[Colin_Partridge]

Hi Gang,
I was reading a post by Callynne and it made me think. She tells us that she sketches everything right down to the last detail on every carving she does. Maybe thats why her carvings are so great. I myself sketch nothing before I carve it not that I cant sketch I just dont. Actually I used to paint wildlife in oils and acrilics before I carved so I am a bit of an artist. I was wondering how many others on this board are like me and just wing it. I did on the article I wrote for WCI draw the face on, but usually I dont do that I just start right into the carving maybe once in a while I will draw the center line just to keep it somewhat cemetrical. I have been doing a lot of thought on that since the postings and Alfie had mentioned on his totems he makes a stencil of half of the totems and then flips it over so that it is the same on the other side. I am off to British Columbia in June for the carving competition and this year I am thinking of carving a eight foot santa. I think I will make a diagram of the carving on a large piece of paper and transfer it onto the log before I start. This will be a new experience for me maybe waiting until the day of competition is not the time to try it. Oh well whats the worse that could happen its just piece of wood.
Colin

[BobD]

I'm in the same boat as you Colin...if I'm not using a pattern, I kinda freehand it. But since I've been at the Ward show...I'm gonna try my hand at one of Lori Corbett's songbirds--which needs to be accurate--so I'm going to have to spend some time with the measuring tools <grin>


Bob

[Irish]

I sketch ... I would much rather make my mistakes on paper where I can correct them with an eraser than on the wood where I need glue, rubber bands, scotch tape, or toothpick props!

I sketch the outlines first, drop the area to it's level, then pencil in the next areas of carving, work some more, some more pencil lines, until I finish up with the detailing.

Susan

[BasketballJones]

Ahhh! I knew you would be getting back in the carving mood. Good Luck in the competition. An eight ft Santa sounds like a winner.

[carver6]

I would truly hate to try to carve anything I drew. I'd certainly hate to completely ruin a nice piece of wood that way. But to each his own, if it works for you and feels right, go for it!!
Garon (Carver6)

[Lightningbolt]

I had mentioned in the previous post that sketching and/or drawing go hand-in-hand for me during the carving process. That said, I would consider most of this prepping is in the form of sketching which, like Colin said, mainly just to keep my carvings "cemetrical".

I mainly carve woodspirits and totem poles and sketching that center line on the wood seems to enhance my hand-eye coordination when trying to keep the left side in proportion to the right side. Over the years I'm sure that I've carved at least upteen-gillion woodspirits and to the point where I know that I could do just fine without any sketching, but I'd consider that a good habit AND a good problem to have. I also teach woodcarving for a living and it is important to role model the correct techniques for learning so it is just something that I always do.

In that same posting someone mentioned using clay for modeling their projects prior to carving. It is they whom I have a lot of respect because I suppose that I just haven't reached that level of patience and "focus" in my own carving but perhaps I too will resort to clay when I choose to step to a new level in carving.

[Carvity_Carve]

I never use patterns or sketches. I just use messy doodles. Lot of little doodles on paper then all over the wood. Seems to work though! And ah, clay. I like using clay as well. A nice way to get the gist of the idea in 3D, and to get a couple ideas while squishing a bit about.

[Ky_Whittler]

I get an idea in my head and just go for it. I haven't drawn one out yet.With the wood spirits I have a basic starting pattern after that the material has the say so depending on it's fractures and grain.Whittler

[Hugh]

I can't imagine what my carvings would look like without sketching what I'm going to carve. I can spend half as much time sketching as I do the actual carving. During a carving class that I was giving, a young lady was heard to mutter, measure measure measure, thats all we do is measure. I think that anyone that can carve and do a good job without measuring or drafting first has a very special gift.

[Teri Embrey]

Get back in your head, Colin! Don't you get cold out there?


I'm another one that never takes the time to draw an outline or pattern before I get started. Well, maybe I do, really - but I do the drawing in my head and just keep looking it over as I go. I'll pencil in a few guide lines along the way on the carving, once I can see clearly where it's heading. The outcome is seldom all that similar to the "original" drawing, but that's why it's easier to just do it in my head - saves alot of time and money on erasers, lead and paper. Yes, all that erasing and changing does tend to leave scratch marks all over my brain, but it's usually cleaned up by morning.

Teri