2 hour seminar

I need a project for a 2 hour seminar in September, I was considering a class on surface texture. *

Like beard stubble, sweater knit, hair, fur, beads, seams and stiching to name a few. Does that sound like a good class? I'm not sure if it will fill two hours.

Last year I did a 'captured ring on a shaft', and the year before that I carved an egg into a 'Grape nut' it was a goofy face on a wrinkled purple prune.

How about a Pine Nut! lol

It sounds interesting to me ... all kinds of little tricks like pieces of hacksaw blades or old thread taps for fur/hair etc. should fill two hours without a problem. If you were a bit (make that a lot) closer, I'd sign up right now.

[don]

Sounds like a good idea . If the people taking the seminar are past the basic cuts, learning different ways to add detail like hair,fur or clothes could add a lot of satisfaction to whatever type of project they do. I know I could spend 2 hours learning to get a mustache to look like I want it too.( I just spent 3 carvings and still don't have exactly what I want) :-[

Don, here are a few things you might try.

After you have your mustache shaped, make sure your V-tool or Micro gouge is sharp.

Draw in a few lines to show the path you want the hair to take.

Make your first cuts shallow and follow your lines.

If the mustache is rounded top-to-bottom, use two or three cuts to complete the hair top to bottom.

Put a little curl into the hair flow, that requires some wrist manipulation, but it is worth it.

When you have hair carved over the entire surface of the mustache area, add a few cuts on top of those already there.
By making these extra cuts on the same basic path, it will create a 3D appearance to the hair.

When that is done, use your knife to make some separations at the bottom of the mustache, be sure they fit in with the existing hair paths.

If you are making an over-hanging mustache, and you need to finish the bottom side of the mustache, don't carve the hair under it. Instead, use your knife point and pop out tiny wedges, it will look like hair ends under the mustache.

I suppose there are other things you might try, but I can't think of them right now.

[stevefrfla]

Rick: If you are going to do your presentation in Florida I'll sign up now. Seattle is sort of out of my travel area. How about an online seminar?? That would be interesting. Your hand tip today was very interesting.

Sure glad I just refilled myprinter's ink cartridge!!!

[don]

Thanks Rick. I see at least 3 things on your list I wasn't doing that will help. I was definatly trying to cut too deep on the first one I tried and seperations at the bottom should help soften the edge. I guess I'll just have to carve a fourth head.

Don,
You might practice a few mustaches before your next carving.
They are pretty fast and easy on the corner of a block.

Don,
I remembered another suggestion, where the hair begins, it should be fine, closely spaced cuts and spread out (larger spaces) the farther it gets from the origin.