Relief Carving Wood Spirit Grape Man WIP

[helluvawreck]

Man what a thread this is!!! I was just now on Amazon making up a wishlist of carving books and I had put your book of carving patterns on my list. I did a search on "l s irish" to see if I could find more instruction books and I found this thread and what a resource this thread is. I can't believe how much trouble you have gone to on this thread. I'm going to get your book about woodspirits also. This thread is really going to help me and I might just try to carve this this coming weekend.

The Woodcarving Illustrated's forum is a wonderful resource for woodcarvers because of threads like this.

Thank you so much for starting this thread.

helluvawreck

[helluvawreck]

Ya know this is so strange. When I came into the moulding plant this mourning I asked our setup man to mould me a piece of basswood 8-1/2 wide by 10 or 12 feet long just to have a piece at home so i could practace on some relief carving here and there. It's almost as though that board was meant to be used for this woodspirit because I found this thread shortly after. But I only told him to make it 3/4 thick. I just ran out there hoping that he hadn't done it yet and he hadn't. I told him to make it 7/8 thick after seeing this thread. Is 7/8 thick enough? Or do I need to get a thicker board?

Also, is it ok to use your picture at the beginning of the thread for my pattern?

I'm definitely going to get your two books and have them by this weekend I hope and I'm also going to take a look at your other materials on your website. i believe that this thread is really going to help me.

Thanks so much

helluvawreck

[helluvawreck]

If I could ask another question? I assume that the outside edge of this pattern is the thinnest. Is that correct? Would the 7/8 wood give me enough? Actually he went over board a little and he ended up with a piece over 10 inches and made it 0.9 thick. The bottom didn't quite finish up perfect but it is flat.

Thanks again and i'm also thankful for this forum,

helluvawreck

[Irish]

Helluvawreck ... glad you found this thread useful and maybe a little inspiring.

The 7/8" will work wonderfully. Actually the thinnest area is around the eyes since these are the deepest points in the carving.

Since you work the carving levels by proportion to the thickness of the board even 3/4" would do well.

I'd love to see what you get done and hope you will post it here to the forum.

Susan

[helluvawreck]

Hi, Susan,

I apologize for not using your name on my other posts but since you signed your post to me with your first name I hope it is ok that I address you as 'Susan'.

I have only made two attempts at relief carving so i'm just a beginner. I guess you figured that out by my asking about the depth. Naturally, I guess the darker area would be the deeper and the lighter the thicker now that I think about it.

I've got 3 books of yours coming to me I hope by Thursday. I'm going to give this a try. I will go over this thread with a fine tooth comb.

So is it ok to use your first photo to create my pattern?

Since you are a woman and a carver I would like to ask you a question concerning my daughter. She's about 30 years old and she was up over the weekend for a day and was watching me carve for a few minutes and has expressed an interest about taking up carving as a hobby. So I was thinking about buying her a startup kit for Christmas. I've been to your site a couple of times today looking around so before I ask for some advice about what I ought to get her I thought I would see what advice you have given about such things. I'm really just a beginner myself and I figured that you might know better what would be best for a woman. please understand I don't mean any disrespect about women's abilities verse men's abilities. That's not it. I figure men and women can carve equally well if they put their mind to it. The thing is that my hands are fairly stocky and my daughter's are fairly small. I might not get the right thing and I figure that since you are a woman and have been around carving and are an excellent carver and teacher you would be able to give excellent advice on this.

I have wanted to carve all of my life but because I have always worked long hours and hard work I just never did it except off and on a few times.

I would be thrilled if my daughter was able to do this. Of course I don't want to spend a fortune because she might give up or not like it. But if she does like it I'll give her all the help that I can.

I'll take a good look at your site and see what you have to say on this.

Thanks for answering my question about this turorial and I really look forward to reading your books.

Incidentally, I also have looked over your post about how you care for and use your stones and I need help on that as well. IMHO, the most important step to carving is to have sharp tools. I am learning that the hard way. So I'm going to read over that post as well.

Thanks,

helluvawreck

[Irish]

Wreck ... Yes, the patterns that I have posted to this thread and anywhere on the forum are meant for you to use.

Now ... I am going to take your excellent question to the General Carving area where others can join in.

Susan

[toycarver]

I'm glad I found this thread too. I just got your Wood Spirit book and had already decided the Grape Man was perhaps my favorite. I'm working on 'Braided Beard Man' right now & trying to incorporate him into a spoon (got a new spoon book too)...I'm feeding two inspirations at once. So far your instructions/tips on using a depth gage, filling a score line with the rasp, and using a white eraser are things that I'm sure I will find helpful. I was worried about carving eyes, but after reviewing this thread, I think I can do them. Thanks much!

[Al_Hillis]

Susan , you are incredible , you give so much of yourself to do this for us , I just spent 1 1/2 hrs. reading and looking at all the great how to do it pics. Thank you so much I picked up quite a few tips and tricks just from that. I swore I would never follow another pattern but maybe the man up stairs will understand when I start your grape man , thanks again

[RUssL.]

Her Grape Man is also the subject of one of her extremely reasonably priced books. The book includes greater detail and makes a much easier reference than trying to follow the thread/pattern here on the list.
Buy the book. You won't be sorry.
I have no vested interest in selling her books, just passing along my own experience.

All the best,

Russ

[Lance]

ive got two of the author's books and find them very informative, being a begining carver i found the instructions easy to follow and easy to incorporate in found wood which i enjoy. you wont go wrong spending the time reading these books and i look forward to reading more of her work.