progress?

[ElWoodTroll]

Hi all, I celebrated my 55th yesterday and realized that it's been 2 years since if first logged on, got my first little assortment of tools from Rick and set about butcher'n wood. I haven't been very prolific but I have managed to complete a hand full of carvings each year. I've thought about entering a carving at one of the shows in fly over land this coming year and was hoping one of you could kind of fill me in on different levels, ie beginner, intermediate and so on. How do they rate people in your neck of the woods. Do you carry a beginners card and have your work classified as a door stop or fire wood the first time out.
I managed to muddle my way through a couple of the easier projects in the magazine and that's been a good confidence booster... actually finishing a project. I don't have a great track record in that respect but I do keep at it and I had a rather strange experience just recently.. while working on a bust I stepped back to take a look and realized for the first time that something was looking back at me.....It like to scare me to death..but after I got over the initial shock I started feel'n warm and fuzzy all over....or maybe it was the Irish cream.. I don't know

[Thor]

Hi Elwood,
First of all, you hit the ground running with the wizard in your front yard that you carved!

When I entered the woodcarving show up in Hickory, NC (my first and only so far), there were really nice folks at the sign-up table willing to help you get through the registration process. It very quickly became clear what I needed to do, by just listening to them carefully explain to the folks standing right in front of me in line. By the time it was my turn to get my papers, I felt like I already had a handle on it.

I was given some good advice there. If I wanted constructive feedback on my work for improvement, to simply find out who judged it, and go find them and ask them questions for help. I did, and really got some good pointers from a guy.

All in all, I had a really good time, and wish I could go to more shows just to see the work.

Great story about the eyes looking back... I know the feeling.

Happy 55th!
Thor

[ElWoodTroll]

Originally Posted by Thor

Hi Elwood,
.... you hit the ground running with the wizard ..

Happy 55th!
Thor

Oh fellow wood poet. you know not the legion of maimed wood stumps that came before the wizard