trying to get back in the groove

[Mark Dellinger]

Been trying to get back in the groove. Other than the arrow head that I posted awhile back I have not gotten much carving done since spring. Attached are a couple of faces I did in some apple. Lost a big limb out of one of my apple trees and when I cut it down I cut a few chunks up to save to try to carve. I ripped one of the chunks into 1" x 2"pieces on my band saw. The pictures are very poor and I apolagize for that. They don't show the true beauty of the grain in the wood. It has yellow, orange, white and brown coloring in the grain. I have not carved apple before and found it to be a harder wood than I expected.

Thanks for taking the time to view and as always any and all comments are welcome.

Safe carving and God Bless,

Mark

[Bill V]

Hey Mark,
I know you feel now , i just posted my first carving in 5 months. This past month i have been try to carve but couldn't my groove. I would start and stop most of the time i would trash what i started.
I hope we have found our groove with our latest post. Good luck, and the faces look great.

[Josef]

Well done on both of those Mark and if you say the pics don't do the wood justice, then that must be some very lovely wood you have there. Good too see you back in the groove, Joe.

[Irishman]

Nice little carvings there Mark....I say little as your background in the photo appears to be a towel or other material. I've carved apple and yes it has amazing colors...and the nice smell isn't bad either. Consider bringing more face into your carving the next time as you have the making of one's in your photo. Nicely done.
Patrick

[tnartist05]

Mark I like the expressions on both of their faces! Yea apple is pretty wood and you did a nice job with it being hard carving it my friend. With all the farm work and building a new barn,I dont know when you've had time to carve anything.

But groves come and go,like changing your socks but carving is still in your soul.

Nice work Mark,I enjoyed them.

Your ole Tn buddy,Forrest

[uvawyo]

Very nice, Mark

[BrandantR]

Mark, I'm glade you've got your groove back on. Those are two great little faces. Apple and I think most fruitwood has beautiful grain. I've never tried to carve it since my tools are beveled for softwood but there is no doubt that it is beautiful. I have however used some peach and apricot for knife handles which turned out quite nicely.

[jmischel]

Nice work, Mark. I know what you mean about "getting back in the groove." I haven't done much carving for six months or more. I took a bark carving class over the weekend and it's re-energized me. Now, whether I can turn that into actual carvings remains to be seen.

[Merle Rice]

2 nice pieces Mark, Welcome back. Merle

[draft51@aol.com]

Two good pieces Mark, and its good to see you back. I haven't been able to get on the board much, because, I, too , have had a lot of other things on the fire. Hopefully we will be back in short time. Hang in there. fred k