Starting a carving

[Tom-H]

What is your first actual carving step when beginning to carve a head/face?
Do you start with the nose, top of head, face outline, etc. ? I know there are probably as many starting points as there are features of the face or head, but I am interested if there is a preferred starting point.
Thanks, Tom H

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I have a "generic" head profile that I use on just about all my heads unless there is some other action that might cause me to use something different, i.e, mouth open, beard, etc. Once this profile is cut on the bandsaw, I shape the head into a triangler form when looking down from the top. I do this as if you could see your head from the top it would be in the basic shape of a triangle....the angles from the tip of the nose to the outer edge of the ears. Next I reduce the neck to it's basic shape and then outline and carve the ears roughly off the head.

[gene-messer]

Tom .. This is a great question and Ia'm surprised you havent gotten more answers .. But all I can say is when I carve the little guys faces ..
I start off with rounding off the top of the head and then slowly bringing the front of the face to a point for the nose .. Once I have brought the face to a somewhat point .. I then cut the nose and then shape the hair , mouth , down to the way I want it ..
That's about the way I do it ..
Great post
Gene

[ozer59]

I always start with making my center lines and rounding off all the corners and rough it out The face is a hard thing to do. I am new at this also. So good luck
Steve

[Irishman]

As you've seen by my carvings, I tend to carve mostly in a deep relief style. So I tend to start by taking away the wood on the surface I won't be using. I then work from the centre out and start wrapping the face around the log I am using.
Patrick

[Ashbys]

Tom,

I usally start , by determining what size piece I want when finished. The entire size of the piece can be determined from the head. Over size it and the body is going to look odd, undersize it the same thing.

So since you stated head, I do the outline. If it is 3-d or relief it is still the same, it has to be outlined into size before you can do the face. If you do the face first then the outline has to match the facial features. It can be done , but it is like working backwards and then you can eaisly compound mistakes.
Here is what I mean , you elevate an one brow line on the face, thus tiliting the brow line , in doing so the head now has to take a tilt as the bone structure has been adjusted. So now you match the head to the face and now the till in the head , causes a twist in the upper body , you go to correct it and now the bone structure of the head is distorted.
Then you go to correct the browline and you have to distort the face, so to correct that you have to recarve the face. Bring you right back to having the head outline done first.

Anyway that is my way, I guess I am just lazy =)

Ash

[jillsy]

Hey Tom,

Since my carvings are more folk-arty, I've found that Shawn Cipa's books work REALLY well in helping achieve this look. I often use his "Carving the Nativity" as a guide. It has lots of great close-ups of how to carve the face and I've noticed quite an improvement in my carvings over the past few months. My faces used to be pretty flat, but I'm learning how to make the cheeks and nose much more rounded.

If you're looking for a basic, non-intimidating introduction on carving faces, I highly recommend getting this book. It's the one book I always have on hand for quick references.

Jillsy

[Kenny_S]

Starting a carving.

Get a block of wood!

Sorry Tom , Hi Ho has rubbed off on me!

[sbirkes]

When starting a face I usually carve my face area like in the attachment labeled "Top View". The point establishes the tip of the nose and slants back for the cheeks.
After getting that done I then cut the block out to look like the "side view". Establishing the profile. From then on it's detail.

Does that make any sense?

[ozer59]

Sbirkes,
Thank You for your reply. It always sound's easy until you do. I am just starting, so it will take time. Thanks again!
Keep those chips a flying!
Steve (aka ozer59)Happy