Carving Relaxation

[Rezbar]

Hi everybody! After the almost feverish excitement of carving Christmas subjects (mostly Santas) that started well before in September, now I on't feel up to starting any new carving work. I wonder whether this is a state of mind felt by other carvers. My knives, gouges rest there as well different pieces of wood and I look the other way. Very bad, insn't it?

[cut up]

The only negative I can think about it, provided you plan to get back to carving, is you are not honing in on your skills of carving. With that said, I usually take a couple of weeks from the shop after Christmas. It gives me time to search out new projects and plans, decide what I need to do and clean the shop. I spent a week cleaning and hanging up jigs that I built for last years projects. Next will be sharpening carving tools and working on a music stand. (Sharpening is another skill I need work on.)
Go ahead and take a break, but don't forget there is wood waiting for you to release that new image inside.
Michael

[kitaye]

I go through this several times a year. When it happens I don't fight it, I simply pick up another of my many hobbies and carry on. I think it is a good way to get the creativity going again.

[mpounders]

Yeah, I get it occasionally also. It helps me if I just start carving something small or easy and it seems like I get back into it. I sometimes avoid my carving by feeling the need to make special jigs or tools! Any excuse will work sometimes! The cold weather here is making me want to stay in the house rather than carving, but I started posting some stuff on my web site, and it is keeping me going on it, since I feel guilty if I don't update it and show the progress! And I always feel better once I get involved in the carving, and wonder why I kept putting it off.

[CV3]

Some times when I have done a lot of one thing I fine I can loose my enthusiasm. I made a lot of pens over Christmas. I do not want to see another pen right now. I look for something I have wanted to learn to do better and turn to that. I am reading and studying more about doing portrait carving at this time.

[gtech]

Originally Posted by kitaye

I go through this several times a year. When it happens I don't fight it, I simply pick up another of my many hobbies and carry on. I think it is a good way to get the creativity going again.

The same for me. You need many hobbies to renew the creativity.

For example, I have a few Santas that never got finished for Xmas because I didn't feel like finishing them. So I took a break, and I am now experimenting with a new way of carving different characters based on a new old book I just bought. And it works, because I found a new way that fits me better to carve characters and finish them.

It's always motivating to learn something new instead of keep doing the same thing again and again.

Gilles

[kdispoto]

Must carve more Santas.
Must carve more Santas.
Must carve more Santas.
Must carve more Santas.
Must carve more Santas.
Must carve more Santas.
...you get the idea

signed,
a tired but happy SantaCarverHolic

[STAR]

Originally Posted by gtech

The same for me. You need many hobbies to renew the creativity.

For example, I have a few Santas that never got finished for Xmas because I didn't feel like finishing them. So I took a break, and I am now experimenting with a new way of carving different characters based on a new old book I just bought. And it works, because I found a new way that fits me better to carve characters and finish them.

It's always motivating to learn something new instead of keep doing the same thing again and again.

Gilles

--------------------------
Gilles sentiment is very close to where I am at the moment. Too much intensity in one area leaves me open to burn out and stress.

I have to remember why I wanted to learn how to carve. In life, there are certain responsibilities we do because he have to.

In my hobbies and interests if the reason is because I have to instead of because I want to, then it is time to ease back, and do something else for awhile. I have to remind myself this interest is for relaxation and for pride of achievement.

Unfortunately when learning new skills, the intensity of the learning curve catches up and I need time out to refresh. But their are many areas of carving that one needs in their kit bag.

Maintenance, sharpening skills, jigs to make the work easier, research, shop re arrangement, cleaning, the list goes on. For me, and I stress for my beginner level, the intensity of a beginner's learning curve can lead to burn out, For me I have to allow some time, as if by osmosis, the information slowly sinks in and the penny drops and the lights come on.

Everybody needs a break at some point, me, I need lots otherwise I will be producing more chips and kindling then actual carvings. Now, that is when you are likely to put the knives and gouges in the kindling box, like the golfer who threw the clubs, bag and the caddy into the lake after a particular bad round.

Pete

[Rustic Rick]

Mine is wizards i just want to perfect them before moving on. I am on my 3rd wizard this year. I also do other woodworking just to keep the juices flowing.

[oldbearx2]

Me too. Whenever it happens I start researching a new subject for a carving I've wanted to do. Even if I don't carve it for some time I have all my research done. My animals usually are so time consuming with the stoning and burning of the fur, that by the time I am done I need a break. I will then start carving Santas or caricatures which I do with knves and gouges to relieve the tension a little or go to the woodworking shop and build something.