[mark yundt]

You're doing just fine Chuck,,keep carving. Sometimes work stops when you're not sure where to go with something.Not sure if that's the case here or if more ideas just lead you off to something new to try. In either case you have to strike while the iron is hot.When you're inspired to finish an old piece,or start something new let it happen.Better carvings are done with inspiration instead of half hearted attempts.

[chuckt]

Thanks folks! This place is the GREATEST carving show on earth.

In my case, most of my work stoppage came about for a couple reasons. After coming back from NEWR last year I was thrust into a ton of work for my job at the time. Then I got involved playing Bob Cratchit for a community theater production of A Christmas Carol. THEN I got laid off from the afforementioned job (which was ok - becuase I found another quickly and the severance checks came in real handy - 24 new Swiss Made gouges). THEN the new job thrust me into a project that tied me up 14 hrs a day for 2 months.

Things have only lately settled down and I have some time to think and get inspired to try out my new gouges. YIPPIE!!! Can't wait for NEWR - only 4 mor days and I'm there with wife and daughter in tow.

Thanks again for all the encouragement folks!

ChuckT
PS - for all you newbies out there afraid to post pics - come on in. The water's fine!!!

[chpster90bu]

Chuck....ditto what Doris said. That knee definitely has a story in it and I'd LOVE to see you finish it....doing a good job so far! You have a lot more work to do on the gnome home, sure, but that's the fun of it! As for the shelf elf...the WIP I'm doing now looks similar to yours. I had a problem just like that with the inside of the mustache....thought I cut too deep on one of the sides, so I just adjusted the other side. It changed the expression of the mouth, but I like it a lot better now. Keep up the good work, Chuck! Bonnie

[Joy]

See Chuck....that wasn't so bad....was it? It is really hard to start showing your work. But now you are over that hurdle and it didn't hurt a bit

I think the shelf elf is looking good. The beard looks really good.

I recently bought that same Chris Pye book. I thought I should learn some relief techniques....instead of constantly reinventing the wheel.

Whether you finish what you have or start something new.....it is all about learning and enjoying. Keep up the good work.

[chuckt]

Ok - so here is a frontal pic of the shelf elf, and another marked up pic of where the problems lie. The third is where I am thinking of cutting in a new line to balance it more. (Note - these markup lines are a little rough. I am not the best with Paint and drawing using a touch pad.)

Thoughts?

ChuckT

PS: Bonnie et al - thanks for the positive input on the Monk/Santa figure. That I think has been my best visualized piece to date. I saw that figure in that piece as soon as I saw the raw piece. Now to complete him.

[doris]

yes, you see the monk in the wood, that is exactely how carving should go, in my opinion. then you "only" need remove what not belongs...great, you are doing fine...

yes, what you want do on the shelfelf will work to balance him. i have another suggestion though, which means less cutting away of the nice beard you have. i allowed myself to draw over your foto, hope you dont mind that. my suggestion is to cut away the little area right from the blue line. it would make a sweepeing nice s-curve, balancing out the already nice s-curve you have on the left side. and a tiny shift on the inside... just a suggestion, your solution will work fine too. edit...i just made this suggestion, as i thought you might want keep as much a possible as you have it already. and this is nice

[chuckt]

Thanks Doris! Yeah - I think I like your suggestion better. Less drastic than mine.

!
ChuckT

[santagibbs]

Nice carvings Chuck, I especially like the cypress knee carving.. Good beard on the shelf one also.. Thank's for showing them to us.. Charlotte

[chuckt]

Thanks Bonnie & Charlotte for your kind words and encouragement. I definitely intend to complete the knee. Still thinking through how I want to paint him - Santa route or Monk? Hmmmm . . . gotta keep mulling it over. Monk, with a dark brown cloak & hood? Santa with a Red cloak and hood, and a green mittened right hand holding the staff with a lantern?

!
ChuckT

[feb]

Chuck your off to agreat start and i wouldn't worried a bit about shoing thoses carvings. That cypress knee well, it is something to ponder. Nice work, Feb