Jesus/Nordic bust

[Howie]

I started this as a Nordic bust, but as my wife has continued to call it Jesus, it's now Jesus/Nordic.

Using a piece of Basswood from Michael's Craft store (got 5 pieces, nicely cut at 2x2x6 for $8.99) and a very limited knowledge of carving.

I'm very pleased with the basic shape thus far. I was able to get the hair to curve around a head and tops of shoulders as it should, and for the first time I'm adding more detail to the nose.

I'm still totally lost as to how to do eyes. I'll leave some space for the next day or two and see if anyone can point me in the right direction. Otherwise I'm saying screw it and ordering an eye punchy tool.

I need to clean up the hair lines around the face and smooth down the nose. I'll start adding detail to the hair tomorrow with my 2mm V-tool probably, after cleaning up some.

I'll post as I do more. Any advice would be extremely welcomed!

-Howie

[SlowMover]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

I am surprised that you got that much wood at Michaels for $9.00...that is much closer to what I pay after shipping off the internet than I would have expected.
Small advice on you carving:..The beard (in my opinion) needs to be reworked..looks like you have plenty of wood to work with. The beard usually starts just below the mouth, which in most cases will be between and just below the tips of the moustach (unless it is a droopy stach in which case it will be between the drooping sides.) In your carving, there is a large space below the moustach (and by inference the mouth) before the beard starts. I see by your avatar that you, in fact, have a beard trimmed such as the one in your figure...that is a more modern style. If it was me, I would carve off the existing beard and block deeper into the wood with a new beard that starts just below the tips of his stach (sort of at the level of the top of your won soul patch)...I think this will balance the facial hair a bit more and make it look more like the typical scraggly-haried Celt of old.

Hope this makes sense and hope it helps..

[Magicman]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

I think Gene Webb has a eye tutorial and some other folks as well. Look on you tube, you might also type in Gene Webb Eye tutorial in google and see what you come up with.
Larry

[Robert Cahill]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

YouTube - 3CrossesWoodcarving's Channel

The above is a good tutorial in my opinion and another is to google woodbeecarver.com and look under cool links.

[Claude]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

Howie:
Good start, but still needs some basic shaping work, as slow says. If you look carefully at the front and back views, there is still a lot of the block corner left in the center of the forehead and the center of the beard. Also the center of the hair in back. Hold the carving up in the air and look look at it from the bottom, then turn it over and look at it from the top of the head. You'll see it's still basically a square, but with rounded corners. What you should strive for is an oval-shaped head. A bit longer from tip of nose to back of head than between the ears (unless of course, you're carving a country bumpkin with jug ears, and then it's the reverse). Rounded is the key word. If you go up to the green line that begins with USER CP, click on search, then go to advanced search, and then in the box on the left side where it says key words, put in "carving eyes" and leave the quotes, then click on Search Now at the bottom. You'll get a window that has many, many, threads about carving eyes. Don't try to read them all, just skim the titles. I just did and found on the first page a couple of different eye carving videos...

Claude

[Ed N]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

Whatever you decide about the eyes I would advise you to practice a few on scrap wood first. Also, very important to place them as accurately as you can. Remember, you're working with two and the placement of each on the head and in relation to each other is very important. PRACTICE ... after studying the above suggested material by the other carvers.

[Howie]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

Feeling woefully incompetent, I tried something a bit different with the eyes, inspired by the videos I saw. Rather than doing full on eyes, which I will soon be practicing on wood scraps, I did brows, insets and little rectangle do-dads. While it isn't the goal I originally had in mind, I think it kind of works.

Attached some updated pics with the eyes, more head shaping and beard correction (as suggested) and some detailing.

I need advice on edge and cut clean up - since I kind of made it up as I went along, some of my edges (around the eyes, for example) aren't the cleanest cuts. I've tried using my flexcut detail blade and it's too wide/long still to get the extremely fine scraping I need. Any suggestions on what to use? Sandpaper? Another knife? Do it right the first time?

thanks for all the advice... it's a huge learning experience and everytime I carve I feel a little more confident!

-Howie

[SlowMover]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

Those eyes look pretty good to me (although the pics were sort of blurry and a little difficult to judge)..kin of like a styelized(sp?) eye. I think the beard is better as is the general rounding of the figure as Claude mentioned (very important part of making you faces look well). Keep up the practice.

[Claude]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

Looking much better, Howie! I have a Bütz detail knife that has a long thin blade. Unless you are very experienced in sharpening, I don't recommend it as it is not real sharp to start with and the flexible blade makes sharpening the tip a chore. If you do get one, send me a message and I'll offer some suggestions. An inexpensive blade for very fine detail work is a standard exacto knife. The blade is not really strong enough for doing any major carving, but it's great for getting into narrow places and making fine little cuts.

Claude

[Howie]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

Better photos!

Had one of my photographers at the paper take these for me. You can see the issues I'm having cleaning up... I might try that x-acto knife theory, though what might also be good is like a tiny sandpaper scraper... if I can find/make one.

Advice is not only welcome, but requested!

-Howie

PS: Once this is done I'm trying a gnome for my wife, at her request. Hoping to apply knowledge from this to that.

[Claude]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

Howie:
You might also look into a set of these. I have a set and use them now and then to get the wood smoother back in a recess.

Buy Smooth Cut Riffler File Set at Woodcraft.com

Claude

[Howie]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

Picked up a nice X-acto knife at Michaels... for the most part, especially around the eyes, it did the trick! Fine enough to get those little bits without tearing more wood, but heavy enough that it can actually cut.

I've done some work around the eyes and edges with it, and after a bit more sanding and experimenting with acrylic washes (just bought some, also at Michaels... 25% off entire purchase this weekend and a 40% off any item next week receipt comes with it, btw.) I'll try give him a light finish and post the results.

Thanks again for all your help - the advice, critiques and encouragement makes this new adventure in hobbying (and stress reduction) so much more fun and quicker to learn.

-Howie

[luscher]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

this is your first caving ? great job, Howie - you are a quick study. impressive

your ''Jesus Jorgensen'' is going to be a success that you can be proud of !

best of luck with stress reduction, and your new hobby

[Donsexton]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

Dude I think your carving is looking just fine. This wont help you on this carving but a great eye tool is a hole saw. From a 1/4” up to 3” for a giant squid eye you got to remove the center bit. If you ever decide to go with Ole Don's eye method before you put power to the bit tap it with a block of wood to keep it from walking on you. I use a spade bit reground to shape an eye it can be squirrely but try it on scrap wood first.

[Bob K.]

Re: Jesus/Nordic bust

I think you're on the right track now Howie and I really like the way his nose turned out. A shallow gouge and a sanding stick should help with the clean up. I would also make deeper cuts to define the hair.