[Lynn O. Doughty]

Okay....it's been a while since I stirred things up so here goes.......

I've been noting a lot of posts on this Flat Plane Carving subject. I did a little research on the web and found out that my hero and idol H.S."Andy" Anderson was also listed on Wikipedia as a Flat Plane Carver. Whoa there Buckaroo! If Andy was a carver out there on the Flat Planes then I must be one too, along with just about 50% of the rest of us. If you look at my pieces there are flat planes all over the place. This leads to the question of just when does a piece leave the sphere of the Flat Plane (Sphere of the Flat Plane? Hmmmm....) and become a ....... please, someone help me here cause I don't know what's next!

I have always joked about some carvers only being "Corner Carvers"! Cut out a blank....cut off the corners....and you're finished! Maybe the joke was on me all the time. Now I'm really confused cause I no longer know what style I carve in. I went over to Rick's website to check out the various styles there and I swear I could detect some rounded corners on some of those founders of the flat plane style. Frankly, this type of carving reminds me of Superman's imperfect twin, Bizarro! He was all angles and flat planes. Or maybe flat plane carving is sort of like the discovery of the wheel. The first attempt was a square one but that one didn't roll too well. The idea was a good one so they worked it a little more, knocking off a corner here and there until eventually, a Round wheel. This style would be perfect if you're worried about your carvings falling off a shelf cause if knocked over they wouldn't roll! Like the discovery of the New World, maybe we need a woodcarving Columbus to show the Flat Planers that when they get out there to the edge of the chip they're not going to fall off! There's more wood left around that corner!!

So, am I a flat plane carver? I sure hope not! If I am do I care? Not a bit! I still like a nice, well rounded figure! I guess it's a Cowboy thing.

[Tom H]

Hee Hee Hee! I'll continue to stir it up. A prominent member and contributor to this Board recently asked what "Flat Plane" looked like. Well. I took the bait and sent a photo of a "Flat Plane" carving that I had. His response was something like; "that's what my carvings look like before I finish them".

I still think we all enjoy looking at a well done Flat Plane carving; I know I do..Floyd Rhadigan states that his style of carving is "a mix of Ozark and Flat Plane Scandinavian." Check his site out. Tom H

http://www.fantasycarving.com/

[mdallensr]

Lynn, I'm not even going to try. I know I couldn't leave it alone, and after awhile, every corner would be nibbled away until the entire carving was rounded. I think it's really neat the way some artists can use techniques like flat plane carving to produce believable work. When I do it, it just looks dumb, awkward, or unfinished. Maybe that ability defines and artist, huh. Mike

[BobD]

I can see your point, Lynn. Why do people try so hard to classify their work or identify with carving legends???

I absolutely LOVE the folk-art look of flat-plane carving. I really got interested in it when I started researching Wilhelm Schimmel, a "Tramp-carver" who moved around in my part of the country. His pieces now sell for tens of thousands of dollars...and they look very simplistic...but take a lot more work than they look.

Jonathan Bastion, the guy who taught me to carve in that style, can finish a tiger in literally 45 minutes and it looks awsome...I'm still working on the roughout he gave me nearly 2 years ago!

Seeing Harley Refsal's work or Woodbutcher Jan's work...they make a few strategic cuts...and they are done...it's amazing to me. They can whip out carvings with character, feeling, emotion...faster than i can cut something out on a bandsaw. From brain to wood...that quick...I envy them!

I can see your point, Lynn, about how some carving in that style look unfinished. But I don't think a properly done one...something like what Harley Refsal's carvings...looks unfinished. I guess for me, it's like what Chris Pye says...a sanded carving doesn't pick up the light they way one "left to the chisel" does. Sharp angles are not bad, but rounding some parts off is not bad either! Look at Harley's pieces at this link
http://www.pinewoodforge.com/NEW-VERSIONS.html
They show life, movement, chacter, and are a bit rounded off...I love them!!! The strategic cuts...while they look random, convey just the right feeling of movement to make these carvings come alive.

Some of the other masters, Janel, Trygg, even Harold Enlow...capture that sense of movement in just a few cuts...cuts they've made SO many times in the past that they don't even think about why they make a cut there...they just do...that, to me, is amazing!!!

Bob

[artolver]

Lynn, After a life time of carving, drawing and painting, I never heard about such a thing.
Now I have used flat planed planes, for planing but not carvings.
I can see bent plane and twisted planes.
please someone enlight this old geezer


art the barkguy olver

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

If you have a sphere....errr fear of flat planes, you shouldn't fly!

[gene messer]

Boy Lynn .. You do like to stir it up ...
First of all ... I myself cant explain flat plane carving .. but all I know is when I first saw Harley Refsal's style of doing it ... I loved it .. And that's the way I wanted to try and carve .. I cant explain why some people love spinach either .. because I gag at the sight of it .. but it's because they love it ..

The wonderful thing about this forum is that everyone carves differently and we get to see so many different style's .. If everyone carved the same .. it would be a boring site to go to .. but it isnt ..it's wonderful .. and thank God were not all the same ..

To explain someone's style of doing anything is impossible .. T0 explain why Jack Price carves only compact characters is because he loves it .. and aren't we fortunate he does .. To explain why Harley Refsal chooses flat plane style carving is because he also loves it's style and unique way of carving .. And he is wonderful at it ..

Why some people love only to carve Santa's or cowboys or birds or animals is because they love that specific way of carving .. I cant explain it .. So to explain why anyone would love the style of flat plane to a smooth finish is impossible to say ... We just do ..

To me Flat plane carving is basically a higher form of whittling because the knife is used in 95 % of the carving ... At least it is in the way I whittle ...
And Ia'm not even that good at it ..

But all I know is one time I tried to get in a Harley Refsal class and it was booked up immediately .. So someone must like it ..

I absolutely love Andy Anderson's work .. I heard a guy at the Stark Museum looking at it .. say he thought it was crude and unfinished ..
I cant see that .. but he thought that ...

I remember one time visiting a carving shop in Tenn. and the lady at the counter waiting on me ask to see some of my little people .. and after looking at them .. she turned to her husband who is a wonderful carver and ask him why he didnt leave the cuts in his carving's like I did .. she liked that way of doing it .. In which he replied .. If you want it that way .. learn to carve yourself .. True story .. Why did she like that style ? Who knows .. she just did ..

Enough said ..
God Bless
Gene

[Eddy Smiles]

"This sure is educatin'"

[whitecree]

Originally Posted by Hi_Ho_Sliver

If you have a sphere....errr fear of flat planes, you shouldn't fly!

That pun is so bad it is almost funny.










































Almost.

[windsong]

I love this subject post some more photos of the flat plane style.I need more Help!!!! Help!!!
Vic.