Unhurried urgency

[Cottonwood]

I, like some of the other folks here on the message board, have carved woodspirits in bark and Santa face ornaments but not done a lot of "in the round" head carvings. With some success recently in carving a Bishop Bottle Stopper (see FOUNDWOOD CARVINGS ), I have decided to carve the full Santa head this year for my Christmas ornament. I figure that by the time I have done 50, or so, I will have become proficient enough to claim I know what I am doing. My aim is to finally be doing full figure Santas so I can ask the big bucks for an heirloom quality Santa carving.
The problem I am facing in doing the full head is the "time element". The picture of the head with this post took me a full day and a half. By that I mean I carved on it from 2 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. the first day and painted it the half day from 2 P.M. to about 7:30 p.m. or so. If I don't want to be carving franticlly right up until Christmas, I am going to have to get them done in one day. I know that when I hurry with a carving the outcome is never very good. I have taught carving classes where students have felt pushed to carve as fast as they could and they, and I, have felt that not much learning took place. I read an article once about the Amish which said that they approached their work with "unhurried urgency" but always had time for a visit from a neighbor. That's what I will aim for and maybe as I have done in years before, I will just naturally get faster with my carving and painting.
I Hope!

[Cottonwood]

Oh, and BTW, I didn't really intend him to look like his favorite reindeer died. That's what happens when you try to hurry I guess.

[bbowers]

He looks great! It's amazing how adding "the rest of a head" can add so much time but ther is a lot of extra detail. Just raise the price & sell half as many!

[Cottonwood]

Don't know if I am bragging or complaining.. but I have an order for 45.

[Merle Rice]

That's funny Millard. I went back and took a look and he doesn't look to Happy, but I like him a lot, as with all of your carvings. To be able to put a lot of them out by Xmas, I agree you better get started now. Very nice Santa,Carving and Painting. Thanks for showing what you are going to be doing this Xmas. Merle

[tnartist05]

Mighty fine job on this Santa!! Plus your painting made him come to life just right!

Forrest

[Mark N. Akers]

Millard:
Great looking Ornament, you better get on the stick, Christmas is just aroungd the corner.

[Cottonwood]

Thanks, Merle, Forrest and Mark. I can always count on you to keep me moving with encouragemnt!

[Simplyme]

As always your work is outstanding. I just saw the bishop for the first time and the ribbon was well deserved it looks amazing.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Awesome job Millard, great detail !

Dave