Thread: DRAGONS HEAD HIKING POLE

dragons head nearly complete the beard needs glueing and doweling on .Waiting for some buffalo horn to carve the collar before its fitted on to a shank

drogon 001.JPG

I have held back commenting on this post because I don't like being negative but in the interests of improving your carving I would offer the following observations - the carving is as if it were blurred because it is not carved deep enough & has the "memory" of having been a squared off piece of wood straight from the bandsaw. I think you can't rush through a woodcarving if it is to be of any quality & you must be bold & brave , you've got to take those risks at it not working out ! It is still in there somewhere for you to discover but it is only approximately roughed as yet. A carving should be fully realised if it is to be top notch work & neither time nor money should be any consideration.

Intended to b helpful , Mike

Originally Posted by Mike the knife

I have held back commenting on this post because I don't like being negative but in the interests of improving your carving I would offer the following observations - the carving is as if it were blurred because it is not carved deep enough & has the "memory" of having been a squared off piece of wood straight from the bandsaw. I think you can't rush through a woodcarving if it is to be of any quality & you must be bold & brave , you've got to take those risks at it not working out ! It is still in there somewhere for you to discover but it is only approximately roughed as yet. A carving should be fully realised if it is to be top notch work & neither time nor money should be any consideration.

Intended to b helpful , Mike

Thanks for your opinion
I dont see how you couls say its straight from the bandsaw? it is in the round ,
The carving should be robust enough to stand regular use and abuse as it will be attached to a hiking pole and once finished it will be used in allweathers and conditions it was made for this and not for use as a ornament
To deep carving into the wood will only weaken it during its use and dont think it would stand up to the use or abuse that hikers put ther shanks through

Hi, there !
I think Mike was a bit severe, but a honest opinion can't be blamed. I don't feel it's straight from the bandsaw... I agree some fearures could be carved deeper to add more shadows and relief, less 'drawn', though the whole carving is coherent in its style and i dont understand that point as a mistake. It looks good to me.
I did a little dragon head recently i will post. It's not stylized as yours, and wouldn't fit on a hiking pole, as the horns would be too fragile.

Originally Posted by copeau

Hi, there !
I think Mike was a bit severe, but a honest opinion can't be blamed. I don't feel it's straight from the bandsaw... I agree some fearures could be carved deeper to add more shadows and relief, less 'drawn', though the whole carving is coherent in its style and i dont understand that point as a mistake. It looks good to me.
I did a little dragon head recently i will post. It's not stylized as yours, and wouldn't fit on a hiking pole, as the horns would be too fragile.

I didnt mind his opinion just didnt agree with itall things are subjective
I do think that the ears and teeth could be carved deeper but the tonge and beard are vunerable to damage already, and just wanted to ensure the ears would stand up to being dropped on a path etc, as a lot of hiking poles are abused.
After seeing your dragon i will have another go at the teeth there nicly done and in the round unlike mine which are a bit crude
The eyes are well done ,i have already commited myself to glass eyes for this job but will think again in future for simular projects
The guy who wants it is happy enough with it ,but you have given me food for thought on future projects
must look up your technique know nothing of it?
thanks very helpful