Perched Eagle Pattern

[jay.kay]

I have posted a new pattern for a standing eagle suitable for beginners and novice carvers. I will be adding a step-by-step when I finish carving it.

Chainsawcarve.ca

[STAR]

Thank you jay-kay for the forthcoming work in progress. I am just trying to get my head around Chainsaw Carving, so will look on with interest.

I asked a question here recently " What is a good startintg point for a beginner. " You might have well added to the replies with some good info. it is difficult for a beginner to ask the right questions in a new area of interest.

I am sure that i will get a lot of useful information out of it that will help my chainsaw attempt as well as my general carvings. With a small ordinary carving if I stuff up all I have lost is a bit of time plus some small amount of carving wood. no big deal.

But with Chainsaw carving, if I mess up I have lost a valuable log that might well have been used for something I know the odds to finish are a lot higher. Still, that is the cost of the learning curve.

Pete

[zopi]

Pat, if you screw up, you still have flowerbed mulch and firewood...besides, there are no mistakes in art, you just change your mind...

[jay.kay]

Pete,

Once you have set the basic proportions you have to tust to the "force" within you to sculpt what you envision. It is your "art" and you will always have a connection to your first carving.

Or get some good heat around the fire!
A good carving course costs a lot more than a log.

[twoclones]

Originally Posted by STAR

...with Chainsaw carving, if I mess up I have lost a valuable log

Advice...
- Get your logs for free from anyone cutting down a tree.
- Be prepared to have your design change or shrink in mid project.
- Repeat after me, "It's only a piece of wood. I can get another one."

Following my own advice...
- I am the king of knocking on doors to ask for the logs from the tree you're cutting down.
- I have been unhappy with a bear's head and just cut it off then continued carve a smaller bear from the same log.
- I never miss an opportunity to bring home logs so there is always another piece of wood and I quite literally have a pile of "burnable sculptures". Do not fret over wood unless you do not learn from your mistakes!

[zopi]

And besides, when one really torques you off, there is a alot of therapy in cutting it up and giving ti a viking funeral...or polynesian....bonfire surrounded by monolitic tikis...

[STAR]

Thanks. Jay-kay, Zopi and Twoclones for your well thought out replies. They all make sense and you have really got to where I am at.

Getting wood to carve is not a problem, I can get it for free from a friends property, plus I have a few logs here. The one log I had in mind is a good size and would need a crane to lift and it would be a shame to turn it into firewood. on my first attempt.

I think I will do something smaller, I wonder how small you can carve the eagle. The problem with Chainsaw carving is that the original starting wood looks like it might be too heavy to lift without lifting gear and I do not have that equipment.

Pete

[jay.kay]

And logs are lighter than you expect.
A 12" x 36" log is small and manageable even in a hardwood.
You can flip it end for end or roll it.

I am a senior and have flipped an 22" x 48" oak log onto my small truck.
You can also roll a log up a ramp.

Bigger is better because if you screw up you can carve smaller.

[Schaef]

Hi Jay Kay,
Been away from this post for a long time, yours was the first I saw. I think you do everyone a great service with these images. I think the shaded cylinder image with block cuts is best. I'm always showing someone how to do this and wonder if they can visualize like I do. With your images and pattern, it should be easy for anyone to get success right away!
Schaef

[jay.kay]

Thanks Schaef,
Over 6000 visits to my patterns in the past year has helped fuel my work. The "blocking" models take a lot of time to develop. I make a clay model first, photograph it and trace it in Photoshop to create the shaded line image.

But we all inspire each other on this forum when we give back.

Your eagles have inspired me since day 1.
This is the eagle bust finished, feathering inspired by your feathering technique and Scott's furring.
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...UST01email.jpg