[Kenny_S]

Do you like Stylize, Flat plan/Scandinavia, detailed, rough, a little of both, painted or unpainted or what?
I like all styles and try to achive a little of each one but mainly I like detailed carving and carvings.

[cut up]

I haven't been doing carving enough do do anything but rough(LOL). Serious though, I've done some caracatures, carousel figures, chip carving, and a little wood burning. What I find to be the most interesting is the attention to details. I went to a woodcarving show last weekend and was amazed. There were a lot of bird carvers there that went to a great deal of time and trouble to imitate the look of real live birds, and IMHO were all successful. I don't know that I want to put that much work on a bird, but I do plan to carve one in the future if nothing but a decoy or a stylized bird. Even some of the cane carvings had a great amount of detail that made me stand in awe. That is something else I plan to carve before I have to depend on one. I just need to work on a theme for it.

[mwilleson]

I prefer small figures and caricatures. I enjoy trying to put personality into a piece of wood.

Mike

[Hisart]

Detailed and finished, no paint, I like wood.

Check my site and you'll see what I mean.

Hisart.us

[BobD]

I like them all...and end up starting many, but finishing few. I prefer natural finishes because I also like wood, but also because I'm not much of a painter <grin>

Bob

[Paul_Guraedy]

I, too, like all varieties of woodcarving. Admire the chip carvers; but, would not try it. Like the caricatures; but, do not like to carve them. Enjoy relief but prefer carving in the round. I am in awe of those that can do realistic human faces. That gets me down to my favorite subjects; animals, especially birds of prey.


To paint or not to paint that is the question! It depends on two things from my viewpoint: First, is can I do it? Painting on wood is not something most of us carvers are good at. Secondly, is the piece enhanced by the painting? I believe that stylized and impressionistic pieces are best unpainted. Along the same line too much grain can actually detract from a lot of pieces. Most realistic pieces that involve animals are improved with the addition of at least some color. Who can look at a Scholz bird and say, "don't paint it"!

[squbrigg]

STYLE...... hummm, "NAUTICAL", does that count as a style? Ships, boats, canoes, kayaks, wood that floats,....did I mention ships. As long as it is made of wood, and floats, I'll carve it. Full hulls, half models, relief carvings, in the round, figureheads, decorations, if it's found on a ship, I'll carve it. Prefer un-painted, but use some paint for effect. Like to use different colours of woods to accentuate the models too.

Bob

[Colin_Partridge]

I like it all I dont think there is a style that I dont like. I can sit and marvel over one of Callynne or Teri Embrey santa's as much as I am in awe of Kathy or Susan's burnings, marvel over Bobs ships and the detail he puts into them. I love the old carvings done in antique furnature and some of the African carvings I have seen.Bird carvers such as Hugh are a breed all of their own the patience to put in all those feathers amazes me. I just love woodcarvings no matter what I am partial to those not painted but having said that I love the painting detail as well. I also love abstract carving and chip carving and the list goes on and on. If it is a woodcarving I judge it for what it is and the effort that went into it. Great topic really makes you think and appreciate why each one of you here on the message board is unique in their own right.
Colin

[Crazy_carver]

I prefer to carve "realistic" animals (though nothing I've ever carved looks
real!). No paint, just clear varnish/oil etc

[DICK "chipncut" CAIN]

I enjoy doing relief carving. On some woods like Oak or Pine, stain seems to bring out the detail more. I've painted some, but I prefer to see the beauty of the natural wood. With paint you can't tell if its plastic or plaster