[knothole]

It has been some time since I have posted anything, real busy at work and home with little carving time. Sooooo when I was carving I worked on the Spirit and finished him tonight, the log is another story. I started working on another chestnut log about a month ago, this time I want to do the relief carving as shown in the pic and I plan to do my best attempt at a James Longstreet face on the other side then put a round top on it and make a nice little end table. I had a problem with doing the relief already seems there was a layer that was split and I had to go way deeper than I wanted on the wheel on the right in the pic. I think I can make it work. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...Bruce

[Treever]

Knothole-I like the Spirit a lot-great job on the face! I'm not the guy to ask about splitting...I'll defer to the experts.

[GaryMc]

Hello Bruce, I love your Spirit. What kind of wood is he out of, I love the color and the facial expression. Your Civil War carving is going great also, cant wait to see it finished.
GaryMc

[tnartist05]

Bruce,your wood spirit looks really great! You will have to carve the other wheel deeper also,course that will make you in turn have to carve the whole areas just as deep to keep the whole carving in proportion. Its needs to be a smooth look in how deep your relief carving is. You will figure it out Im sure with your talent of carving--- Tn

[chpster90bu]

Bruce...the spirit is beautiful!....carving is terrific on it, as is the finish. No matter how long it took you to complete it....it was worth the wait. On the relief, I am not a relief carver, but I happen to LOVE the wheel cut deep. Looks like it's coming right out at you. Looking forward to the final product. Bonnie

[knothole]

Originally Posted by GaryMc

Hello Bruce, I love your Spirit. What kind of wood is he out of, I love the color and the facial expression. Your Civil War carving is going great also, cant wait to see it finished.
GaryMc

Thanks GaryMc, the wood I use on my spirits is pine I usually go to the woods and find pine trees that are almost rotted away and the knots where the branches were will pull right out of the tree as the don`t decay as fast as the tree. Sometimes the tree will be completly gone but the knots will still be lying there. I let them dry and cut them in half with a band saw that way I get two spirits from one knot... Thanks again!! I plan to work on the civil war relief soon I`ll keep ya posted....Bruce

[knothole]

Originally Posted by tnartist05

Bruce,your wood spirit looks really great! You will have to carve the other wheel deeper also,course that will make you in turn have to carve the whole areas just as deep to keep the whole carving in proportion. Its needs to be a smooth look in how deep your relief carving is. You will figure it out Im sure with your talent of carving--- Tn

Thanks for the pointers on the relief Tn I do appreciate them. I`m heading your way on the 22nd the wife and I are going to Knoxville on the Harley will be there 5 days stopping in Morristown and Newport on the way and want to visit Gatlinburg also. I hear there are some wood carvers in Gatlinburg..Thanks again...Bruce

[knothole]

Originally Posted by chpster90bu

Bruce...the spirit is beautiful!....carving is terrific on it, as is the finish. No matter how long it took you to complete it....it was worth the wait. On the relief, I am not a relief carver, but I happen to LOVE the wheel cut deep. Looks like it's coming right out at you. Looking forward to the final product. Bonnie

Thanks Bonnie I do wish I could carve them as fast as some but i`ll take what the good lord gives me one carving at a time. The finish is brown shoe polish I have found it works well on the pine knots and the neat thing is that when you put it on it shows the detail and you can always carve it off and reapply as needed or till you get the look you want. I put it on with a toothbrush and then buff it with an old soft shoeshine brush...Thanks again..I`ll keep ya posted on the relief carving as it comes to life...Bruce

[knothole]

Thanks Treever..Bruce

[Joy]

Great face! And I like the idea of using what nature left for you. I think the relief scene will be great. It is hard to get the perspective right on a round log but I am sure you will pull it off.