Tips and Techniques
by Barbara Mann
This time I decided to take a new approach with the tips and techniques. I asked a few people (those around at the time) who have provided instruction for the club what they would say as their top tip(s). So, in no special order, here are their tips.
From Adelle Grosskopf: Always look at your carving from ALL directions, not just front and back ... but top and bottom, side to side. It can be a good idea to place the carving at eye level and back away from it several feet and observe. You may also try placing the carving in front of a mirror and look at the reflection.
From Robert Christian: Doing a new carving from the pattern and instructions from one of the woodcarving magazines helps you become a better carver. Just be sure to READ and follow the step by step directions for a good looking carving. There is a reason for the order of the steps.
From Lee Roberts:
- If you want to enjoy carving, learn to sharpen your knives and gouges to be as sharp as they can be. Then learn how to keep them that way.
- Never start detail on a carving until the shape is what you desire, looks right to you, and all excess wood has been removed.
- Learn to design and draw your own patterns by modifying the patterns of others before carving an object, ie., birds-- make a little smaller or bigger; change heads, wings,tail, etc. position or angle; change attitude to sleeper, alert, moving, feeding; etc.
- Do your research before designing, drawing a pattern, or carving an object; measurement, typical or unusual position, identify your objectives, what it should look like to fulfill your objectives, or identify changes needed in a cutout or roughout of others before carving.
From Barbara Mann: Take time to learn the proper use
of your tools. Knives are for making clean slicing, paring and stop cuts, not for prying or popping out a wood chip. The size of a gouge matters in how it is used. Full size gouges require one technique, the palm gouges an entirely different technique, and microgouges are the most limited and sensitive of all and take yet another technique. Each size and type of gouge produces its own effects and adds depth and detail to the final product. Improper use of tools results in a chipped or broken tool, and opens the carver up to a potential world of hurt.
From Steve Brown (via Carving Magazine, Fall 2008): A great carving can be really messed up with a bad paint job. Use scrap wood and play around with the paints by shading, highlighting, and antiquing before you actually paint the original.
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The Folk School Experience
by Irv Jahns
Are you looking for a fantastic carving experience? There are 48 week-long carving classes being offered at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina during 2009. Plus 12-15 other classes are offered each week covering such areas as wood turning, quilting, cooking, music, blacksmithing, photography, painting, jewelry making, weaving, basketry and more. The classes start on Sunday evening and run through the following Friday (usually).
There is one instructor to work with you morning, afternoon and evening all week long. (I've had Steve Brown and Gary Falin to name a couple). Some classes are oriented more to neophyte carvers, others to experienced individuals. Almost all of them accomodate a range of carving skills and backgrounds. There are also a number of weekend classes throughout the year covering diverse areas of potential interest.
The Folk School setting is a rustic "campus" nestled in the mountains near Murphy, NC. Housing accommodations range from retrofitted but well maintained mountain homes to recently constructed motel-like facilities. Meals are served family style at shared tables. Costs for the whole week are much less than most tourist oriented opportunities here in Florida. Expect to do a little walking as the entire "campus" is spread out over nearly a half mile.
Check out the opportunities for a great learning vacation at www.folkschool.org or request the 2009 catalog at 1-800-FOLKSCH (1-800-365-5724).
Show and Tell Drawing Winners
At the Dec. 15th meeting all the slips from the monthly show and tells were put in a container and the winners drawn. These are cash prizes for the winners to use to augment their carving tools and supplies. The more often you put items in show and till, the more chances you have to win.
The drawing winners for 2008 are: $50 - Joe Badgeley (great star in mahogany and basswood); $25 - Aubrey Graves (Ozark shelf sitters in cedar and basswood); and $10 - Barbara Mann (wood spirit in cottonwood bark). Congratulations!
Door Prizes
We have a long standing tradition of holding a door prize drawing for those in attendance at the end of each monthly business meeting. The door prizes are provided by the members. We all have a responsibility to keep this tradition going. Please bring your contribution to the door prizes to any meeting. Any carving related item is welcome, even if it is a cutout you purchase just for use as a door prize. Please help!
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