[Lightningbolt]

Detail almost beyond the scope of superb! Wow!

[chpster90bu]

As usual, Mark....I am in awe.....your work is simply gorgeous. When I look at your carvings, I simply sit here with my tongue hanging out. Bonnie

[mark yundt]

Thanks everyone!! Those comments mean so much to me!

On the last one I did similar to these I did have a squirrel peeking out from behind a branch and a cardinal sitting on another,,,not a hillbilly,,but they fit.

A few noticed my square mallet. I have round ones but don't care for them.This is my design and for a particular reason,,,it's less tiring to use.Not the squareness so much but the way I designed the handle. It requires less wrist movement than a traditional mallet I feel.I can "operate " it with less wrist movement so I have less fatigue after carving for 8-10 hrs at a time.All the power comes from my fingertips instead of relying on wrist movement,but I can and do hold it with my entire hand.
For occasional use a traditional mallet works just fine.But like many of the things I do ,I do to increase my comfort allowing me to carve with less effort for extended periods.I don't care for the balance and weight of a traditional mallet,though with this one I can still produce enough power to drive even larger chisels,,and still maintain control over small delicate cuts and setting stops with small chisels.The square face ,,since I have it indexed to the handle,, eliminates glancing blows. In my mind anyway ,,it works very well and am much happier with it.
To me ,,the more things I can do to eliminate any "sticking points" that allow me to carve for long periods every day,,without fatigue,,less strain,,more power with less effort and greater control,,the faster,,easier,and cleaner I can carve the better off I am.Some things might seem silly,,but where my chisels are located,,the mallet,,the lighting,,seating,,chisel angles,,all these things ,,at least in my mind add up incrementally to free me to concentrate on just the carving without having to think or become tired.
The more you do this stuff,,the more the seemingly insignificant things come to your awareness and seem to make a difference.
I'll show it up close if anyone is interested and how I make it "pivot" in my hand instead of having to swing it or rock my wrist.

[susieq]

I hate to sound repetative but here goes...wonderful work, always inspires me to do more... Great job...
susieq

[doris]

beautiful work, mark ! if i would have those nice trees in my kitchen i would totally forget cooking :-) ... i can imagine you become bored a little by those many leaves, are you ?. on te otherhand you put so much variety in them it is so interesting to look over them again and again ...

made me smile your description, since a lot of time i "fiddle" around to improve my carving area, just little things, like better arrangement for light, that i can easier change, and thingies like that...

yes, i would be interested in see your mallet closer, and how to make such. i stilll dont have one, since the ones i found for buying are too heavy for me to swing, seems noone considers weak woman carving. so i was thinking of making my own. only, i have no idea how, not even what kind of wood i should use....and yes, i like also see how you make pivot, i dont understand what that means.

[tnartist05]

Mark theres all types of things & items to carve but theres something about a tree and leaves that is really special and relaxing to me. You sure can bring both of them out so wonderfull with your carvings. Im looking forward to viewing it finished! Such great work always from you~ Tn

[squbrigg]

That's a beautiful looking carving Mark. The amount of detail must be daunting at first, but really worth the effort in the final outcome! Great job!

I use a Japanese round barrel style mallet , I have a couple of traditional carving mallets but find the balance poor and weighty on the wrist. The barrel style is lighter and has just the right feel.

Bob

[Fred Zavadil]

Mark,
Beautiful work!!! Cannot wait to see it finished.
Fred

[mark yundt]

Gives new meaning to "getting into my carving"....

Yeah O.K.. that was lame,,but I couldn't resist when I saw this pic..you can stop rolling your eyes now...

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

can't stop rolling our eyes! Once they get going, nothing stoppin' them! oh by the way....thats a humongous carving lol.