What is your favorite carving subject/inspiration?

[TotemWoodTommy]

Actually Teri, some of your work is an inspiration-from a "principle" angle I mean. I would like to be a "world class stick maker/carver" someday. Your article in issue No. 7 is a great inspiration.

Also Joe Dillets for much the same reasons...

Tommy...

Tell us something about your favorite subjects to carve. What about those subjects inspires you?

Teri

[Dick Carter]

I don't know if I have a favorite thing. I like 'hand-held' projects & I don't like to do animinals, birds, fishes or chip-carving. That might seem to limit the carving subjects, but it doesn't. I like doing Santas, Gnomes, and woodspirits.
(Toung-in-cheek) With all this talk about dieing with your carvin' tools in your hand, how about an article about carving a container for your ashes after you've been cremated? The carvings should be on the inside so the ashes can enjoy them.

Dick Carter

[Hugh]

Well I've carved a couple of hollow decoys for putting ashes in.

[Joe_Dillett]

Hugh and Dick, maybe you've hit on a unique product nich? Maybe in the tridition of a generation box? Have a small compartment that can hold a small portion of the ashes or other personal effects, like a lock of hair, that can be sealed and a larger compartment with memories of that person such as letters, metals, etc. The design on the box could be personalized for that specific person or couple. This would be another way of promoting our art of fine woodcarving with the potential of good pay.

Joe Dillett, question collector.

[TotemWoodTommy]

Actually I had read this before, and thought it a good idea, planned on working some designs up myself. The addition of a [small or larger] compartment is a good idea I think Joe.

"Generation Box" may be a good name for them.

Tommy....

[Hugh]

Thought this might be an opportunity to lighten the spirit, and say Merry Christmas to all.

[Tom H]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All. I plan to use the time between Christmas and January 1 to do some serious thinking about what I want to accomplish during the next year. I know that I want to accomplish much in my quest for carving skills. But I need to focus on some realistic resolutions. Again, Merry Christmas to to All. TOM H

[Joe_Dillett]

Hi Tom,

Yes the end of the year is a good time for me to look at the direction my business and art is taking me. I make changes and update the plan. I’m big on working out a business plan.

On this topic that Teri started of ‘What is your favorite carving subject/inspiration?’ I like to get carried away doing Christmas ornaments. I think its because I get to do things I normally don't do like painting and scroll saw work and experience the joy of whittling. This year, as past years, I'm thinking why not incorporate some of this fun, like painting, into my regular carvings? Maybe this year I will. I'm working on revising my marketing to try breaking into some of the upscale corporate art in the downtown Chicago area. So my business plan is moving in that direction.

A business plan needs to be realistic for the short term but also needs to include dreams for the long term. I think that the more we can visualize these dreams the closer they are to becoming a reality. I believe in never doing a business plan without long-range dreams.
Joe Dillett, question collector.

[CarverRog]

I really enjoy chip carving. I think it's because I can make my own project and then decorate it with geometrics. I do some relief work like linens but that's all. I would like to try corbles and architectural carving.

[MDWine]

I'm a "Santa Man" at this point. It appears that most of what I like is from Christmas. Santa, Angels, Nativity... although I've only carved three of the Santa ornaments, and am currently on my fourth.

I'm inspired by all carving, I think. I can appreciate (now more than ever) what goes into carving. I particularly like the work of Cipa, Joclyn, and Embrey .

I'd like to learn more about the "concept" while I work on getting better on the practical. I want to learn more about the "thinking" part of getting a carving started, how to refine a shape. So far, I'm using the 'step by step' tutorials, which are working just fine, but I need to develop a 'style' and 'look' of my own.

...and I want it NOW!

I have to throw in my thanks to these boards and those who participate, as well. These are essential parts of my learning process!!