Caleb at 17 ... Completed

After some other necessary work got done I finally finished Caleb. The frame I made is Mahogany and the backing board is some black laminate I had laying around. All in all I'm happy with the result and I think the resemblance is there which makes me happy. Caleb likes it so I know I did okay.
As far as degree of difficulty it was by far the most difficult carving I've ever attempted. I liken it to climbing a mountain: it's arduous, physically and mentally, but also exhilarating when you reach the top. I've already started another portrait, this time a young woman, even more difficult... more on that later...

Custom "Satan Claus" finished

Here they are finished and ready for shipping. More tricksterish than demonic I think, which I think is what was wanted. They're twin brothers; daddy was a devilish type but momma was not so bad. Now I'll have to carve some angels to make up for this !! ...

Teufelsgeige Heads

A customer in Kansas asked me to make 2 heads for a teufelsgeige. The goal was to make a devil's head that also is a Santa Claus. Not too scary but hopefully edgy enough to fit the purpose. Here they're almost ready for painting. Hope he likes them. Everyone I've told about this has expressed horror and disbelief that anyone would want something like this but I like it. Something out of the ordinary to carve is always fun and challenging. Merry Christmas.

Home Stretch... Caleb at 17

Well it's getting really close. At this stage there's a lot of finicky shaving, the chips get smaller and smaller. It looks like him, but not quite all there. I'll post a comparison photo when it's done. There is so much subtlety to capturing a likeness that it seems it can slip away so easily. When I started I said I would be happy to have just a realistic representation of a person. I have to keep reminding myself of this. If it ends up looking like Caleb and captures some of his personality then that's gravy. Until next time...

Caleb at 17 continued...

More work done, this time on the eyes. The chips are getting increasingly smaller as the carving becomes more refined. More later... stay tuned...

Caleb at 17 continued...

More progress. I've begun work on the hair, shaped the nose, thinned down the neck and given it definition and shaped the eye mounds and eyebrows.

Until next time...

Caleb at 17 continued...

More toolwork and more progress...

I've thinned out the hair mass, given greater definition to the nose, laid a foundation for the mouth. I started this thinking I would only do the front half of the head but now I'm not sure. If the face turns out really well it may do the deciding for me to do the back half as well.

It has reached that stage where he's almost recognizable. It's an easy time to give up and think it's just not going to happen. Perseverance and determination are needed.

Until next time...

I originally began this blog back in March of this year, but of course I always found an excuse not to get it completely up and running. So here goes…

I’m going to jump in and just get going without formalities. Any background information about me will be filled in in time I trust. Suffice it to say I hope to interact with others who are struggling to make something recognizable out of a block of wood. Or a block of anything really. Observations, comments, criticisms are always welcome… just remember the song by Ol’ Blue Eyes – “Please Be Kind”.

The photos above are a current work in progress; a portrait of my 17 year old son Caleb. The block was glued up with 3 pieces of 2” thick basswood. This is still very much in the foundation stage. It being the first portrait I have ever attempted so close to lifelike size and wanting it to actually resemble the person it’s supposed to look like will make it a real challenge. Hopefully it won’t end up in the firewood pile. Fortunately I’m meeting regularly with my carving guru who doesn’t hesitate to point out everything wrong with what I am doing. ( It’s such a wonderful feeling! ) The treatment is worth the cure. I know it’s good for me to not work in isolation and get all the feedback I can from someone who knows what he’s talking about. That’s partly the reason for this blog, to help me “push the envelope”.

Until next time…