Ideas that jumped our skill to another level

[Wildbirdcarver]

Carving and painting, over the years, most of us have had ideas that advanced our own personal carving level. That is, factors that made our carvings better. Would you please post some or all of your experiences so that we can gain these insights? Don't be afraid to post even the simplest idea. It will help someone. I'll start it out with a couple.
1. reading the reference properly...study proportions, relationships, etc.
2. study painting: color mixing, application technique,...study painting as hard as I studied carving techniques.
3. asking questions and get other's ideas. Dick M aka Wildbirdcarver

[Thor]

Good idea for a thread.
Some of the "ah ha" moments for me have been watching another carver do something with a tool that I had not been doing....using it at a different angle, or in a different application. More moments have come while I am trying to sleep. The design not quite working, and then all of a sudden, you know what you have to do to make it work.

The bit about "reading the reference properly" can also be reading it again when it applies to what you are working on. As my skill level increases and I become dissatisfied with something, I can reference material I once could not understand completely and finally "get it".
Also, in developing one's own style, to accept that it is your style, even if it is still evolving. example: I think everyone on this board could readily identify one of TNartist's work from 50 yards anywhere you saw it. His style is so distinctive. That is why his carvings are some of my very favorites.
I'll look forward to seeing other inputs to this idea.
Christina

[doris]

the first time i clamped my work, was such a moment for me. i did my first carvings by holding them in hand, and was frustrated about that i could not properly control my tools, since my holding hand needed press the wood against the tool...then, when i clamped it, all this struggle and frustration was wiped out immediately, i had feeling i made 10 steps forward at once :-)

[MackTheKnife]

My big Ah-Hah moment was the first time I got hold of a REALLY sharp knife and learned the difference between pocket-knife sharp and carving-knife sharp.

Bob

[Wildbirdcarver]

another technique that advanced my bird carving (IMHO) is "tuning" the white stone used to put in the barbs of soft (belly, breast, tail coverts,) feathers. Put a small barrel white stone in the micro-motor and lay it flat on a diamond plate to smooth the stone. This gets rid of the small amount of vibration in the stone. This must be done EACH time the stone is removed and replaced. Then put the tip of the stone flat against the diamond plate and sharpen the edge of the stone. Now the stone is ready to scratch in very shallow, close, fine, curved barbs. Give it a try, I think you will enjoy the results.

[BRIAN D]

Taking a small gouge running it in no exact pattern, random in beards or hair then coming in with several sizes of (dockyard) V tool smallest last.

[Wildbirdcarver]

Thanks for the ideas present. I'm learning new things!These "ah-ha" exeriences are very enlightening and interesting (at least to me). How about it folks...jump in the water is fine.

[Whimsy_Carver]

After 5 years of carving deformed characters (unintentionally) with flat faces and square bodies I took a course in carving (Campbell Folk School in NC) and learned more in 5 days than in the previous 5 years.

[squbrigg]

An excellent idea for a thread, well done!

My own "ah ha" moments are usually associated with tools.

For example, early on, I carved using Ramelson and short stubby Warren tools, all I could buy locally. When I got my first Pfeil ....... ah ha!!!

When I got my first Foredom ......... ah ha!!!

When I got my first Foredom micro-motor........... ah ha!!!

When I got my first Hooked skew ......... holy sh*t does this cut slick!!!

Bob

[Hugh-P]

My "ah ha" moments come from seeing others do things, my carving students in particular. I learn from seeing things done, more so than from instruction. While watching a fellow carver burning feathers, I saw him putting in feather splits with a burning pen, a light came on, hey that is a lot simpler than what I've been doing.
Glenn McMurdo critiqued a Saw Whet Owl for me, and when he showed me mistakes they were obvious. The things he showed me turned a big corner for me. Don't be afraid to get someone to critique your work, things you can't see yourself will become obvious. Dick, (wildbirdcarver) helps me along that line frequently.