Learning from previous carvings

[fpace]

I'm posting a few pics of some previously completed work that I enjoyed doing and learned a lot from. The first picture is a Harold Enlow pattern that was fun to do. It was done in a piece of Paulonia a while ago. Even though woodspirits are fun, and whimsical creations I learned from this one that I needed to push things back some more, especially around the sides of the face and cheeks. As Doris is fond of saying and as we all learn eventually... GO DEEPER!. And in this case rounder. I also was not completely happy with the way the finish turned out... it ws a satin poly but it looks more glossy than I wanted. Lesson learned... try a test piece first. The second piece is of course a "Gnome Home" as I call them cottonwood bark. I love the way it lends itself to these kinds of carvings and I love the way it carves. I learn to see basic shapes that determine the look and design in a bark carving. The bark itself seems to lend itself to that end for me. Rick Jensen is a master at it... I highly recommend his books and DVD if you interested in carving bark. The last piece is just a little pine knot carving attached to a piece of wild cherry. I learned that pine knots (at least the ones around here) are hard as a brick, dull your tools quick, but hold detail well. I also learned to go with the flow of the knot in creating the carving even if it looks a little disportionent. I think it allows the carving to blend into the wood and not take over it. Please comment and suggest anything you might have learned from this or your work. That way we all get better!

[CarverFromNoWhere]

That is some great work fpace, I knew I recognized that first fellow I have the same book.
Carl

[Ron T]

Hi Fred. Those are really nice carvings. The first has a nice smiley face and I agree with you about the shine. Wasn't the Paulownia nice to carve. I enjoyed it.

Your post shows you've given a lot of thought into your carvin gs and it shows.

Thanks.