[Colin_Partridge]

Hi Gang,
I was in my workshop carving this morning and started a new carving that is what brought me to ask this question. I do not like my carvings when they are in the rough stage in fact I detest this stage of carving. It is the roughing out I mean, I really dont like the carving until it starts to take shape and I am putting the detail into it. Is anyone else the same as I am? I think thats why I have so many carvings on the go at one time. Oh well back to that carving although I wish it were a little further along.
Colin

..can't say that about myself...i guess my view is with each stage of the carving i'm seeing my design come to light...haven't yet been tempted to buy roughouts cause take big chunks out is therapeutic for a working stiif like myself...
I think you might be addressing the feeling that I have when figure carving, that the rough out stage is just to get the basic stage but the detail work brings the carving to life! 8)

(...by the way how do you keep the wood from checking on your large pole carvings? :-/)

[Kenny_S]

Colin, I find myself not careing for the painting part of a carving as I am not that good at mainting. Usually try to stay away from painting them. But, I do find myself painting more and more of them. I thought on my pintail I would just stain it and poly it or something to protect it but in turn, painted it and used a matte finish on it. I did learn a lot in the painting process and probably paint the next but will take a little more time in the painting process. My usual problesm is hurrying at the last to finish a carving. That is a problem I have to over come.

[Dave_from_Toronto]

Colin,

Do you hog your carvings out from a block or do you bandsaw to a pattern? I try to do as much as I can on the bandsaw (cutting both the profile and the outline) so that the project starts out reasonably well-defined and I can get excited about the carving sooner. I guess for bark carving or relief work that's a little difficult.

I also really enjoy the painting. That's where my carvings come to life. I'm like Kenny S and I tend to rush at the end of the carving to get to the painting (and then sometimes have to go back because the painting isn't working out.)

[mdallensr]

Colin, you need to address these deep-seated hatreds and get in touch with your inner-self. Nah! Just kidding. I like making chips with gouges and chisels, so roughing out is something I enjoy. I agree on the stages though. I'm not comfortable with a carving until I can 'see' the final shape, even without the details. It won't look right for awhile, and I won't know exactly what's wrong and bingo!, a couple of cuts will head it in the right direction and from there on, it carves itself.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Nope, I know exactly what the problem is.....Colin has been out of law enforcement too long and the only thing that will bring him back is a big, fat, juicy, jelly donut! LOL

I have this same problem......

That's why I started doing small carvings (mostly). I carve figures from 1x1x3' frequently (or relatively sized piece). It's easy to rough out a caricature from this size. Sometimes I only do a bust. The only problem I have now is getting them painted (same as Kenny)!!!!!

I do need to add that I carve for relaxation mostly. I don't carve for sale - although I do wind up selling some of my small figures because people want them. I do a few larger carvings for shows, but these are far and few between.

My larger carvings are cut out on the band saw; I've recently used the Foredom for roughing a few pieces, but I don't like the outcome - not the actual piece, but the enjoyment that comes from using a gouge or knife to do the work (like Rocket said).

[dart]

Good topic. I like to use the bandsaw that I just got to get a rough outline shape. Then use my carving knife to get the feel of the woodgrain. The hard, soft and splintery areas. Then get it into a kind of 'it almost looks done' shape. Then toss it aside for awhile and come back to it later when I am energetic and carve a little more. I have some really old carvings that are not finished and are in various stages of developement. Painting is ok. Don't really care whether I do or don't paint. I've been reading about using wash coats instead of one heavy coat. I will soon give that a try as I like to see the woodgrain show thru on the carving. When I finish a carving, I wrap it up and put it away in a box. Then go onto another one. Eventually over a few months/years I get them done. Maybe I'm just a little lazy about finishing and I probably like to start the carving more than I like to finish it.

[Texas_Jim]

I seem to be better at starting a project than in completing it. Therefore, I enjoy the initial stage of carving and seeing the big pieces fly. Right now I have about 4 carvings in various stages of completion and have to really discipline myself to finish a piece. In the detail stage I start getting nervous and concerned that I am going to remove too much. So, this stage goes slowly. It starts to try my patience.

[jamesfa]

i usually start by cutting out the blanks on a bandsaw,and then going full speed ahead in roughing out and then progress slows down when i get to the details,and almost comes to a complete stop when it comes to painting.painting is the weakest part of the process for me.
right now i have to ducks to birds sitting waiting for paint,and i'm already working on two more birds.