Bad wood encourages creativity

[Cottonwood]

I know you all have exprerienced it....starting a carving then coming to the realization that it is just a piece of bad wood! You know how it goes, in the case of bass wood, it's really dark color is masked by the fuzzy surface saw marks, it's hardness, wild grain with hard streaks and blemishes all surface after you start carving. Creativity can actually be encouraged by a piece of wood like this. It can set you free from the prospect of ruining a really good piece of wood. Try taking that piece of wood and do something out of the ordinary with it, something really off the wall! Stretch your imagination with it! If the carving doesn't turn out so good, who cares, you have a built in excuse....."uh, it was a really bad piece of wood."
This is the situation that produced this carving. Here we have Santa with a panic stricken look on his face just after one of the elves said, "Hey Santa, yer ball is afire!" Santa was careless with his pipe and caught the ball at the end of his hat on fire. Don't worry, children, Santa shucked that hat off in no time and Dancer and Prancer stomped the fire out in the snow!
That's the story behind this special edition in the Stump of a Pipe Series. Hope you all enjoy looking at it and maybe carving this version of Santa to just have fun. You don't have to wait for bad piece of wood!

[Sharon of the Dell]

Millard,I totally agree! I mainly use found wood and almost always run into little rotten spots once I start carving it. Usually when I think it's almost done, SURPRISE!!! I hate throwing out or burning something I've put countless hours into. I have quite a few carvings like that. You just inspired me to possibly finish them as abstract pieces! Thankyou!

[Merle Rice]

Millard, that is Simply Priceless. To me that is your best Santa so far. They are all great but this one has something Special. If he is included in the 40 Santas some one is going to be very lucky. Merle

[Sharon of the Dell]

Oh, I forgot, your Santa is wonderful!

[santagibbs]

Love the expression on his face and his pipe that fell. but I sure am frustrated with basswood that is hard.. I tried on a hard piece for a year and almost opened the window and threw it into the pond.. Finally finished it but it discouraged me from carving for quite awhile.. Your Santa is wonderful and if persistance is what it takes, then you have it.. Charlotte

[catbird]

Millard, I think he is looking at you and saying...didn't you know you were carving me out of a bad piece of wood?
Such a good story as well as great creativity.

[Ron T]

Hi Millard,

That's a really nice carving, bad wood or not. What are the dimensions?

[tnartist05]

Seeing most of all of my carvings are from old junky found wood. I like the character of the old wood plus the challenge of it. Your Santa is very neat Millard,nice job. Forrest

[markken5889]

I was recently trying to turn a piece of butternut into a decoy. the whole back end ended up pretty punky, but since I like the antique style anyway, it turned out pretty well. Great thread, and great Santa piece!

Mark

[susieq]

LOL!!! Great save on this one!! If you hadn't told us, we never would have known it wasn't planned this way..... It is true that a bad spot in the wood will absolutely change your plans, especially with gouge carving....not so much with power, but even then, I have to adapt once in a while. Wonderful piece of work.