"Blocks" of wood

[Paul_Guraedy]

We have a lot of “issues” involved with woodcarving that occasionally come into our discussions. One term frequently used is “from a single block of wood” when referring to a carving. I have a couple of questions along this line….
Are laminated blocks single blocks?
Is carved “from a single block” preferable to whatever else might be possible?

[Ron T]

Hi Paul,

That's a very interesting observation on your part. It's the same thing with sticks vs. stick toppers. As if it somehow makes it easier to carve one than the other. Well, I always say, "Small things bother small minds."

Oh, oh, I think it's time to log off, my mouth is starting to shoot off and that's not like me.

[BobD]

Hi Paul,
I'll take a crack at this.

I just returned from the International Carvers Congress in Davenport, IA. I had the opportunity to see some of Marv Kaisersatt's work up close. Marv's personal challenge is to carve his pieces from a solid block without using any add-on pieces.

Now Marv would be the last person to tell you that you couldn't carve any way you like. For him, making clay models, and figuring out how to carve his creations from a solid block (notice I'm not saying from one piece of wood) is part of why he carves. He loves that problem solving process.

Do I admire that? Yes. Would I ever have the patience to do it? No. Do I find anything wrong with using add ons? No, as long as the add-ons make sense and are disguised well. Nothing ruins a carving for me more than a hastily attached add-on.

Bob

[Simplyme]

Is there any pics of Marv Kaisersatt's work anywhere here, is he a member?

[DManning]

Interesting questions. In my opinion the answer boils down to a matter of "intent" and "need".
When I am relaxing and kicking out a chain or "ball-in-cage", there is no option other than "single" block. To me it would be fraud to cut out a bunch of "C" shapes and glue them together as links. The "magic" is in the fact that it is from a solid piece. If the piece breaks, it is finished (for better or worse). It is also a "test of skill" to put as much fragile detail into a piece without hearing that dreadful "SNAP".
Most of what I do is left unpainted with the grain pattern showing. I love it when a block of wood will show a swirl around a shoulder or flow evenly around the back. Even laminated blocks would detract from that appearance.
Sometimes, due to required size, you have no option other than using laminated blocks. If enough skill and effort is applied to the mating of the pieces, it will be a minimal distraction in the finished product.
I know a lot of carvers who make the heads, hands, etc., separate and glue them in place. This is mostly done with pieces that will be painted to cover up any seams. If this process is "intended" (to provide grain strength to a fragile area, or force the grain to flow) that is acceptable. If it is done to correct a problem caused by lack of planning, that is a different matter.
I have also seen carvings made by using pieces of different woods to obtain a planned effect. It's like Intarsia-in-the-round and, if done properly, creates an impressive result. If done poorly, it looks like a cheap jigsaw puzzle.
I am looking forward to reading what other opinions come out of this line. Good luck,
Dan

[BobD]

I don't know of any photos here, but check out the Affiliated Woodcarvers site that shows Marv's Best in Show Piece from 2005:
2005 Highlights

Marv was our Woodcarver of the Year in 2006.

Another good place to see photos is on the CCA website:
Marv Kaisersatt

Bob

[Simplyme]

Wow he did those pieces out of one piece of wood........Thats amazing work. I would not even know where to begin with anything like that....

[BobD]

That's part of Marv's challenge for himself. He makes a clay model, and using the model, figures out hot to carve different sections. He'll hold tools up to the model to find out how to best carve an area. If it's not possible to carve, he'll change the model until he can carve it. It's really inspiring.

I do hope that my comments are not taken the wrong way. I am in no way trying to say that Marv's method is any better or any worse than any other method. I personally find it inspirational. But I have, and probably will continue, to use add-ons on my carvings as needed.

Bob

[mdallensr]

I think we're talking about two different topics. One is making a glued-up blank, out of two or more blocks of wood, to start a carving. Another topic is adding parts to a carving by gluing parts that are carved separately. Glued-up blanks are a normal part of carving big things, and have been used for centuries as the only feasible way to make large carvings, such as carousel animals. IMHO, once it's glued-up, it's a single block of wood.

Adding parts to a carving is also a centuries-old practice. It's much more challenging to carve a complex carving from a single bock of wood, but many carvers are more results oriented than process oriented, so if it's the best way to achieve the desired result, do it. I'm always impressed by the work of the top caricature carvers, and the appeal of the final carving is not the carving process as much as the creative talent and work that developed the design and executed the carving. To me, it's a fairly minor point about how the design was carved.

Consider Mooney Warther and all the carvings he made of the steam locomotive. Those were assemblies, carved one piece at a time and built up the way most of us would build a model airplane, or the way Bob carves his ships. Mike

[Canopener]

Well I think it is safe to say very few, if any of us, are in Marvs league. His carvings are a constant amazement. I am a big fan and use his book on faces a lot.
Paul has a valid question and I am sure we will get a variety of opinions, including, what constitutes a block of wood. I think that would come down to cases, but a true purist would use a tree trunk or go find "the perfect piece of wood" in the forest; but a laminate would sure have some advantages.
I will offer this opinion, and mostly I carve caricatures. I am about to finish my latest carving which has 4 main pieces and I had to recarve a hand. The hand was becoming an obscene gesture so I had to cut it off, but after 5 attempts, I got size and purpose just about right. Trying to make all of the pieces work was time consuming and I will have to put it all together to see if it was worth it; but the thing I have been asking myself is, does the end justify the means. Did I make a better carving, or a more complicated carving?
Let me put it another way; does more difficult equal more challenging, or will it distract the viewer? And I am not talking about back drop, especially in regards to wildlife.
I guess it just proves I still have lots to learn.
Jim