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.

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.

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.

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 ……

He is just grumpy Mike. He’s got character, plenty of it.

I know this guy.

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.

Looks great I wish I had the vision to see that in the wood trying to get out. Love it

Thanks much, It wasn’t good at all, but I did learn a lot from it.

Glad your having fun with carving Mike.