the ear, only part, just enough that he almost bleed to death. Then after having done the dirty deed he decided to send the ear piece to a girlfriend ????? Guess he didn't want to waste it.

Anyway, every piece has an UGLY stage. It comes just before the "Oh, Man, Look what I just did!" stage.

Susan

Maybe Van Gogh's girlfriend had just given him a piece of her mind and he thought "well, I have to reciprocate somehow!" LOLBouncing S

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

How about bandsawing 10 blanks of "whatever" you want, then put them all in a row with a little sign that says "you are free to screw these up and make firewood of them" After the aggressions are fulfilled on the first couple, the last ones should get better and better! LOL (no body said I was a psychologist!)

[jamesfa]

Callynne- i don't have a problem starting when i'm inspired i always remind myself it is only wood and i can get more.
many times while on the road non carvers will ask what i'm doing and my usual reply is "making small pieces of firewood"

Frank

[squbrigg]

What a great idea Hi Ho........away goes the fear of messing up, there are always nine more to practice on. Cheers

My biggest difficulty is deceiding on what to try next. Decision making! Do I do what I know I can do well at, or do I try something more of a challenge? Once I make the decision I'm away and keep at it until I'm done .....either completed (usually) or once in a while, trashed for a bad idea! Regardless, everything I attempt teaches me something that I can use.............. "I need to sharpen my sharpening skills", or..... "That's too advanced for me",......or........"You should have stuck to ship modelling". Smile

Bob