Does anyone here know competition guidelines or where I can find some? I've been to Chip Chats & couldn't find anything.

I understand that in the Masters Class, special competion rules apply but don't know if this is true (meaning that the rules become stricter). For instance, that the carving has to be part of the base (a caricature can't be freestanding). Leaves, etc. have to be made like from copper sheeting. Or if this is done (fill in the blank) a piece is disqualified.

I don't need anything written in stone, just generally accepted guidelines.

Thanks,
Audacitie

[Callynne]

Hi Monika, I've only competed in a couple shows but from my experience I'd say the group having the show sets their own guidelines. May be different 'out in the world' but that's the case around here. Anyone have any other thoughts? Callynne

P.S. At a show I was at last summer there were beautiful leaves made from brown paper bags....you'd never have know it!! They cut two, put a wire in the middle, glued them together and then painted them. When the paint dried it curled the leaves up a bit and they looked awesome!! The lady said she considered them 'legal' because the paper bags were made from wood pulp....my kind of thinking!

I agree that most competitions set their own rules but if I read your question correctly, masters class entries do have a much stricter policy. I don't know about the base restriction, but I would want mine attached to some kind of base. As for the parts, I believe all pieces of the carving have to be made of wood OR crafted by the carver. Such as, feet. You can't buy the pre-made pewter feet, You have to fashion your own with wire and soldering that you do yourself. As for the leaves, I've seen them done both with copper and paper bag. Some goo, some not so good. You can't use a piece of driftwood that you found for a mount, you have to carve a piece of wood to look like driftwood. I believe the clause 'fashioned by the carver' is so you can include water, snow and other habitat that required that liquid stuff. I suppose the thinking here is that if you are in a 'masters class' you should be doing all the work yourself. A marginal carving may become better with an exceptional base. Something like that or perhaps I am just talking out of my hat. Pam