[Lightningbolt]

I just happened to be looking through my archives from earlier in the year and during one of my more inactive periods here on the board and found a woodspirit that I had carved for someone who insisted on a "happy" face so I thought that I'd pass it on.

Smiling woodspirit faces are a little more difficult for me to carve since the eyes will be looking straight on and not the usual slanting to one side. I guess that the cheeks need to be a little more pudgy, but that's not too hard. Oh gosh... now I have to turn the normal drilled-hole mouth into something that actually looks like a mouth. And not only just a mouth but one that is "happy!" Imagine that!

Anyhow, here's what I came up with and notice the little-bitty limb above the head where I decided to add a bonus woodspirit which is more simple and traditional with it's easy squinched eyes and simple mouth. I thought that he was kinda cute perched up there on top and the person who ordered it liked it too!

It's carved from some seasoned river birch that I always keep a ready supply stored away for carving. Stuff grows everywhere around the bottomlands of the North Carolina mountains. Wonderful carving wood.

[Kenny_S]

I like that one Dave. Yes, Smiling faces are hard for me to carve also. Well really, any faces are.

Great job!

[Blake Lunsford]

Real nice Dave! I like those woodspirits!

Blake

[Colin_Partridge]

Dave that is awsome, great job. That huge maple carving I just did the lady wanted for the face to be a happy face and not sad. Although I did manage to make him look wise I didnt accomplish the happy look. Now I have seen yours I will save your image and attempt to carve it into the next tree when I am asked to make it look happy. The customer BTW was really happy with the carving I was just a little disappointed I didnt make it happy. Again a great job my friend and I really like the talent you have showed with the smaller carving incorperated. It fits into the carving perfectly.
Colin

[Thor]

Great teeth! Your paint really shows them off too.
Glad to see that.
Thor

[gene messer]

great bunch of guy's Dave ...

Good carving and finishing ..

Gene

[love2carve2]

Dave,
Very nice woodspirits. Really like the small addition, like Colin said, it fits in real nice. You accomplished the happy look.
Mary

[Mark N. Akers]

Great job Dave,You going to make the Hickory Show this year?

[Joy]

Looks like you were up to the challenge. Good job.

[btree50]

Very nice work indeed. Nice wood too.