roughing out.

[aulddiy]

Because I was in the US I had the Bishops send me some roughouts, I finished carving the last one today. Using roughouts appears to produce a better carving for me. So the following thought is what's wrong with how I rough out a carving?
I've used the patterns of well respected carvers, and lately drawn a few of my own.
So, whats the secret, am I picking the wrong subject, or what?

[susieq]

Hi John,
Roughing out is the most important part of carving because if you leave not enough, or too much wood on the piece, there is no way it can really look right in the end.
For me, it's the most thoughtful and time consuming process...... After cutting out the blank, (or rounding and tapering the wood, depending on what I'm carving), deciding what goes where and how much wood you will need for that detail, is very slow going.....

I know of folks who can rough out quickly, they just make chips fly and seem to know just where they are going with a piece....I envy them. Most who carve like this, do it for a living and time is money. They can't afford to spend forever thinking things over like I do.

I think that it's most common for folks to not take off enough wood, not rounding enough. My teacher used to tell me that "there are NO CORNERS" on Santa or on most other things we carve. I frequently see "corners" on finished carvings.

A roughout has removed all the excess wood for you, done all that decision making for you ....without all the hesitation we normally have. All you need to do is detail it.

[gtech]

The teacher I had last year was very good at roughing out a piece of wood to make it ready to carve.

He was using big round gouges and was always saying while working on the piece of wood that "this has to go...fast, to get into the real carving as fast as possible".

There was no rushing when he was doing it, but it was to make us understand that the real work was beginning AFTER the roughout was done.

At first, I was very slow at doing it, but he showed me how to do a roughout with big gouges instead of using a saw or small gouges as when I began wood working. I was also working too soon on the details until he helped me understand what a roughout is. It's ok to begin with a saw to make the roughout faster though.

But you have to see it in your head right at the start. That's the secret I think.

Gilles

[William]

Hey John,

Most of the roughouts I have used were done by a machine that traced an original carving and all the lumps and bumps were in the right place with about 1/4" cover over them. I like them because you can get to the detail quickly and 1/4" or so is enough wood to be creative so we are not just making a copy. My oun hand made roughouts are not nearly as good

Bill
^v^

[bbowers]

Stepping away from rough outs to your own creation is a big step- at least it has been for me. I agree with everyone's comments here. A commercial rough out is pretty close to the actual subject. When I start with a block of wood I'm less likely to take off enough wood or get the remaining wood in the right spot. Rough outs are a great way to practice detail & style but they can spoil your ability to create from scratch if you're not careful.
If it was easy everyone would do it!

[woodenhorse]

i agree with everyone. but put your on spin on a carving and make it
your own and be proud of it its yours!

[aulddiy]

THanks folks for the feedback. It's struck me that while other parts of the process of carving are given a deal of discussion , advice etc, roughing out is a bit neglected. Yet we all agree on its importance. Again thnks for the feedback.

[Donsexton]

I may be weird but that is the only part of carving that I enjoy. The older I get the more I want to be done after the first session. I hate carving detail some days it’s a chore buts that’s just me.

[Dan Wegiel]

Hi John,
I totally agree with Don, the roughing out is the most fun for me, I get tired of a piece very fast and want to start something else, so guess I'm weird too!
Dan

[Whittled Thumb]

I guess I'm a whittler, cus I just whittle away the wood till i get what I want!