Has anyone ever just carved a HEAD?

[jillsy]

Hello fellow woodcarvers,

Jillsy here with a question regarding carving only a head. Is there a particular way to do this? I've carved lots of bodies before, but never only a head. I'd like to connect it to a dowel. It seems hard.

I was thinking of just getting a piece of squared wood, and carving a head with a bit of a neck. Then, adding a dowel inside the neck. Does this sound about right? Any hints? Techniques? Or should I just go at it?

Thanks!

[TreeWizard]

I've seen a lot of heads carved from basswood eggs.

[seangrady]

Just go at it. I find it easier than carving a head with a body, as there's less proportion to worry about. Just keep the general rules for facial and head proportions in mind and go for it.

[BobT]

You should watch Lynn's videos from his blog. The first half dozen or so are about carving a head. He has a pattern there also. It includes the neck.

BobT

[Keoma]

hey girl - just go at it! I carve lots of "just heads" I put them on hair sticks So I guess thats the same as a dowel,yeah?

I draw my sillouet (sp - I loathe that word) on my blank and band saw it out - then go from there

I did a tutorial on on of my dolls and it shows just her head in a few stages I think.


Also did just a head and stuck it on a branch in my garden...a greenman sorta of...lots of just heads around here

Hope thats of any help - whatcha makin anyhoo?

[Tom-H]

I think the trick when carving "just the head", is to start with a piece of wood that is long enough to hold on to it. If the head will be about 1 1/2" x 2"; start with a piece of wood that is 5 or 6 inches long. The extra wood will be kind of a handle. Then after the head is done, either cut the excess off at the neck; or carve the excess down to a dowel size for insertion into the body. Or just send the scraps to me.

Tom H

[Keoma]

Tom's right ! Don't forget the handle!

[Claude]

Jillsy:
I've carved several bottlestoppers that are just heads. I drill a 3/8 hole in the square block of wood, glue in a 3/8 dowel that is 4-5 inches long (cork gets glued to this, eventually, and in the meantime, it's a handle). Then start carving. I try to taper the neck down to the diameter of the top of the cork, so it's a smooth transition from neck to cork... You can see several of these on my web site. Examples are the French dude, the Cossack, the Bobby, and the old cowboy...

Claude

[jillsy]

You guys are all the BEST!!!

Thanks so much!

I'm thinking of combining two mediums, wood carving and wool again. I wanted to try to carve a head from wood and body from wool. It seemed like just carving a head would be hard to hold onto, so I was considering making a neck and inserting a dowel into it or something along those lines.

I'll check out the sites and blogs recommended too.

Again, thanks so much!

I hope to post pics of my newest carving(s) soon. My fingers are finally back to normal (the swelling has gone down) so I'm really trying to take advantage of my time before it happens again.

Love ya all! (But, you probably already all know that!)

[chpster90bu]

Hi, Jillsy.....I've carved several heads alone and attached them to the bodies....especially my cowboys, because they are all in different positions and it's easier to do the head and attach it later. The fellows are right....don't forget to leave a handle for the neck. You can shape it however you want. Take your time...you can do it. Bonnie