[jartzh]

I am always disappointed with the final results. I think I have 3 pieces that I have been happy with. Even when I think I am happy and put them in my house. I get unhappy and hide them away or get rid of them in a gallery.
Is it just me?

[kitaye]

I don't think your alone. We are always our own worst critiques(sp). I've had people go gaga over something I have drawn or carved only to look at it myself and think it is terrible. Always best to get a second unbiased opinion....like all of us here

[tucker1931]

What Kitaye said for sure. I'm exactly the same, mind you, I've only been at this a short time and I want it to be right "in my eyes" no matter what anyone else says. I really don't see a problem with that. I think that's what makes us strive for perfection in our craft,
Cliff

[Just Carving]

Don't like it? Show it off, and be prepared to give it away. Then you'll find out how much you liked it because you'll wish you hadn't shown it off and then had to give it away!

Bob L

[doris]

well, with me is same... i have only carved one piece i really like, and that one is carved bad, i like it for its emotional content not since it is carved well ... its in a way a good thing, you know, since it makes us try again, and try better

[Kenny_S]

Not totally happy with 90% of my carvings.
I agree with Bob L. show it off and see how fast it disappears in other people's hands.

[windsong]

Not being satisfied with your work is a good thing it makes you strive to do better.I'm never satisfied with my work.That just keeps me trying to improve.
windsong

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Never, ever be dissatisfied with something you've made. Even if it didn't turn out the way you thought it would it still "turned out"! I've carved hundreds of figures over the years and I can probably count less than 20 that I saved for myself. But those I did keep are only here because of what I learned while doing all those others. When I set a new one next to the first one I ever carved I have to admit that the old fella in no way measures up to what I'm doing now. But, like me, for his age he still looks pretty good!

[Callynne]

No, it's definitely not just you, every single piece I do, I see so many things I wished I'd done better. In fact, while I'm painting a piece I keep fine tuning, carving a little bit here, sanding a little bit there. I have to make myself stop because I know I'll never finish a piece if I don't.

Like Lynn though, I do see where I've improved. When I first started carving I did a fairy, looking at her reflection, which I kept for myself. Recently I was commissioned to do another one. Now it didn't turn out perfectly, I saw lots of things I wished I'd done differently, but when I compared it to the first one I did, setting them side by side....well, I must admit, I was pleased with how far I have come, not perfect by any means, but certainly much improved!

Just try to look at each piece as a learning experience, you are learning and improving, even if you don't think so! And getting there, to perfection, is so much fun!! Deborah
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[mike410]

I just finished a tree frog in some leaves for my grand daughter and I wasn't pleased with the frogs expression. The eyes looked "wary" instead of the placid look that I was looking for...and no matter what I did, the placement of the eyes had locked in that look. So, I made a burned parchment story to go with it to justify the look.
"This is Titus. He is the biggest tree frog in the bayou. The Great Blue heron has had his eye on Titus for dinner many times but Titus has escaped. This day, Titus has backed in to a bunch of leaves and is watching warily for the Great Blue. Will he survive again?"
May be a little corny, but it makes me feel better and I think my little grand daughter will appreciate it (I hope).
Mike410