Mask carving progression

[Dileon]

I got my oak tree (owner said?) cut it into three parts...this part is 16 inch by 10 inch and six inch deep... ? I took off the bark with my angle grinder. It is first time used that, thought it was going to fly me in the air...so I really had my legs and back braced.....boy did I look stupid....LOL ... anyway cut away the inside which was a little wet with my Foredom TX with a Saburr blaster burr...extreme coarse and great for digging.

[Dileon]

I have no pattern, and I did not draw it out. I do have my anatomy books with me, and midway decided to make a oriental female. I use my Foredom with large saburr extreme burrs and kutzall extreme burrs to rough out the figure....this is the rough out...then I used my knives and my new old reliable....smile to shave it clean. As you can see it looks like a male....so I can keep it or carve the nose down to small, the lips and cheek bones need to be shaved down a great deal....time for the chisels as my hands hate the vibration of power tools.

[Dileon]

I spend the next four days...doing research on the net and decide to go for a chinese warrior mask of Fu Hao. As I am doing small detail...I decide that she needs real hair. So I add this after I finish the work.... the two tone wood does not need much use BLO with a spray matte enamel. This is the finished work...thank you Susan and Howard.!

[Howard Lobb]

Hey Dileon
That is an awesome mask!!! Good for you!!! Thanks for sharing it, I love the expression you achieved and the photo with the hair (another great aspect) slightly blowing, brings a little life to the whole piece that is outstanding. ,,,, As far as the side grinder,,, I felt exactly the same way and was just as nervous, Felt just as foolish!!! That IS a tool to be nervous around even 20 some years later!
I know you learned a lot doing this mask I hope that you are hooked on them, You have that touch, that deserves to be explored in your own way you will find a voice with them.
The research you did will open a huge world of cultural historic and contemporary carving diversities and similarities. Masks have been done since the beginning of time and still have not worn out their effects on people, it is inherent in humans. We still all ware masks of sorts some are just paint (make-up) and some are lack of expression of emotion or just a plan bluff, it is a defense mechanism from the cave, older then fire. Fascinating stuff.... I hope that you posted these photos on the members gallery and in new projects for the rest to see ,,, H

[Sharon of the Dell]

Di, that mask is something else! She is absolutely beautiful! Howard and Di, I am so inspired by both of you, so one of these days you will see one from me.

[brent]

Extra nice work!

[gtech]

Very nice.

I already had the taste to do a mask, but after seeing yours, it's stronger than ever...

Good work,

Gilles

[bigEd_H]

Beautiful work, Di. Your mask turned out fantastic. Thanks for the progress posts. Very inspiring.

[jimmy joe]

Howard , nice job with the pics and tutorial . I like the starting from log idea . I will have to try one . Your work is top notch . Thanks for sharing .

[Howard Lobb]

Originally Posted by jimmy joe

Howard , nice job with the pics and tutorial . I like the starting from log idea . I will have to try one . Your work is top notch . Thanks for sharing .

Thank you Jimmy
The starting from a log is a whole new thing at first and realy buts one in tune with the material. Understanding how wood moves is realy helpful and learning to work with the movement is a challenge at first. The benifit is that it opens up to huge pieces of wood and most of it is FREE. Plus it is so easy to carve green that it is a complete pleasure. The side benifit is that fresh wood smells so wonderful (most but not all). I realy enjoy working green wood with hand tools, fast, easy, and best of all less mess and QUIET!
In the tutorial I use a side grinder mostly because I have one. Though I do prefer to use hand tools as they are safer and I learn more about the tools and improve my skills by use. This Christmas I used my hand tools to do a run of bowls for the market and for gifts. The experience of sitting in the studio, music in the back ground and coffee handy I sat in almost meditative state for hours lost in the process. Buckets of chips rather then sawdust type shavings from the side grinder. I came home late most nights tired yet charged inside from the process and the feeling of accomplishment, I had made thousands of perfect chips and a few nice bowls. ,,, H