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Tips and Techniques
by Barbara Mann In honor of the return of new David Letterman shows this week, here is my top ten list for woodcarvers. 10. When working on a small carving, don't put it down on the coffee or end table where the cat, dog, or other children can run off with it when you answer the phone. They get jealous of the attention you are giving the carving and have sharp teeth! Do put it out of reach. 9. Don't think about carving just on Monday nights. Do expand your carving knowledge. Read your club newsletter; visit websites for instructional info; subscribe to one of the wood carving magazines; take advantage of weekend workshops (we bring them to you at a great price); attend a wood carving school; and attend the Florida Roundup. 8. Don't just copy the instructor's carving or try to carve a figure from a mental image you have. Do use resource material (magazine and calendar pictures, Google image searches, etc.) Learn to carve from patterns, but line drawings of patterns don't give you all the information you need. Do develop and use a resource file. 7. Don't use a hard high-gloss finish on your carvings (it looks like plastic.) Do use a satin lacquer and use 0000 steel wool or very-fine (white) Scotch-Brite to soften a shine. 6. Don't do a superficial job of sanding. If sanding, do sand extremely well. Any blemishes left unsanded are exaggerated by the finish. Do check your carving in sun light to better see blemishes. 5. If you don't know how to do a particular part of your carving, do ask an instuctor for ideas and suggestions. If you don't want the instructor to carve on your work, just say so. 4. Don't keep on carving without doing your own critique. Do put the carving on the mantle and look at it the next day before doing the final details. You'll see a lot more. Do be brave and ask an instructor for a critique before putting in the details. Putting in details too soon can create some real problems, especially if proportions aren't right. 3. Don't carve on just Monday nights. Do try to carve 15 minutes a day -- maybe while watching the evening news (but don't wave your knife around in frustration over the news!) 2. Don't use brute strength to carve. Do slice the knife through the wood (ask an instructor for demo, or see Sept. 2006 Newsletter). Technique, technique, technique!!! 1. Don't ignore the sharpness of your knife. Don't use a surface any coarser than needed to get the knife sharp. Do strop, strop, strop!!! This month's patterns
"Chubby Cheeks Kitty" by Sue Mey See Barbara for basswood cutouts. |
Florida Roundup(continued) To get your choice of workshops, pre-register. There is a $20 fee that includes 2 tickets for the instructor-carved friendship cane give away, door prizes, and all evening activities (hot dog dinner night, pizza dinner night, setups for pot luck dinner night, and daily coffee and bottled water.) You can attend the Roundup for a daily registration fee of $5, but tickets for the evening activities will cost $2 each and you must settle for whatever classes have open seats when you register that morning. Each instructor sets an instruction fee and costs for materials. You pay instructors directly. Visit the Roundup website at www.geocities.com/podea_2000 for more information and the pre-registration form. Carving clubs are invited to display their work. Carvings by club members may be entered for competitive awards (first, second, third) and there will be an award for the best club display. We are the only club to have displayed each year. Clubs are also asked to provide small carvings at our displays for door prizes. People attending the roundup will draw a number when entering and then search for the matching number attached to a designated door prize. So get your display carvings ready and do a door prize or two. Other information: There is a lunch concession stand at the park. We recommend bringing your own comfortable chair for sitting and carving all day. Instructors and Classes (so far - others may be added)
Carving Class at Lignt N UPBarbara Mann's new carving class at Light N Up Art Co-op and Studios, located at 208 NW 1st St., Havana begins Thursday, January 10, for six weeks. It meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will be a carver's choice class. Cost for 6 weeks is $75; cost per night is $15. Call the Co-op at 539-0006 to register. Barbara is the Co-op's Featured Artist of the Month for January. The display will open on Saturday, January 19, with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. The receptions features wine and lots of hors d'oeuvers. Come to the reception, support Barbara, and check out all the wonderful art at Light N Up. | |
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