[Bandaid]

Just wondering if you guys and gals suffer from the same malady that I do. Before I know it I find that I have 2 or 3 (or more) projects on the go at the same time. Simple carvings can usually be finished in one shot but, with long term more complicated work, I find that I need a change of scenery once in a while so I work on a different piece. They all get finished eventually, some just take longer than others.

Am I alone or do I have company?

:-/ I understand! only my problem is when I need a change of scenery, I just stop carving. Sometimes for months, then slowly my intrest starts to come back. I call them my creative periods. But is easy to loss intrest in a project if it takes to long. The one that I'm working on now as come to a halt do to the spring Rock fish season. Fish? or Carve?

Once upon a time, long, long ago, I had this same thought. I went out to the studio and made a list of the 'in-process' carving I had going and stopped when the count hit about 25. Some were just started, others waiting painting (my biggest roadblock), and others will probably never get any further towards completion. When I look at some of the oldest 'in-process' pieces I know they will die where they sit. A wise friend of mine once said that you need to start new projects once in a while to clear your brain. My brain is so clean that it turned my hair white!

[Captain_Bandaid]

I don't usually have more than 2 carvings going at once. I guess I am results oriented and like to see the finished product. I did lay off carving for about a month while I indulged my 'inner blacksmith'. Made two sets of carving tools and about 6 knives. I am back carving now, occasionally using my home-made tools and finding new ideas for more tools...the kind you just can't buy from Woodcraft. I was gonna carve a cat this weekend...but it got away.

[don]

That will happen unless you really clamp them down tight

[mdallensr]

Having more than one carving going is a good thing for me, to borrow an over-used phrase. I'm not an artist, and I often just can't 'see' the way a figure should look. If I put is aside and come back a couple of days later, it's really obvious what's wrong or what needs to be done. I've only given up on those that have no redemption due to bad wood or total screw-ups. I did cut off the head of a black bear and glue on a new hunk to carve the head right. I also end up with a pretty big collection waiting for painting, but we do that on purpose (or so I claim).

[Nancy_G]

Sometimes when I can't 'see' what is wrong with a piece I'm working on, I can figure it out by looking at it in a mirror. This happens so often I keep a 9' x 12' mirror on my work
table :-[ ...... and I sure don't use it to look at ME

Talk about diversion! :-[ Now not only is it fishing season but I've
been asked to crew on my friends 36ft. racing sailboat. Plus, we are going to take my boat on a trip around the Delmarva Peninsula. (4 days of camping and fun) And on top of that, Tuna fishing season starts soon and I have to get my boat ready for ocean fishing. :-/ How can I possably concentrate on my carving with all this fun stuff happening around me. :P Well I guess there is always next winter.

I too have many carvings started but I figure someday I will finish them before I croak. Maybe this will keep me alive longer. And I do have a lot ready to paint but I explain this to my wife as a good plan. When I mix paint I can do those that need the same color without cleaning my brushes. Have I ever done this.............well no but it sounds good.

[mdallensr]

Sid, my wife paints my holiday carvings, and we accumulate them for one blitz since the colors are the same. I haven't thought of a good excuse for my other procrastinations. My biggest problem is completing the habitat for my animal carvings. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.