Wood Carving

[dananne]

lAre there enough wood carvers to start a discussion on wood carving??? I have been carving a little of and on for about three years, and I am not a good carver. I live in a mobile home park that is also a RV park and we have a lot of winter Texans show up each year. A few are carvers and that 's what got me started. I have tried several different types of subjects, and enjoyed what I have done. Relief carving seems to hold a little more interest for me. But not the fancy stuff that people do. I just like it to decorate boxes or other things. Any visitors who would like to join the group, sign up and add your thoughts. The more comments we get, the greater variety of ideas, and the more I can learn. Hi Dan

[hi ho sliver]

Yep I do some carving, walking sticks, caricatures, have done one bird, a couple of fish...number of santas and ornaments..whatever strikes my fancy....jack of all trades and master of none LOL

[dananne]

Good to know there are others out there. Some of the regulars that show up in the Forums are also carvers. Carving for me is a change of pace, but it is also a form of woodworking and I do enjoy all forms of woodworking. Are you also into other areas of woodworking? Would like to see some pictures of some of your work. If you have some and can, add them to the Photo Gallery. I have some of my work there, my album is called Dan's Do'ings.
Stop by every so often and read these forums chats. Some good people here when we can get them away from the wood long enough to write something. Hi Dan

[dougle40]

I just started to try my hand at carving and I find it very relaxing but very frustrating when things don't go right and you take off too much or something breaks etc. One of my first efforts was the dolphin which is in the photo gallery . I have 3 more minature fish on the go right now , they are a perch , a walleye and a crappie , all of which are no longer than about 3-5" long . Now that all the pens and pencils are finished for Christmas I can get back to my fish . I will post pics as I finish them . If I get brave enough I might even try my hand at full size fish .

[dougle40]

Just an after thought Dan , but have you ever looked into Chip Carving ?
I've looked at numerous times and thought that I'd like to try my hand at it .
Happy Holidays To All

[dananne]

Yes Doug, I have tried it and didn't like what I did. I have a friend that lives down the street and does some beautiful work. She is skilled at lettering, etc. I think some of the chipcarving has to be do to your ability to be that precise. I'm not. Old age shakes maybe. I do a variation of it, as on the box top below, that I am doing for a daughter. Dan

[dougle40]

Hi Dan ,
Well if that is what "OLD AGE SHAKES" can do then maybe I WILL give it a try LOL.
I ain't no spring chicken myself .LOL

[dananne]

That is not chip carving. It looks like it but it is carved by whittling. Now that don't make sense. Waht I am saying is that chip carving is a certain kind of cut with a knife that has a unique shape. This was done with Xacto blades epoxied into scraps or dowels. The blades are also sharpened, they do not come very sharp, but they will take a good edge. Pick them up at yard sales. Draw the picture on the wood that looks like the chip carving, but larger. These were 1/2 inch squares. Whittle them out. Try it on a piece of scrap white or ponderosa pine. The one in the picture is most likely spruce, it was sold as white wood by McCoy's. Cut down to about 5/16 and made into a box. Will picture the finished product later. Dan

[dougle40]

Hi Dan ,
Sure looked like chip carving from the photo . I have watched some pros chip carve at a few of the wood shows that I've gone to and they make it look like childs play , but it sure is nice when a piece is finished .:)