Am I done??

Mischief · #1 03-02-2008, 09:41 PM

I promised myself i wouldnt spend the money on Rick's Kershaw Double Cross until I finish my first carving. I thought I was finished last week and then I took a picture. I realise it didnt look done. I kept at it and took a second picture yesterday and its amazing how the camera makes me really look or see the carving. So I went at it again and what you see is the today's shot of it.

It has been almost 2 months since I started and truth be told I spent a lot more time learning to sharpen then anything else. I am glad it was a cheap knife coz I sharpened without worry about thining the blade or damaging it. I think I have got the sharping bit down except for the tip where I havent quite got the hang of it. I am afraid of gouges but love what it can do. Roughing it out took the other half of the time. True carving/detailing took maybe 4 to 5 days with maybe like 45 mins a day.

What i need to know is should I sand the carving and what grid?
What do you think its a carving off?
I live in an apartment, a bend saw is out of the question. What is the most effective/quick way to rough out a carving?
Do you think I deserve the Kershaw yet?

=)

Keoma · #2 03-02-2008, 10:28 PM

Great Carving! Your thread caught my eye because of the title...and I have to tell you..."Art is net finished...Just Abandoned"

Leonardo Da Vinci Good Luck! And when it comes to new tools...I always say you deserve it!

Mischief · #3 03-03-2008, 07:49 AM

Thanks Keoma....I really should put this in the Beginner's section.
I woke up this morning, looked at the carving and wanted to start at it again....it will NEVER get done this way but your quote helps...lol and maybe i can soon accept that its all i can do for now.

Tom H · #4 03-03-2008, 08:02 AM

Looks like a little fox to me. It looks like a very good little fox to me. I'd say sign and date it as 1st. As to doing any more - that's up to you. But I really like the look of it right now. Kind of half way between realistic and stylized. Excellant first carving. New tools are always OK. Especially one that will let you carve anywhere you want to be, (pocket knife).

Tom H

squbrigg · #5 03-03-2008, 08:08 AM

That's a nice bit of carving. A fox curled up is a difficult subject and you have got the basic shaped down well. I'd suggest a bit more work on it, to define the detail, but go for the Double Cross, tools are always a good investment.

1. Sanding isn't always the way to go, but it's a personal choice. If you do sand, start with 80 grit, then 100, then 150, and finally 220. You can go 320 or 400 or even 600, depending on the finish you desire...... OR ....You could texture the fur.

3. Without a band saw, you could use a coping saw instead, accurate but slower. They are inexpensive and available at most hardware stores. You could also use roughouts, already shaped generally, but I think you have the imagination and skill for roughing out your own work, by the looks of that fox.

Keep up the good work.

Bob

doris · #6 03-03-2008, 09:09 AM

this is a very nice little sleeping fox. very well done :-) ...yes, sanding is a personel choice. if you wish to do it, please first try on a differnt chunk of wood, cut it a little and then sand it. the problem with sanding is, you need be very careful to not loose the wonderful freshness of the piece, not blur the transitions and edges... if it were me, i would not sand it, but as said, its a matter of personal taste

hruukki · #7 03-03-2008, 09:28 AM

The form is down so well I'm amazed that the fox has lost the white tip of the tail. I'd say don't do anything about it - if you want a more detailed sleeping fox, make one, but leave this as is! Yes you deserve the tool and more!

RussL. · #8 03-03-2008, 09:52 AM

You write:
"I live in an apartment, a bend saw is out of the question. What is the most effective/quick way to rough out a carving?"

A coping saw with a number and variety of fresh, sharp blades and a bit of patience is a fine way to cut an occasional roughout, as long as you don't expect bandsaw-speed.
It is also superior to a bandsaw in keeping sawdust to a minimum, plus it makes next to no noise at all!. :-)

As for whether or not you are done, I find walking away from a piece and calling it done is one of the most difficult parts of the whole process.
I have very few finished pieces.
I just stack them up behind me at the workbench as they near "completion".
Occasionally I will drag a piece back out and touch it up a bit, or change something I now think needs changing.

Each piece, for better or for worse, is a never ending story.

RussL.

Bill · #9 03-03-2008, 10:25 AM

Good Job on the fox........
I don't think that you ever get done with a carving....
I'm a sanding freak so my preference is to sand everything, but I only use
hard woods so I'm after the grain coming out of the piece and I hate to paint.

Again Good Job!
Bill

Mischief · #10 03-03-2008, 11:21 AM

Tom, Actually I most of that fox was done with a pen knife. I actually prefer carving with one. Scared stiff of gorges tho I really needed it for some of the cruvy parts and the face of the fox. The cheap knife I got is already starting to wabble in its handle. It doesnt have a lock and a few time sharpening it, it closed on me. The Double Cross has a lock =) and this baby is gonna need a mama with all her fingers