[Woodcarver] Carving from one piece of wood

[maricha]

hi joe,
hope you do not mind my getting into this conversation. the nativity project 
that you describe seems to increase in interest. best wishes on your 
progress
cheers
maricha
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Dillett" <jdillett at thecarvingshop.com>
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 3:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Carving from one piece of wood


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> Hi Ivan,
>
> Nicely said.
>
> I'm looking forward to seeing you in a little less than a month for class. 
> I
> haven't given much thought to my project yet. I best be getting busy. I'm
> thinking of finishing up that Nativity scene, I been adding to every year 
> in
> your class, by doing a backdrop behind the figures. The backdrop will be
> some relief and some in-the-round with an angel and the 3 kings with the
> village in the background. I'll meet with the church committee to see what
> they want?
>
> Joe Dillett
> The Carving Shop
> 645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
> Somonauk, IL. 60552
> (815) 498-9290 phone
> (815) 498-9249 fax
> http://www.thecarvingshop.com
> jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
> http://www.carvingmagazine.com Carving Magazine web site and Readers Forum
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> http://www.citizenactions.org
> http://www.safeguardsystemsinc.com
> **************************************************
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ivan Whillock" <carve at whillock.com>
> To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
> Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 10:20 AM
> Subject: [Woodcarver] Carving from one piece of wood
>
>
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>>
>> >> When someone says that they carved their caricature scene from one
> piece
>> of basswood.  Does that mean that the design was drawn on the basswood 
>> and
>> everything was carved from the one block or are pieces cut off the one
>> block, carved and then reassembled?  Does my question make sense or am I
>> just confused?<<
>>
>> Many sculptors in wood--caricaturists, abstractionists,
>> representationalists--choose to carve their works from a single block of
>> wood.  It gives them a particular challenge--creating a design that
>> challenges the material but still respects it.  A block of wood is a 
>> solid
>> mass.  One would be prone to carve solid objects from it.  You will 
>> notice
>> that in Marv Kaisersatt's work, however,  he challenges that property of
>> wood and creates an airiness--interesting and varied openings between the
>> figures.  But also in respecting the material, you will notice that he is
>> also aware of the fragility of cross grain and therefore ties most of the
>> fragile elements to a stronger element.  This working a material against
> its
>> original from is a challenge many sculptors enjoy.  Marv also works in
> many
>> different levels and tiers, again to create drama and visual interest--to
>> move the carving out of its original "block" shape.  To take individual
>> pieces of wood, carve and assemble them into a scene--for some--takes 
>> part
>> of  the fun and challenge out of it, but it also presents a different
> visual
>> effect. (All that is not to imply that there aren't  many  fine
> "assembled"
>> carvings as well,)
>>
>> For realistic carvers, a challenge is to "take the figure out of the
> block."
>> Here is what that means:  A block of wood has four sides.  There is a
>> tendency to carve the figure so that the planes of the body are pretty
> much
>> parallel to those four sides.  (This is somewhat aided by the fact that a
>> bandsaw creates a cutout with all of the sides parallel--because, of
> course,
>> the blade is a 90 degree angle to the table top.)  A figure that is "out
> of
>> the block" does not have the planes of the body parallel to the original
>> block of wood.  The head is turned, the shoulders are twisted, the hips
> out
>> of parallel with the shoulders, etc.  This creates movement in the figure
>> and avoids the tendency for blockiness .  (In many of my figure carvings,
> I
>> try to have NONE of the planes of the figure parallel to the original
> block
>> of wood.  It's a little fettish on my part, based on my sculpture
> training,
>> but one of the challenges I present to myself, and I think my "out of the
>> block" carvings are just more interesting to look at than my "still in 
>> the
>> block" carvings.)
>>
>> There are aesthetic advantages to a carving from a single block.  The
>> transition from one element to the other is smooth because the forms are
>> integrated.  The grain, too, can add to the effect.  From a single block
> the
>> grain is continuous, particularly valuable in unpainted works.
>>
>> A little wndy, but I hope this addresses artistic issues related to
> carving
>> from a single block of wood.
>>
>> Ivan Whillock
>>
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