Thread: Not many young carvers.

Originally Posted by Christos

I The main reason that I am not is because I am not able to see figures in 3D.
If there was a way to get around this and show people a different way of looking at a piece of wood then I expect more would be taking up carving.

interesting ( and mostly accurate) observation Christos...
However...like all things..it can be taught and learned...
I'm convinced that a combination of an enthusiastic student and a knowledgable and skilled teacher....and an appropriate amount of time to learn and practice is vital


unfortunately skilled teachers and enthusiastic students ( with lots of time to practice) are thin on the ground

I like the carvings Jono, esp the barra. You have a lot of confidence, which shows in the forms being simple yet complete - no hesitations, so to speak, in knocking them out. Speed is of the essence. In 2D and 3D the quicker the hand moves, the more the eye sees into what one is attempting to achieve.

There is no magic pill to see in 3D. The key I learnt from others is to constantly move around the wood, right from when it is a blank (or have a vice that spins). It is always taxing on the brain, so one has to go into it prepared - as if one were climbing a dangerous mountian seeking every possible angle of assault. mean.

Also, one can't imagine depth. Depth is found while interacting with the wood, which may be 'seen' in advance with the minds eye, but that isn't imagination, that's a result of practice.

Originally Posted by movay_2008

Also, one can't imagine depth. Depth is found while interacting with the wood, which may be 'seen' in advance with the minds eye, but that isn't imagination, that's a result of practice.

I completely agree with you. Its pretty much impossible to look at a lump of wood and imagine exactly how you are going to carve something from it. Initially, I just try to get the basic shape right, take a step back and ask myself what needs to be done.

I tried to use plasticine to model some of my carvings... but the final product looked nothing like the plasticine model. A technique that I have found useful is to draw or obtain photographs of the subject from a variety of angles. Stick them to the wall of your workshop, and you get a working idea of what the subject should look from different angles.

Originally Posted by JonoCarver

I Its pretty much impossible to look at a lump of wood and imagine exactly how you are going to carve something from it. .

Ahh...these thoughts are a trap for young players grasshopper (Jono)..
It will come to you easily.......after the first few hundred carvings
Plasticine models are definately the go for any carving IMO, (even if they don't look like the carvings)
keep up the good work Jono and keep those pics coming

For what it's worth, I think that carving, and all that it implies conceptually, is a skill, like any other. Some have an apptitude and this helps them achieve levels of skill faster than others, but in the end its more a matter of perseverence than anything else. I think it was Edison who said that genius is 10% inspiration and 90% presperation.

I don't think anyone can say that they can't percieve in 3D. Unless you've lost an eye, you do it all day long! It just takes practice (and a little training helps too!) to render what you see in some other medium.

And this brings us back to why there are so few young artists... who wants to practice when the TV or Gameboy is calling?

Originally Posted by underfoot

Plasticine models are definately the go for any carving IMO, (even if they don't look like the carvings)

good work, too- keep it coming

Hi all,

I have a young 32year old brother who has been carving for 10 years, he is a tribal carver and is now based in Brisbane. www.tahiatacarvings.com