Choosing something to carve

[Paul_Guraedy]

We, surprisingly, get a lot of visitors back here at the end of the world. And they have started me wondering about my carving.....in a general way. A lot of these folks have remarked on my carvings of mountain men. There have even been a lot of comments of “your birds are good but I like the mountain men better”.

What I have been cogitating is….Why? These are the only two realistic human figures I have carved. I do not like carving humans and only plan to do one more (only because that one is underway and I will finish it…….someday). Analyzing them I see that the figures: have a wider variety of detail, are larger, are painted with muted earth tones.

The only reason I see to prefer them is that they are human figures and are larger than my other carvings. Do people generally gravitate to likenesses? Is there some sense that larger is better?

Is it possible that I am too close to the subject? Is this similar to something we realized back in my pistol shootin’ days? We found that scores with the “weak” hand were generally better than those with the preferred hand. The explanation given was that shooters were more aware of the need to be careful and follow the rules when using their “off” hand. Have I somehow applied this to my carvings?I do not like carving human figures. Even though several people have encouraged me to do more, I resist. Could it be that I have been so much more careful because of my reluctance that these are, indeed, better carvings than my birds and animals?

Anyone else seeing increased interest in your “non-preferred” carvings? How often, other than for sale, do you carve things that you would just as soon not carve?

[kitaye]

I supect the reason is uniqueness. Alot of people see carvings of birds but few see carvings of mountain men. Also there seems to be a growing interest in the wood spirit style so maybe that may be a connection.

[chuckt]

Not sure - but woodspirit and greenman faces are one of the main things that inspired my desire to carve. So far I never tire of these. I am not so into the Native American Indian faces & busts, and I am not sure why, since I find NA culture fascinating (I love my NA flute and go to NA Fests when the opportunity arises). Mountain men faces are a little more intereting to me.

I also don't find song bird carvings that interesting (though some have caused me to gasp in admiration), but RAPTORS - I find fascinating.

Can't give you the whys but that's my preferences.

Cheers!
ChuckT

[Doug Ridley]

How often, other than for sale, do you carve things that you would just as soon not carve?__________________
My short answer to that is "never".
Doug

[Joy]

Interesting question! When I look at carved birds I am in awe of the skill it took to duplicate Mother Nature. But I would never buy one.....they are too perfect and because of that they seem lifeless to me. Perhaps it is the variablilty of the faces that your friends gravitate to . Just my two cents worth.

[squbrigg]

Interesting question Paul, and one I've struggled with myself. People do seem to want what you don't normally do and it does make the project become "work" rather than enjoyment! I haven't done much in the human bust area myself yet, so I can't really give you an opinion on that, just a couple of helmsmen and Santas. Can't say if they are that "good" or not, but as ships are my speciality, I can say that folks do have a definate preferance when it comes to them!

Here in Eastern Canada the "Bluenose" ( I or II) is the vessel most requested, and once you've carved one or two or six, they kind of wear you down! Full model or half model, relief carving or burning, she is the most recognized vessel in the country! Thank goodness she is a beautiful vessel, or I'd get tired of doing her. Personally I enjoy warships of the period 1740 to 1815, of all countries, and have also done my share of clippers and merchant sail, large and small, ships, brigs, barques, brigantines, schooners, and cutters. But ...... everyone asks for the Bluenose! Right now I am doing five burnings of her for a customer, who wants to use them as gifts.

Dragons seem to be the next in popularity, I get a lot of interest in those, but I do enjoy doing a new dragon and experimenting with their forms and shapes and "personalities"! There are some great reference books out now on them, including Susan's great work on Dragons and some new fantisy art ones.

I do like to vary what I carve, to push my limits and learn new things. Like ChuckT, I love raptors and have set myself to carve a cane of each North American raptor, just for fum. I'm deep into a Perigrine Falcon now, and have a Red Tail Hawk and American Kestril heads roughed out. I also finally completed the Old World Santa Goodie sent us last year. It's on display with some of my other work in the local library right now, haven't even had time to photograph it yet.

Bob

[doris]

interesting topic, i experienced same, that my busts draw attention, while the animals i carved do not...in my case, i think it was (judging from the comments i received) that people judge a human face as most difficult to carve. birds and animals are considered "easier". to me this is nonsense, you need to know your topic exactely to be able to carve it... and, to your other question, i only carve what i want...have not sold therefore anything though ... c´est la vie ...

[Teri Embrey]

Oh, this is a great topic, Paul. I struggle with these questions, too. I get a lot of requests to do carvings other than whatever strikes me at the time - and I am perfectly willing at the time. But in the end, I could rarely get inspired to try to create someone else's vision. I finally ended up (learned from Joe Dillett, I believe) with what I call a "wish list". You can ask for what you want, and if I ever get inspired to do something close to what you're asking, you'll get first choice to purchase the piece. No money up front, no commitment, and purportedly no pressure (that part I put on myself; my customers have been perfectly happy to wait as long as it takes for the most part. Anyway, it seems to work better for all concerned than taking an actual "order" and trying to force something out that you really don't feel. I've been told over and over that it's been worth the wait, as when I actually do the piece in my own time, it is usually a better piece in the end. I'm working on one right now that has been on my wish list for nearly 2 years! Geeze- thank God for patient people :-)

Teri

[Wolf Kiessling]

This is simply not a problem for me, I only carve what I want to.

Sometimes an idea comes into my head and I will carve it, or at least attempt to. Sometimes I get a certain piece of wood that for some reason or other I take a liking to and eventually something comes to mind that I can carve out of it. Other times I see a sculpture I like and I may then try to make one like it, or, at least, similar. I NEVER take commissions any more.

I probably do more turning than carving now even though I am a better sculptor than turner. What I REALLY enjoy is carving some of the turnings. In any case, I am now in the process of using up all of the wood that I have and when it is gone, I will have finished the wood working phase of my life. I have submitted my application to enter the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Ms. It was, of course, destroyed by Katrina but will be rebuilt with a presently scheduled completion date in 2010. There is also a waiting list so I figure I have three to four years to finish everything. I could go into the one in Washington D.C. but I have no desire to go there. Besides that, I'm not quite ready for that. Not sure what the last phase of my life will be, probably a resumption of a lot of fishing and traveling.......

[Thor]

Interesting answers to this topic.
I will carve anything someone wants me to carve within the very strict confines of my abilities or confidence level.
Most of the carvings I want to do the most will sit here for a long time, because few folks I run across really have a medieval interest in their decorating schemes or collections.
I'm most satisfied with commissions from medieval reenactors. Especially when I have to do research to fit their ideas to medieval historical styles, or symbolism. They don't come up as often as I'd like.
I personally, enjoy all styles of carving to look at closely and could live with anything handcarved...from birds to woodspirits to ships or mountain men.
Thor