[Ron T]

This is a totem I started last year. I had to slow down numerous time to let my carving skills catch up with my imagination, meaning it's easier for me to think about what I want to carve than to physically do it.

8 1/2" high, apricot wood.
Indian w/ Mohawk hair style.
Bear sits on split carving of eagle, left, and wold, right.

As much as I like the Indian, I have mixed feelings about his face. I want him young, hence smooth features, but too "pretty?" I want him intense, but not fierce. I want him "looking forward to life, not looking back," therefore less stress lines, worry lines, age lines.
I used a close up feature on his head so his face is somewhat distorted but, I think his skull is a little too big.

Please comment.

[doris]

hi ron, thanks for sharing. this is a beautiful carving too, and a very well done face. (i love in particular those sensible lips :-) ... i am not familiar with indians, but to me he looks like a young man, and yes he looks a little worried too. maybe that comes from the lightning though, since i can see the shadows might from the strong brow bone give that impression, and if i could have the carving in my hand, it would look different ... in my opinion he is not too smooth, not "too pretty" as you put it. he very clearly reads as young man. very nice work... i hope you not mind my ignorant question, but on his head, is this hair done in a special way for some ceremony, or a headress for some ceremony, just curious, it looks great...

[Ron T]

Hello Doris,

Thank you for your comments and question. I have tremendous respect for your ability as a carver and your eye as an artist. I am not yet a very confident carver so I keep looking at him and find flaws. Also, I question myself a lot.

His hair is not complete yet. That is why I asked for Mohawk pictures in another thread. I will carve and wood burn the mass on his head to look more like a Mohawklike hairdo.

[tnartist05]

Ron I think his head is the right size! Very neat carving so far!! Forrest

[Ron T]

Thank you Forrest. Maybe it's my head that's too big.

[doris]

ah ron, dont believe that i do not see faults in my carvings, some i cant look at to after i am finished, since i see only mistakes...i guess that never goes away...and, it is good, since it means we can improve :-) ...ah, i see, a speical hairdo, i look again when this is finished :-)

[bullshipper]

Beutiful work Ron, I agree with Forrest his head doesn't look too big and his facial features don't look to pretty I think you've done a excellant job. Do you have any carving books on indians?

Lonnie

[Ron T]

Thanks again Lonnie. I saw a picture of an awesome Mohawk on an old Chip Chats magazine a friend gave me. Other than that, I just look at all the Indians and faces I mcan in the carving mags. The totem design is mine. That's why it's all wrong. I don't think the Mohawk/Mohicans used totems.

[ElWoodTroll]

You have got a good sculpture going here Ron. Bald heads are a real challenge. I'm still trying to figure it out. The front of the head gets lots of attention in how to books but you are on your own when it comes to the rest of it. I found that modeling a skull the same size as the head helps as you shape the head and when you get down to refining. Find a good skull map and get familiar with the proportions of the parietal, occipital and temporal bones This will help you get a realistic shape on the back of the head. Study the cuneiform and zygomatic and you'll find that your cheeks and temple will fall into place and you won't be pulling your hair out trying to make the rest of it fit.
The Human Skull

[bullshipper]

Don't be so hard on yourself Ron, I'm not sure whether they did use totem pole either. The first book I bought when I first started carving was Jeff Phares book on carving faces, Its a great book. Have you checked out Lynn Doughtys blog?,He has carved a Mohican Indian and he has a link to Wes Studis website he was moguie on Last of the Mohicans. There are some great referance photos on his site. Your mohican looks great, everything look in balance. some more pics when you get further along. Take care Bud.


Lonnie