What is hardest about carving for you?

[Steamboat Don]

I was just wondering what is the hardest part of carving for you all? I'm not necessarily asking what is the hardest detail on a figure to carve (i.e., eyes), but I'm asking what is psychologically the hardest part? Is it coming up with an idea, sketching the idea, finding the right piece of wood, getting started, follow thru, finishing, or something else? For me it is just getting started. I have an idea, but when I get the piece of wood in my hand I'll just sit there and think about it. It may be a couple days before I actually start the carving.

[Ron T]

Don, coming up with the idea is just the first step. For me, actually drawing out all the views and transferring it to the wood is the difficult step. I can imagine different designs but I can't always draw it. A carver friend once told me, "If you can't draw it, you can't carve it."

[PerpetuallyNewCarver]

I suppose the hardest part for me is seeing what I want to carve and then trying to figure out how to attack the wood to get to it. I get frustrated sometimes not knowing where or what to carve off my square block of wood to get to my finished product, or at least close to it.

[Tom-H]

Yous guys are all flirtin with about the same thing. The statement that if you can't draw it, you can't carve it is interesting. I have made it a point to ask carvers that I consider to the very very talented, if they have an art background. Lots of them have had formal training, and the rest seem talented in drawing, sketching, and/or painting. For me, the hardest part is drawing the piece in three dimensions.

Tom H

[Donsexton]

I love starting new projects taking a chunk or a log and making bold deep cuts. I am even OK the first whole day or so but if what I am doing takes any longer than 10 hours. I tend to get done with a carving and when I say done I don’t mean finished.

[BeaverDon]

SANDING! I do anything to avoid or not do it at all. That one thing has helped me to be much better at getting a clean finished product off the knife. I don't mind using the flap sander for finishing. But If you look at my catalog of work - not much with a sanded smooth appearance. My second on the list would be making multiples. If find making the same carving over and over - well, let's just say there is less passion after the first.

[Sharon of the Dell]

I don't have a lack of ideas, I have way to many. No problem getting started, it's about half way through that I really have to push myself to finish. If I get past that point and can imagine an end, then I get it done.
Most of my problem is I'm picky. I drive myself nuts trying to get little details just right. Nobody else would probably notice but I do.
I probably put at least 10 to 20 hours into a stupid little hair stick because of being so anal about details.

[KTutt]

I have a lot of ideas, a lot of works in progess, not super busy, it is just mentally to get myself out( I carve outside), and doing it.

[Thor]

What Don said....to the letter.
Christina

[Dileon]

I would say number one is.....Patience to wait with the process, patience to let the wood do its own thing, patience to make mistakes.. ... . Patience to get out my own way.