[knothole]

Just finished with this piece and I think it turned out pretty good. Trying to experiment with a few differnt ideas I think I need to add a little more depth to the beard..Thanks for looking...Knothole

[GaryMc]

Good job Knot. I can see the improvement form the ohter picture. Keep at it!
GaryMc

[Lightningbolt]

Good expression on the face and for some reason I really like the nose... probably because that's what I'm trying to improve on my own woodspirits. Great job!

[stickman]

very nice! if you don't mind me asking how long did it take?

It seem it takes me forever to carve anything.

now I only get to carve sporadically with working and running with two small kids.and I seem to forget half of what I learned last time!

Mike

[knothole]

I try carve a few hours a day, a Wood Spirit usually takes me any where from 10 to 12 hours to complete. I hope as I continue to carve it won`t take as long to finish one...Thanks again folks I really appreciate the feedback...Knothole

[Eddy Smiles]

Nice work. I like the expression. Looks like found wood? Do you know what kind? What did you finish it with? As for nose and beard depth, all my woodspirits use to look like punch drunk fighters with flatten noses until I had the privilege of taking a Pete LeClair mini-seminar on caricature carving at our club show. Since then I've tried to apply some of the principals of face planes to my woodspirits which has really helped me get the depth that's needed noses, mouths and hair.

[knothole]

Thanks for the kind words. I do use found wood and it is pine, what I do is look for pine tree that are almost decayed and where the branches come out of the tree will be what to look for the knots. Sometimes you can just grab the branch and wiggle it loose(if the tree is rotten enough) the knots do not rot away, sometimes I find where a tree has rotted away and the knots are left lying on the ground. I bring them home and let them dry then take a wire brush to them to get the loose stuff off. I then cut them in half on the band saw that way I get two carving out of one knot. As for the finish I have found that while I`m carving if I apply some brown shoe polish it will show the details and if I need to carve some more I can always cut the polish off and add more polish later. I apply the polish with a tooth brush and buff it with a shoe shine brush..Hope this answers your questions and thanks again. Oh yea I did watch a David Maggard dvd on carving wood spirits and it was very helpful in answering some questions about face carving...Knothole

[Eddy Smiles]

Knothole...

Thanks for the tip. After reading your post I remembered a Gene Webb video that I watched at carving group meeting in Tennessee where he was carving a woodspirit out of a pine knot, burl, or something thereof. I'd forgotten all about it and I know right where there are a couple of pine knots waiting to harvested. I'll have to wait until May when I get up there but you've given me an idea. Also, thanks for the tip on the shoe polish. My carving bag is getting heavier and heavier with all these neat tips!

[Colin_Partridge]

Nice carving I really like the eyes. I wouldnt change a thing about the carving it is your style and be proud of that. Great work.
Colin

[tnartist05]

Seems I missed this carving of yours earlier. BUTttttttttttttt he so neat! You do such a great job with your carvings! TnArtist