Patterns?

[sludgeguy]

Have you ever tried to carve something with out a pattern?
If so what if not why?

Me, I very seldomly carve with a pattern. Lots of mice mostly caricatures.

Thanks,
Doug

[rcurtism]

I guess I am not sure what you define as a pattern. Being a newbee and some one who can't draw well I start with a very rough sketch of what I want it to end up looking like. Then I cut away everything I deem that does not belong. Depending on how many ooops's I have will depend on how close to the rough draft it ends up looking like. Sometimes it turns out better then the rough draft. Sometimes it ends up as a chew toy for the pup. You never know until you know with my carving. Someday that might change though.....

[Dileon]

Patterns are great to get you going on the placement of things. When I was learning how to carve I used rough outs and patterns until I got good enough to make mine own. I learned how to do that by changing the pattern a lot, until I did not need a pattern. There some great patterns out there that will teach you a ton,... such as the books from Shawn Cipa, and Lora Irish.

[SlowMover]

I like to carve small characters in the style of Jack Price. At first I always traced off the profile and tried to stick with the pattern....but after a hundred or so of these guys I just pick up a block of wood and go. I still use the proportions I learned with the patterns, butt now I eyeball it and let the guy that is already in the wood come out as he wishes...sometimes it is a great-looking guy in there, sometimes not so much. Guess I need to figure out how to tell what kind of guy lives in a particular block of wood before I start. Keep carving and good luck in your ne hobby.

[Tom-H]

I'm kinda with Doug and the Slowmover on this one. If I have a new idea, I may give it a rough sketch at first, but after the first time it's in my "Minds eye", and I just start cutting. Of course I whittle the smaller stuff. If I did the larger stuff I'd probably have to use front and right side patterns to cut the blank out on the saw. Maybe that's why I do the small stuff......lazy!


Tom H

[johncarves]

All of my Cottonwood bark spirit faces are done without a pattern per se. I will often see a feature or expression in a photo or another carving that I want to try.
But I don't have a pattern and often carve "direct" without so much as drawing a line. Sometime I get what I originally wanted, sometimes I am completely surprised by what I end up with.

The carving below was inspired by Jeff Phares' book "carving the human face". It was carved "direct" with no pattern and no lines marked on the piece. It uses the similar theme as his, yet is totally different.

I apologize for the picture quality. I haven't try to make a good photo yet. Used my iPod Touch and e-mailed the picture to a friend just as I finished it. I don't know what is causing it to show up in "landscape view", the one on my computer is upright (portrait).

[Agoodknife]

Hey Doug,
Whats a pattern ?,lol. Hardly ever do I use a pattern. I carve something and then take a picture of it to get the pesky pattern,lol. I do confess to dooddlin' out a few,but mostly I just "go"with it.
^ l l { l\l

[Woody1961]

I often draw out my design on the block of basswood so that it is easier to cut out. Sometimes I will start with a design from WCI or Carving, but once it is cut out, I mostly use just a rudimentary center line (to keep my eyeball right), and some lines where the eyes, bottom of the nose and mouth/chin go.

So, after I cut it out, I don't really use a pattern, but I do use a pencil.

[brent]

I do believe that NAture is your pattern!

[northwood bob]

I don't believe I've ever carved anything with a detailed "pattern". My ideas are taken from most anything and a rough sketch is drawn on the block. As an old Fart (which we are all now of that heratage) once told me. "Carving a dog is easy. just look at the block and take away anything that doesn't look like a dog!"

Hope that helps
Bob