Direction needed

[drdahlagerdc]

Hi!

Thanks for allowing me to join your group. I'm a relatively new wood carver who wants to tackle a fairly good sized table carving of a seated banjo player. (My father, who's a cabinet maker/banjo player, turns 75 next year and I want to honor him with a carving). Does anyone have any links to general plans for a seated figure that I could modify?

Very gratefully: Brad

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Welcome to the forum.

Dave

[Josef]

Can't help you with the plans, but I bet you could google some photos of seated persons from which to make a pattern. Welcome to the forum. Joe.

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome, Brad. Try checking out the gallery and do a search.

[Old Codger]

Welcome to the WCI Forum Brad! Like your fellow carvers above have suggested, check out the gallery of wood carvings...lot's of caracatures carvings there that are 'seated' and you could get some good ideas from them...as far as detailed plans, you might also check the local library for books on wood carving or join a local wood carving club who may also have a library that you could borrow or buy from...Sounds like a neat idea for a gift for your father, sooo good luck and have fun carving your father's gift! Oh yeah, keep us posted on your progress, it should be an interesting project.
Kenn

[Riverman]

Hi Brad, welcome to the group!
Bob

[Donsexton]

Hello and welcome I carved a bluegrass band relief carving many years ago for a man from K.Y. A bear on a base fiddle and a raccoon with mandolin, squirrel on a fiddle and a rabbit with a banjo. I was in my early twenties that would make that carving over 30 years old. Wish I had a picture of it, what you want to carve as I understand it is a large (relief carving)? Look at Google Images simply type in (sculptures of banjo players) If the carvers are honest they will tell you to look at Google Images good luck with your quest

[Donna_T]

Brad,
I guess my answer would depend on how long you've been carving and the level of your expertise. A simple way would be to find a cutout or roughout that is in the general shape of the finished carving you're wanting. If I'm in a hurry to do a carving and don't want to generate it totally from scratch, I look for a roughout that's similar in size and shape--then adapt it to what I'm wanting.

In our part of the country, Moore's Roughouts in North Dakota (they have a website and catalogue) is a good source. Depending on where you are, there may be something closer. Also, regional carving instructors may have their own line of cutouts and roughouts--and patterns. For instance, I recall a roughout that is of a rotund fella (Santa) on a stool with one leg crossed over the other at the knee. One arm is raised to smoke a pipe, which could very easily be holding the neck of a banjo.

Another solution would be to go through past woodcarving publications to get ideas. Obviously, we're partial to Wood Carving Illustrated.

Good Luck with your undertaking. You dad is a lucky fella to be a future recipient of one of your carvings.

Donna_T

[A_Swope]

Welcome to the Forum Brad