[Mahrque]

I am very new to carving....two hands with 5 thumbs each....

I am working on my first project...a friendly bear that I got the pattern from out of the last WCI magazine. I am having a lot of fun with it. Its amazing how I went from a blank square piece of wood to at least a partial resemblence of the bear. Trying to figure out how to hold my knife to make different cuts and how to make the wood look like the bear was/is a challenge to this beginner, but quite fun. It's a little funny, but the wood kinda "talks" to me as I am carving it. Anyone else have that sensation? I have no drawing skills so I am tickled that I have been able to get as far as I have.

Anyway, I just wanted to drop a line and say hi to everyone and I look forward to participating in this group.

Mark

[tnartist05]

Hi to you Mark~ Welcome to the board and forum. So your carving is talking to you?? How strange??!! Why? I carved on a olde fiddler so long that I named him and wrote a poem about him,he should be in my photo galleries on here.Get time ck out Uncle Paul,the fiddler and poem.Glad to hear you are jumping right in there with the bear carving. Tnartist

[wood-whittler]

mark,

hello and welcome to the board.

bart

[GeorgiaCarver]

Mark, welcome to the forum!

Greg

[Tom H]

Welcome Mark! Glad you joined this group. As for trying to find out how to hold the knife to make do what it's supposed to do.....When you figure that one out, let me know. And I'll bet a bunch of others will want to know to....Don't worry, just keep on having fun...And post a photo when done.

Tom H

[Eddy Smiles]

Well I guess that there is an advantage to having 5-thumbs.... you can always lose one or two and still have a spare! Just kidding... make sure that you get yourself a glove and thumb guard!

a pic of the finished project ! But make sure that the bear has all his toes! Ha! Ha!

[slather]

Hi Mark, welcome to the site. WE all started with 5 thumbs so bin there don that, your bound to pick up a nick in one of those thumbs once or twice. DNA proves who done the carving. looking forward to seeing the bear
Al

[Mottles]

Hi Mark, and welcome--your a carver in the making. I think we all at different times hear the wood/carving talking to us. The important thing is to not cute or gouge yourself and have fun. Please show us your bear when you get it done.
Kathy

[Joy]

If the wood is talking to you ...... then you are already hooked. I can't believe how addicting carving is. Welcome to a new world.

[DADDIO]

talking wood?????!!! did it scream fer mercy when you started cutting it?? lol just kidding welcome aboard have fun great info and people here,i'm wanting to do that lil bear myself he's just to darn cute isn't he?