How To Get (A)head
Here is my first detailed carved head. He looks a little mad at me for the way he looks. I can’t really blame him. I did learn a lot of things from creating him, but like my last carving, too late for this guy to benefit. He started out as a caricature and wound up with no humor, and no character whatsoever, nor is he doing anything interesting aside from racking down on my work. Too bad, he will just have to live with it!
I am just starting to learn some anatomy. My son sent me some drawing tutorial books on the net and I have been trying to learn a little so as not to embarrass myself again. I thought it would be nice to have this carving in my gallery so I can keep track of my progress.
During the summer I have to sit on the terrace out in the garden with my wife to get some sun. I do get pretty bored just sitting there getting cooked and twiddling my thumbs, so the thought is that I might just as well enjoy myself while I’m at it by doing a little carving.
Thanks for a having a look and I hope a laugh too!
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-- Mike, an American living in Norway
This is great, once again you captured an emotion in wood. It’s a bonus to create beautiful art by just carving on the porch deck or step. I spend a lot of my time in the summer doing just that. Great work tho, you are a master even if you won’t admit it.
-- CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!
I am enjoying this. I tried relief carving awhile back, but that went pretty badly. It was more difficult technically and my hands hurt a lot from it too. This type of carving is more pleasurable because you can hold the work piece in you hand while carving and once you get to know a little about anatomy, it is easier to determine the planes on the face and body and also how the clothes hang. I’m currently studying some drawing books sent to me from my son to learn those things.
-- Mike, an American living in Norway
Keep him around Mike, but don’t pi** him off. He doesn’t look like a guy with a sense of humour. :-)
I kind of like him though ……
-- The early bird gets the worm but its the second mouse that gets the cheese.
Thanks for the supportive comments. He’s a hard man, or at least a hardwood man. I think his expression pretty adequately reflects my frustration with the way he turned out.
-- Mike, an American living in Norway
Looks great I wish I had the vision to see that in the wood trying to get out. Love it
-- Daba
Thanks much, It wasn’t good at all, but I did learn a lot from it.
-- Mike, an American living in Norway
You are way too hard on yourself Mike. I think the little guy has lots of character in his face. If you look at his profile he really favors former Russian Premier Leonid Brezhnev. Can’t wait to see your next one. I have cut a big chunk of basswood and I’m starting one. Then you will really get a big laugh. In fact you should challenge everyone to do at least one and we can laugh at each other.
-- Jack