[Irishman]

I had an old fashioned Santa with a hood and whisps of hair flowing around the brim when I started and well....he turned into a wood spirit with no hood and no hair. I tried but the wood told me something else was under that bark. My daughter said "he's the uglies Father Christmas she ever saw" so I am calling him a wood spirit instead.
He is still pale with only one coat of oil. The wood is birch and he's approx. 3 ft tall.
Patrick

[AlArchie]

Still looks good to me, Patrick!

I'm going on another rant, here, though........it seems like any carving of an old guy with a beard has to either be a Santa, or a woodspirit. A lot of them really don't look like Santa, but still are "Santa in Bathtub" or "Hunter Santa", or "ing Santa"....well, you get the idea. Is this just a sales gimmick? Or an identification idiom?

And although I really admire the "woodspirits" that get carved, just what constitutes a woodspirit? Is any face carved in a log or stick a woodspirit, or does it have to have hair and a beard? Are there specific traits, that make a carving a woodspirit as opposed to an emerging leperachaun, or NA face in a cedar log? Or is this just a generic term for a face carved in a tree?

And when does a carving cease to be a woodspirit and become a facial sculpture or a bust or a mask??

Just wondering.

Al

[Ron Davidson]

That's the beauty about carving. You never know what is inside the wood until you look. I'm sure it turned out great Patrick.
Ron

[Ashbys]

Pat ,
I think the spirit is good , and unless I am missing something could eaisly be a Santa.

Al,

Is this just a sales gimmick? Or an identification idiom?

Al a Santa is a Santa because it was carved to be a Santa. If it became a Santa without intent to be a Santa , then it is a Sales gimmick . Which in the carving world can be applied in many different areas. Like using a Dremel grinder and refering to it as carving it's really ground not carved.

when does a carving cease to be a woodspirit and become a facial sculpture or a bust or a mask??

When the intent of the producer is to produce a sculpture, mask , or bust and not just a carving of a face

Just my opinion
Ash

[squbrigg]

Nice carving Patrick. I agree with your daughter, so we'll call him a wood spirit! You have the technical aspect of the carving locked down tight and well, but.......always a but........ your faces all hold the exact same expression, with some variances in beard, hair, etc. I noticed when at the woodworking show in Moncton, Keith had a couple of his other students there and one young man was working on a face,........it could have passed for one of yours!!!

So, Keith teaches all his students to carve in the same style, face, which is technically well done, but does it limit you? I'm not criticizing, please, (I can't carve faces that well myself) but wondering how you can take what you've learned and break away from the pattern and design various "expressions" on the faces? I recognize your skill as exceptional, but it seems that you aren't happy with the results yet? You don't seem to be happy with achieving a Santa type happy expression, though the face and facial hair are perfect!? Am I right?

Bob

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Maybe that's the reason my Wranglers with beards don't seem to sell as well as the others. I think I will start referring to them as Western Woodspirits or Kowboy Santas!

[foundwood]

Have you considered carving a separate hairpiece/hat, and adding them to the mix?

You might be able to convey a whole 'nother sentiment with this piece by accessorizing. This way, you can make it into anything you want from a santa to sailor just by experimenting with hats!

There are countless possibilities with a piece like this. It would even look fantastic with a real red felt hat resting on it's head, and when the hat was removed, then there would be that great looking forehead!

What constitutes a woodspirit? To me, it is a caricature with specific features:
(1) anything carved by Tom Clarke
(2) a short, squat body frame
(3) oversized beard, mustache, and long hair
(4) small arms and legs relative to the body and head.

If you cut wood with an edge, then it is carving. Shape it with a bit driven by a motor, and it is sculpture. Apply knives and bits, and you have carved a sculpture.

[Tom H]

As "bearly" out of the beginner classification I ain't sayin nothin, except "I like it" and I wish I could do as good. Tom H

[Irishman]

Thanks for your thoughts and observations. I can see where some can say..."if you say its a Santa, then its a Santa", however, I think there are characteristics I would like to capture for a viewer to say - "Yep, that's a Santa". The way my second attempt came out...and from what little I know...I would put in the category of a wood spirit. Having said that, I like the idea of accessorising so a little wreath of holly on that shiny head could transform him into a old fashion Santa figure.
And Bob, I'm just scared to try something radical I guess. When I started hearing people say that they can tell what carvings are mine by the eyes, it tells me to experiment further. I don't want to get comfortable, but I think I moved into wood spirit mode when I started my Father Christmas challenge.
At some point, I'll post a carving of something totally different...when I'm brave enough. ie. winking eye, open mouth, accessories, etc.
Great feedback on my posting as everybody has good opinions. It's all in how you look at something.
Patrick

[slivers&dust]

I like it too.
The beard looks great
...I have the same hair line on my own forehead, so I like that too.
Good job!