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And so it begins.....
Posted On: 05/07/2008 16:59:42
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Hello....
My name is Floyd and I am a carving addict.
("Hello, Floyd.")
It all started a little over a year ago. I had owned a Dremel forever and a friend of mine suggested that I could use my Dremel to carve some designs in a couple of drinking horns that I owned. I did.. and I was hooked.
But that was only the beginning.
I played with carving with power (working mostly in horn, but occasionally in wood) for the next year, and then it happened: the Dremel died.
This happened just last March. It was the Sunday before Spring Break and I had been planning on spending most of my break carving a little every day and then, without warning, my beloved Dremel went to go see Jesus.
When my wife, Sarah, saw how upset I was (she insists that I was pouting, but I vehemently deny it) she bought me a set of Flexcut tools for me to play with instead.
And I was almost immediately captivated.
I had tried carving with traditional tools before but hadn't liked it.... mostly because the tools I had used were sub-standard and too hard to use. The Flexcut tools, though, were almost instantly fun and satisfying.
In the last couple of months I think that I have made some little progress. I haven't taken a picture of the first board that I practiced on (it was pine) but there are pictures of everything starting with the second board I carved (basswood... MUCH easier and MUCH more friendly).
I have read a couple of books and watched a couple of DVDs in the last couple of months. At the moment my instructor heroes are Bill Judt, Nora Hall and fellow Texan Hans Schwalm (whose class I hope to be able to get to next week). All three of these folks are not only great teachers but are also willing to put up with (and actually answer) questions from complete newbies like me.... something which I greatly appreciate!
In the days to come, I want to chronicle my progress here... though the pictures I post will undoubtedly NOT be of the same great quality that I have seen here so far. If, while looking at my attempts, you see something in particular that I am doing wrong or if you just care to offer general advice, I will be open to whatever feedback you might be gracious enough to provide.
Thanks for listening! I will be back with more soon...
Floyd
Tags: Newbie Beginner Learning To Carve
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