A few weeks ago I posted about teaching a beginning woodcarver. We have now had 6 sessions of 3 hours each. I don'tl like to have someone sit and go through long periods of doing basic cuts. So, I had an old piece of basswood to try each new cut a few times and then we would apply it to a carving.
I had a square of half inch thick basswood. To help Jeannie with learning to handle tools (and not endanger the carving) I traced a pattern on it that I got from Joe Wannamaker in a class a few years ago. I then had her use the V tool and knife to cut the outline of the pattern. From there we went into the details of carving the Christmas Goose.
I saw no need to repeat the “rough out” procedure with the next carving; but, I wanted her to do something that she could finish and quickly experience the pride of having done a woodcarving. Christmas ornaments present the best possibility.
I used my scroll saw to do a basic blank of a Christmas outhouse a friend of mine had carved. I have carved several of these that were popular as gifts to friends. I believe the original pattern is by Gerald Sears.
Yesterday we painted the carvings with watercolor and sealed them with Krylon. The outhouse will receive a Christmas wreath that she will purchase and glue on the door.
Jeannie mentioned that she wanted to do a Celtic knot pattern. A relative of hers had found one and printed it for her. He is a woodcarver and I believe that it came from Susan Irish’s book. It seemed to go along with the Christmas outhouse so I drew it on a piece of bass wood and she started work on it.
I had a bandsawn blank of a dog (Scottie) which I just handed to her and she did a good job of carving it on her own. Her current dog (Maltese) objected and chewed the head off. She still wanted a Scottie and we are working on that.
I am very proud of the work that she is producing.
I had a square of half inch thick basswood. To help Jeannie with learning to handle tools (and not endanger the carving) I traced a pattern on it that I got from Joe Wannamaker in a class a few years ago. I then had her use the V tool and knife to cut the outline of the pattern. From there we went into the details of carving the Christmas Goose.
I saw no need to repeat the “rough out” procedure with the next carving; but, I wanted her to do something that she could finish and quickly experience the pride of having done a woodcarving. Christmas ornaments present the best possibility.
I used my scroll saw to do a basic blank of a Christmas outhouse a friend of mine had carved. I have carved several of these that were popular as gifts to friends. I believe the original pattern is by Gerald Sears.
Yesterday we painted the carvings with watercolor and sealed them with Krylon. The outhouse will receive a Christmas wreath that she will purchase and glue on the door.
Jeannie mentioned that she wanted to do a Celtic knot pattern. A relative of hers had found one and printed it for her. He is a woodcarver and I believe that it came from Susan Irish’s book. It seemed to go along with the Christmas outhouse so I drew it on a piece of bass wood and she started work on it.
I had a bandsawn blank of a dog (Scottie) which I just handed to her and she did a good job of carving it on her own. Her current dog (Maltese) objected and chewed the head off. She still wanted a Scottie and we are working on that.
I am very proud of the work that she is producing.
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