[mikeGinSC]

Basically I started all over with the leaves after taking more out of the face. Working through the growth rings or against them is kind of interesting and tough, but I think it will have a nice effect when finished. I reckon it will be a man looking through the leaves rather than a bonifide "green man". Thanks for looking.

Mike G. in SC

[mikeGinSC]

Well for what it's worth, my attempt at a green man is finished. I call it..."Peeping Tommyknocker". Sassafrass with two washes of a BLO/ touch of English Chestnut stain mixture. Any comments and/or criticism appreciated.

Mike G. in SC

[Keoma]

how cool! Good for you! It looks so fun! You totally make me wanna go and hack up my trees!

[sharon cottrell]

Glad he didn't turn into firewood, because he turned out super.Keep carving more of them!

[Lightningbolt]

I'm glad that he didn't make it into firewood too! Man, the red in your sassafrass bark really shows up good and strong. I love carving this wood when I can find some good chunks and like how it carves.

You've probably heard it before but I've discovered that the best practice for how the dimensions of a face should be is by practicing on the 90 degree corner of a 2" X 2", a 4" X 4", or whatever size wood that you have on hand. Every time that I look back on one of them that I've finished I'm reminded about how much that I need to "round-out" the contour of the face. It's the kind of practice that forces you to round out the face because that wood is already removed before you start carving.

I even noticed that the one I finished a couple of days ago didn't measure up when I'd finished. He was still most definitely a keeper but even at my stage in the carving game something in my head is still telling me to carve out a "flat" face and it's a battle that I have to keep fighting.

Continuing to practice carving faces in the corner of a 90 degree sawed piece of wood is something that is helping me to get over this hurdle and thought that it might be something that you might like to think about too. Good luck and good job... thank's for sharing!

[doris]

yes, turned out nicely...eyes have now nice depth, and that makes the whole carving better readible than when you started. nice outlines on the leaves too..i bet, now you are eager to try more :-) and maybe a tad bit larger, you will notice, larger is easier :-)

[mikeGinSC]

Thanks for the kind comments and the good advice. My next project is a Locust walking stick along with the two bears I'm trying to finish. All small carvings. After that, I have three chunks of Eastern Red Cedar log.

Mike G. in SC