The Most Important Part of Carving

[stevefrfla]

I have read and reread the vast majority of the posts of this and several other carving boards looking for the secret to carving. I have read where the secret is sharp tools, soft workable wood, good patterns, specific tools, learning from the experts in the field. But forgive me if I am wrong, but I have yet to see what for me is the single most important thing. It's what will always keep me from achieving the success of Callynne, Teri, Rick from Seattle, Archie and forgive me for leaving anyone out.( Just too many great carvers on this board).

The one thing I will always lack is 'PATIENCE', the ability to remove 1/16 of and inch instead of 1/4. Trying to hack at something with a vengence, instead of a light touch. Well so much for me running my mouth this is just my opinion, and God knows that I have been wrong before.

[santosdepalo]

I can not agree with you more. I hate that feeling that I will never finish the piece. but then I rush and ruin it.
Impatience not only mess up the carvings but your fingers too(safety). Anyway....
D!
Het check my lastest carving. It is on picture trails under religious

[Dale_O]

I think the most important thing is the desire to be the best you can be. This is where patience plays a part. I have been carving for many years and have taught many classes on carving. In turn I still (desire) to learn from other more experianced carvers. It will still be many years before I am satisfied with my skills. Taking heavy cuts on a carving does not mean you are impatient. To me it means that you are eager to see results.

Keep realalistic goals for your self and you will be surprised on how quickly your skills develop. Also don't limit your self to carving softer woods experiment a little to gain more confidence. I mainly work with Walnut, Maple, Cherry and Oak and find them to be a joy to carve. Plus they help you to learn how to maintain a sharp edge.

I get the impression that you will become a very tallented carver. Keep carving and learning by reading and visiting the forums. Also give your self a pat on the back every once in awhile for what you have acomplished.

Good Luck
Dale

Steve, I won't even try to analyze your situation, without knowning you, but what is your age?

Youth is an impatient master, and it may just be that you need to stick around a few more years! *

If that isn't it, maybe you need a little more aggressive medium, like chainsaw carving....not that that is any easier or requires any less skill, but you will see results, like huge amounts of chips accumulating on the ground, in a hurry, and there is a certain amount of satisfaction in that whineing mahine peeling off thousands of chips, per minute. *It is also a good way to get rid of some frustrations......MORE POWER works for me sometimes!

When i get overwhelmed with the slowness of the carving developing, I go do something else for a while, and I do a LOT of 'something else' *I don't know, maybe I'm one of these ADD adults they are currently marketing to on TV.

Please don't get discourage, and keep trying until you find what works for you.

Oh, and thanks for including me in with the likes of Teri, Callynne, and Rick! I'm flattered......probably unjustly so, but thanks! They make me feel like I have SUCH a long way to go, and give me something to shoot for.

Al

[mdallensr]

Some of us have developed the dreaded 'don't know when to quit' syndrome. It seems pretty common among carvers, and it's one area in which instructors are really helpful. On the other hand, you can see caricature carvers who can make just a few bold cuts and make a recognizable piece. Patience may have more to do with the learning process, and being willing to try new things, new wood, new subjects and new styles. There is no substitute in carving for carving, carving, and more carving. That doesn't take patience as much as it takes a commitment of time and effort. There is nothing as amazing to me as going back and looking at my first carvings and then looking at what I do now, and knowing what I'm willling to tackle. It didn't seem like I was patient at the time I started carving, but I must have been a little patient to have gotten past the first few months. Don't worry about the learning curve; it'll come on its own. Imagine being able to do what Michelangelo did after a few art lessons at the 'Y'. It just doesn't happen that way, and if it did, everyone would be a famous artist in five easy lessons.

Well, to me the most important part of carving is the enjoyment. If you enjoy wacking off big chunks of wood, go for it. If you enjoy taking off little slivers you can do that also. Somebody once said 'The joy is in the doing,' so just do it the way you enjoy it and don't worry about it. It's just a different style.

Steve,
I have been around awhile and I can honestly say size does not matter, it's what you can do with the tool you have.
1/16 or 1/2' can be equally effective; more important is why you removed the chip. Without getting too philosophical, a single chip, large or small can make a huge difference in your results.

If I was to point out one thing that would improve all of our results, it would be to sharpen your knife just before carving the fine details.

One thing that is difficult to teach; it isn't the chip that is important, but the result of it's removal.

steve, There is no secrets, there are lots of secrets. Take your pick. If you want to be the best you can be / you carve, you study , you sketch, you fill your files with referance material. on and on you take yourself seriously as an artist!Patience? If you do it right, patience will be on the job...If you don't want to really take yourself seriously as an artist at first, you could be a copycat carver, step by step,with some perfection. You are then a good carver. You could become a journeyman carver.....you could make a living, carving just about anything... you can move to hollywood. Do you have any idea how much the muppets pay their carvers? Be yourself.....

[stevefrfla]

Al-Archie: Sorry I haven't answered you sooner but the chemo knocks me for a loop for two or three days. I am 57, and I really don't carve to carve I am trying to carve just to enhance some of my woodworking. My goal now is to finish a Barbie dollhouse for my Grand daughter by Nov 11 her birthday.
I have been making a few whirligigs for the grandchildren for Christmas, just something to remember me by. But enough of that crap. I enjoy 'hacking' away at a piece of wood, it takes my frustrations out. Even if they stink they still burn good in the fireplace.

Off my soapbox for now

steve

[Callynne]

Steve, the most important part of carving is the satisfaction it gives you. I've tried many things but nothing in the world has given me the satisfaction and happiness that carving does.
Patience is a very important part of doing fine detail work, and Rick is right, sharp tools are super important. But the thing that is THE most important is the love of doing, that's what shines through, whether it's realistic, caricature, primitive, what ever the style, loving what we're doing is the real key to success.
I wish you a lot of it in your carving and much, much more in your treatments!! Callynne