Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: madcrow on October 02, 2012, 11:04:43 pm

Title: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: madcrow on October 02, 2012, 11:04:43 pm
I have been doing some carving lately.  These things seem to go pretty fast.  Most of the walkiing sticks are sourwood, but I threw in one on cherry and another on poplar.

(http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp161/madcrow_2008/Carving/100_0905.jpg)

(http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp161/madcrow_2008/Carving/2012-09-11202738_zps7bcf2608.jpg)

(http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp161/madcrow_2008/Carving/2012-09-11202721_zps18157068.jpg)

(http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp161/madcrow_2008/Carving/2012-09-11202703_zps150c6462.jpg)

Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: jeffhalfrack on October 02, 2012, 11:19:56 pm
    I   LOVE that  stuff   reall nice  job!   I  wanted to  make a little  joke but the art work is too  good JeffW   but  they  do  remind me  of  ZZ top  lol sorry I mean no diss respect! Thanks
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: Tortoise on October 03, 2012, 01:22:30 am
portable ents  :D
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: _Jon_ on October 03, 2012, 08:04:44 pm
My oh my those are simply great. 
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: Pappy on October 04, 2012, 11:28:54 am
Beautiful,love them all. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: Scaramouche on October 04, 2012, 01:47:16 pm
Awesome job! Do you carve those free-hand, or do you draw it out beforehand?
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: Polar Bear on October 04, 2012, 09:13:24 pm
Those are great.  I especially like the one out of cherry.
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: Scowler on October 04, 2012, 09:27:56 pm
Those are hella-cool!
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: madcrow on October 05, 2012, 09:20:26 am
Thanks fellas.  These are fun to make and pretty quick too.  I do draw a couple of guidelines when I start, really just a cross, to help with the symetry, but the rest is freehand.  No offense off the ZZ Top comment, every time my dad sees one, he gives it a biblical name.
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: Trapper Rob on October 07, 2012, 08:44:25 pm
Nice work the carving is amazing.
Rob
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: JackCrafty on October 08, 2012, 01:29:14 am
Very Cool!! 8)
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: swamp yeti on October 09, 2012, 09:36:17 am
nice work,like them all.
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: Trapper Rob on October 14, 2012, 08:01:54 pm
Have you ever carved antler knife handles.
Rob
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: Gila_Mike on October 14, 2012, 10:06:54 pm
Those are terrific! Do you ever carve animals or mythological figures?

Mike
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: cheapshot on October 25, 2012, 07:37:17 pm
I LOVE them!!!!!!!! when I am at Twin Oaks, Pappy lets me go looking for twisty sticks all the time.....I take home all I can find. I love your carving, I'm not brave enough to carve much, too afraid to mess it up!!!!! got any tips??? ;)

Tomi
 ;D
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: madcrow on October 26, 2012, 12:29:48 am
Thanks guys. 
Trapper Rob, yes I have but I use a dremel for that.  I wouldn't put my Flexcut tools through such punishment.
Gila_Mike, I have carved a few bears hanging on the side of sticks and one eagle head on the top of a stick.
cheapshot, use the best tools you can afford and keep them as sharp as possible.  Mine are sharpened to a 12 degree angle and honey to a mirror finish.  Dull tools will get you cut quick.  Sharp tools go through the wood much easier, which means you use less force and maintain control of the tool better.   If you want to try wood spirits, go out in the woods and find a sapling that died standing an inch and a half to two inch diameter.  Make what is called a study stick.  Draw the hairline around the face (shaped like the top of a rifle bullet) about three inches tall, a half dozen times down the length of the stick.  Carve in the hair line on all six and round the forehead and make sure to leave some room and wood for eyebrows.  Rough draw in the eyes and nose on the last five and carve them in, just roughly to get a feel for it.  Draw in and carve the cheek lines on the last four and give them some shape.  Shape the mouth or mustache and outline the hair on the last three.  On the last two, go back to the cheeks and nose and define them more, really just cleaning them up some.  one the very last one, add in teh rest of the hair, eyebrows and mustache if it has one.  The key to this is the repitition.  By the time the alst one is done, you will have the basics down and be ready to start carving them on walking sticks.  I will post some pics this weekend of the process if you want.
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: bubby on October 26, 2012, 06:11:05 pm
madcrow you got some mad skills, i'd love a build a lond on the process, Bub
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: ErictheViking on October 28, 2012, 01:27:47 pm
Those are awesome! people who can carve faces amaze me. very cool
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: nugget on October 30, 2012, 10:04:20 am
Awesome work.
Title: Re: Carving Wood Spirits
Post by: cheapshot on October 30, 2012, 11:53:36 am
Yep I'd like to see pics....and a build along would be cool too!!!  :)

Tomi