Living Tree Woodspirit

[Lightningbolt]

Thank's for the encouragement Colin. I was a little hesitant on this first live tree experiment on making the beard a bit shorter that I usually do, but I'm sure that my courage on carving live trees will gain momentum the more exerienced I get. This was definitely a very shallow carving more on the lines of a relief carving I'd say so I agree that it should be ok. I now find myself looking all around on where another such spirit would fit in.

Thank's too for the "scientific" confirmation on the 1/3 rule Ash. Now I'm gonna have to find me one of those BIG trees I suppose!

Jim: From my experience with persimmon trees it seems like as a general rule they usually don't develop into big logs, although I have witnessed a few exceptions. I think that this particular tree has a good chance of "carrying" my carved woodspirit for quite a few years especially considering that it's in a very forested part of the mountains with an exceptionally high canopy level that causes the trees to grow tall and straight and also very skinny.

I will continue to re-apply the Sikken's preservative as needed in the coming years since I believe that Colin once explained how this coating also acts as a "band-aid" or artificial skin that protects the tree from various insects and disease. I look forward to watch it during the next several years, like watching a garden grow, I think that I'm gonna learn a lot from this experiment. But, like Colin said, it's bound to fold over the spirit at some point in the future. It'll be interesting to observe.

Meantime, like you said, a lot of kids are going to enjoy it too!

[Lightningbolt]

It's been a few months since I did my first carving in a live tree so I thought that I'd give a little update FYI. The attached pic's tell it all but it has been an interesting experience watching this little experiment in carving madness! There are two very interesting developments:

1. Just as I finished the carving and the trees began to get their leaves I noticed that a sprouting of stem n' leave's had burst through the bark of this persimmon tree directly below the carving. Now just how interesting is that may I ask?!? I wonder if this was in any way caused by the trauma of the carving itself or would that growth occured if I hadn't done a carving? Either way, such a contrast of living leaves against the backdrop of a carving sure does bring home the full meaning of carving in live trees!
2. Also notice how some dark spots have developed in the woodspirit's face. Once again, how interesting. The tree and the carving as a whole appear to look healthy and there has been no "bleeding" around the carving itself. When I run my hand over the surface of the carving it still feels like a good solid seal remains with the Sikken's finish. The dark spots developed early and it doesn't appear to be changing any further during the last couple of month's. I imagine that this could possibly be the result of the tree not being completely mature but I'm not a doctor of plant's so I'm just not sure. I sort of like it's unique look nonetheless.

Perhaps I'll post another update somewhere further down the road if anything else develops. Sure has been an interesting experience!