[Woodcarver] Question 1, Question 2, Question 3

[Linehan718 at aol.com]

I have yet to meet another woodcarver in the area where I live.  That's 
saying a lot since I live in a suburb of NYC.  I know someone has to be doing some 
carving in the big apple, I just don't know where.  There are no nearby 
carving clubs and only one carving supply store, which is located in the heart of 
Manhattan. I haven't been there yet, but I can imagine it will be expensive.  So 
the answer to question 1 is that I can't find a teacher.  In Answer to #2, 
yes I am self taught.  I have used plenty of books and Internet resources but 
other than that, I have learned by doing.  
Other than a small carving done at about age 10, I started carving at what I 
hope will be mid-life, 40.  I, as a mailman delivering my route, severely 
broke my ankle when I slipped on some steps.  I was in a cast for three months and 
was going absolutely nuts with boredom.  The cast finally came off and I 
could manage to hobble down to the workshop.  I needed to do something that I 
could sit while doing.  So I picked up a knife and started whittling.  I 
immediately caught the bug and started buying tools and supplies over the Internet, 
mainly because it was hard to get out of the house.  I have set myself on a five 
year plan and at the end of that, I hope to have bettered my skills enough to 
make some sort of income from carving, even if its not the main source.  I was 
thinking also about perhaps teaching a class or two, since there aren't any 
around my neck of the woods.  I am now 2 years into that plan and am learning a 
lot about woods and techniques and trying to get set up with some 
professional tools.  I try to keep challenging myself with the projects that I choose and 
it seems to me that I have greatly improved over the last 2 years.  My first 
real relief carving hangs on my bedroom wall.  It is a bear walking in front 
of birch trees.  I remember being very proud of that bear and now every time I 
look at it, I want to take it off the wall and re do it.  But now i have come 
up with a new plan.  at the 2.5 year point (which is coming up quickly) I will 
carve another bear, same pattern, same size, then i will do it again at the 
end of the five years.  i will hang all 3 in the same area so that I can really 
see how much better I've gotten.  then i can use them when i teach my class 
to show my students that in woodcarving, you shouldn't be discouraged by first 
humble efforts, that just buy staying with it you will improve.
Maura carvin' in nyc
http://www.picturetrail.com/whiteknight718
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