Carving in public

[Tom-H]

It would be interesting to hear from those who carve in public. What I mean is pullin out a piece of wood and carving/whittling while: sittin on a park bench, Sittin in the Mall waitin for wife to finish shoppin, in the waiting room at Doc office, waitin for the bus, etc, etc. Could be the different places that you carve, experiences resulting from carving in public. Any problems that came up as a result of you carving in public.

It took a while for me to overcome any problems that I had about letting others see what was goin on with that fella and a knife. I have found that adults will either just glance at you, and sometimes say my grand paw or dad used to carve. But it's the kids that stop and really watch....

Tom H

[Thor]

I used to demonstrate at Medieval events a great deal, and the one thing that I found important to me is to always have a finished piece with me so you can show them what it looks like when you're done. A relief carving I'm working on, or any carving for that matter, looks pretty awful in the roughed out stage.
I also never get much carving done with the interruptions...so...low expectations of carving time accomplished.
Thor

[mikeg]

As I said in the "Baby Elephant" thread, I carved yesterday for a group of kids who thought it was cool. Too bad kids these days can't have pocket knives at school.

I've got a pillow case that I can take with me to catch the chips. Even after carving it usually still folds up pretty small until I can dump them out.

mikeg

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have always carved at our Good Sam's campouts so they are used to it, but they all have to check on what I am carving "this time", most people are interested, some are bashful to ask......but lets face it, if carving wasn't interesting.........WE wouldn't be doing it!

[pallin]

Last weekend I gave a 3 day demo of carving at out local History Days, but I didn't get a lot of carving done. I did a whittling demo last year. While my wife was in the hospital, I would often take a break by carving on a bench in the garden areas outside. People would usually ignore me. I would always collect the shavings in a bag.

[whitecree]

I don't much care for somebody leaning over me and kibbitzing while I'm working on something. Too distracting, and we all know what happens when we get distracted while holding a sharp knife - bandaid-time!

[Ron Davidson]

I once carved in the dentist office while waiting and also in moms doctors office while she was having some test done. Both times all I heard was allot of whispering and mumbling. I also take a cigar box and some knives and wood to the Rhuematologist when I go every six weeks. I sit in a recliner and carve while I am getting my IV and I usually bring Lou's bone so he can carve too.

[RobK]

While on vacation in Myrtle Beach last month, I spent time on a warm morning chip-carving a cross while the Mrs. was inside spending the kids inheritance in her favorite clothing store. Received some very nice comments and had a couple of conversations with nice people interested in what I was doing.

[gene-messer]

Tom .. As you know and I have shared before ... That probably 95 % of my carving time is spent in some kind of the public eye .. ( that includes work.. because I suppose you would call that public ) ...

With my job and the cutbacks in hiring people .. I spend more time at work now then I ever did .and with my job as a operator on shift .. they dont mind me carving when things are slow ( especially on graveyards at night , it keeps me awake ) .. And when I get off of work with 3 teenagers .. Ia'm always going ...

So if Ia'm going to carve .. I have to do it mainly outside the home ...

I have carved in malls , doctor's office's , dentist offices , while watching my grandchild play at Mcdonalds , in parks , always on vacation by pools , in amusement parks , you name it .. I have probably carved most places ..
Before 911 .. on a flight to California .. I carved on the plane all the way there .. DONT TRY THAT NOW !

I remember when my wife was going to M.D, Anderson hospital for cancer treatments ... The doctors and nurses there can tell you there was a guy who was whitting all the time .. Some of them even have some of my piece's ...

That's why I consider myself more a whittler .. then a carver .. the knife has been my only source of my pieces ... except one small v tool ...

I have to admit that I have met some of the nicest people and had some of the most wonderful conversations with great people while whittling in the public .. I have just taught myself to hold a conversation and keep my eye's on the knife at all times ...

If you have never done it .. try it sometime and get you a small fishing box like I do and carry your tools and let your shavings gather in it while you carve and empty it later ...

Believe me .. you can meet some of the greatest people who just want to know what your doing and sit and talk ..

and isnt that what carving is all about ? .. Getting people interested in this wonderful art ...

God Bless

Gene

[jillsy]

The only place I ever carved outside of my own home is a park while on a reunion with my husband's family. When I was left alone, I did well, but when people started asking me questions, I started feeling uncomfortable. Between that and constantly keeping my eyes on my 3 year old, it wasn't the best conditions! But, when the kids are older, I wouldn't mind trying it again.