First carvings?

Mail Walker · #1 10-06-2007, 07:31 PM

Well, I have tried my hand at carving for a year or so. And I have to say I like it, but discouragement does creep in from time to time. Especially when browsing around here. So maybe some of you folks that post such great pics of all those outstanding carvings, could dig around for a pic of your first carving attempt and post it. Just to give us a glance at what you worked up from.

achaundy · #2 10-06-2007, 07:58 PM

I wouldn't worry about what someone else did, just do your own thing, you will do OK. If you have something you did put it on here, carvers are good people they certainly won't make you feeling bad. Everybody had to start somewhere. You will learn something from it and I’m sure it won't be bad criticism. Skip

gene messer · #3 10-06-2007, 08:08 PM

Mail Walker ... Never be ashamed of showing your carvings or embarassed someone is more experienced then you ..

Believe me .. we have all been there ..

Some of us dont even want to look at our first carvings .. they were so bad .. so remember .. were all with you and display right away anytime ..

The object is not how good he or she is .. its that we all love this wonderful art and want to share it with one another ..

Besides .. we are our own worse critics .. there is always someone who will like what you carved ..

Gene

Blake Lunsford · #4 10-06-2007, 09:13 PM

Mail Walker,

I held on to my very first carving to help me remember how much I have progressed. It's definitely good to have a reference to keep you motivated. Besides, you have to start somewhere, and I am nowhere near where I would like to be! Don't be discouraged, be motivated to get better with each piece you carve. We are all very fortunate to have this network of great carvers to offer up advice and offer encouragement. Find someone's work you like and work towards getting to that point. Like Gene said, there is always someone out there who is going to be impressed with your talent! Keep up the good work!

Here's my first carving....I forgot to add it the first time. It is a Harold Enlow roughout of a banjo picker.....I would like to go back and change a lot of things about him, but I keep him right in my display case with the rest of my carvings. Y can probably see it better in the member galleries as I don't think you can enlarge this one.

Blake

Donna_T · #5 10-06-2007, 09:47 PM

Mail Walker,
I kept my first half dozen carvings and even on a bad day now, my carvings are lots better. But still not where I want to be. Like other hobbies, you don't get better overnight or without lots of practice. You learn quite a bit from your failures, as well as successes.

Don't worry about your early carvings not being as perfect as you'd like them to be. Just keep trying new stuff, link up with other carvers if you can so you can learn and get support from them, and experiment.

No, I don't have a picture of my first carving! But it was bad. It was a santa with a very stiff pose--no action--flat face, bad eyes, painted with paint right out of the bottle (so it looks very plactic-like), UGH!!

Good luck!
Donna T

chpster90bu · #6 10-06-2007, 10:14 PM

Ok, Mail Walker...I'll be brave. I found mine...LOL. He's supposed to be a raccoon, but I had no idea what I was doing, as you can tell...LOL. The side view shows how flat he is in the front. Sometimes, I think I'm not much better now! But I keep trying, and the artists on here are wonderful....you will get all kinds of help, encouragement and positive strokes. There is no need to feel embarrassment. I quickly learned that myself. The key is to practice and keep trying. Keep those chips flying! Bonnie

mark yundt · #7 10-06-2007, 11:18 PM

Many truths have been stated here already and I have to agree with them.You've been carving a year or so and like it,,that's the ticket! Sure is challenging isn't it? That's why discouragement and frustration creep in at times. I don't care how long you have been carving,,,it still happens at times to everyone. This stuff isn't easy,,you don't always get what you imagined you would. Carving is so out of the norm of what we normally do that it takes time to retrain your eyes and mind to accomplish what you want to end up with. Turning a stick into a pile of wood chips is easy,,,making it look like something along the way is another story. Making mistakes along the way is actually a good thing to happen. You really learn twice as much,,what would have worked as well as what didn't work and you make adjustments. If you get discouraged that only means you are beginning to see what could have been,,what doesn't look like what you had hoped for ,,and hopefully what you can change and do differently on the next piece. If in doubt don't be afraid to ask. As the others have said we were all there at one time with our first attempts. I would say everyone here wants to see each other succeed in carving and help each other to do the best they can. This site is loaded with all types of carvers in different styles,,someone here can certainly offer some suggestions should you need them. 'Ya just 'gotta ask.

By the way,,how 'bout posting some pics of your carvings Mail Walker!

susieq · #8 10-06-2007, 11:49 PM

Mail Walker,
what do YOU want to do? What makes you happy??? Carve what makes you happy and do it to your standards or work toward that goal..... It doesn't matter what anyone else does.

We all have that battle with ourselves at some point. Carve for yourself.
As for the first carvings....mine is on the homepage of my website for all the world to see......pathetic little Santa that he was. I still have him. Nobody starts at the top. If it was easy, everyone would do it and it wouldn't mean anything. Hone your skills and do what makes you happy. Everyone has their niche. There is such a wide range of things to carve.......
and if it's any comfort to you to know this, we are all (without exception) our own worst critics....

Dan Wegiel · #9 10-09-2007, 11:00 AM

Mail Walker,
I know exactly what you mean, but as most have stated, someone will like whatever you carve. Example, had a garden tour this summer and put out 7 different carvings with one of them, in my opinion, my worst. Had a drawing and the winner picked it and they just love it. I've just finished my interpretation of an American Kestrel and about half way through I slipped and took the end of the beak off. I almost threw it away, but just went deeper and it came out ok, not exactly like I wanted it, but ok. Don't ever give up, just keep chipping wood. Dan

Dull Knife · #10 10-09-2007, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mail Walker

Well, I have tried my hand at carving for a year or so. And I have to say I like it, but discouragement does creep in from time to time. Especially when browsing around here. So maybe some of you folks that post such great pics of all those outstanding carvings, could dig around for a pic of your first carving attempt and post it. Just to give us a glance at what you worked up from.

Not a chance!!!!!!!!! my first was soooooo bad, that I could not bear to show it to anyone, and so it went right into the trash.