---- Chris Pye: WOODCARVING - NEWSLETTER ---- April 2001 http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com "Dedicated to the teaching, learning and love of woodcarving" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hello Everyone! Feel free to forward this newsletter on to woodcarving friends, or anyone else you think might be interested. This is an opt-in newsletter and you should only be receiving it because you requested it from the website. Subscribe or Unsubscribe easily on the home page here: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/index.html or using the link at the end of the newsletter. **Back issues http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/intro/pastnews.html ==================================== ****CONTENTS: 1. Slipstones - April 2001 2. Website Notes 1) Who's your Friend? 2) New Inspiration 3. Quick Carving Questions 1) What is a 'tie'? 2) Why a bevel on both sides of a carving chisel? 3) Glue for Cedar? 4) Do you make mistakes? 5) Power Chisels? 4. Parallel Lines: Guest Article 'Connecting Head and Heart' by Rhoberta Shaler 5. Teaching in the USA __________________________________________ 1. SLIPSTONES - April 2001 __________________________________________ In Slipstones this month: *** What knives would you find nestling among the carving tools on my workbench? Three of the best! *** If you've looked at the gallery of pictures showing stage carvings for the Duke of Rothesay's Trophy, here: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/gallery/carving/g_rothesay.html - were you among those who thought I had found an anti-gravity holding device? Is it magic? How did I do it? Slipstones has details of an unusual work holder! *** Finding Nails in Wood? - Yes! *** Slipstones out of Slate? - Possibly! *** A Bench Dog into a Neat Clamp? - Definitely! *** Gonzalez Skew Chisels - Very Useful! *** Pierced Applied Carving - and Cuckoos. *** Much more, including Follow Ups, 'Lines of Light' and Carving Tips. Slipstones is like an invitation to my workshop where we can share experience and advice. Join me. Find full details of this interactive woodcarving journal, which aims to support, and further carving at all levels, along with subscription details, here: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/slipstones/slipstones.html *There's a FREE sample edition to download *And a FREE copy of '101 Master Woodcarving Secrets' - only available on subscribing. __________________________________________ 2. WEBSITE NOTES __________________________________________ ****** 1) "WHO'S YOUR FRIEND?" I put up a new picture of me on the website a while ago. http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/ - at the bottom Why? Because I wanted visitors to appreciate the personal nature of what they were looking at; the 'face' which stops the site being faceless. Anyway, I chose one with me face to face with... er... Several of you asked, and I don't blame you. So here's a page introducing my friend: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/connect/c_beast.html ****** 2) NEW INSPIRATION I have put up one of my favourite sculptures: The Prophet Haggai by Giovanni Pisano, carved in stone around 1290. It's a bit worn but, hey! it's 700 years old and a superb portrait. The technique of carving is strongly evident: spot the use of the Archimedean bow drill... Here it is: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/gallery/g_inspiration.html __________________________________________ 3. QUICK CARVING QUESTIONS __________________________________________ **** QUESTION 1: TIES **** "What is a 'tie' in carving terms?" **** ANSWER **** Essentially it is linking one elements of a carving to another to gain strength, when otherwise these elements will be weak - either from short grain or thinness. An example might be, say, a leaf in a relief carving that crosses another and ends with its tip on a third leaf. The leaf looks delicate but is in fact supported well. The skill is to plan your carving with the need for ties in mind. And to make it happen unobtrusively, even nonchalantly. I hate carvings where, say, a horse's leg is supported by running up half a tree trunk... =================================== **** QUESTION 2: BEVELS BOTH SIDES**** "Why do carving chisels have bevels on both sides?" **** ANSWER **** It's because we don't want the chisel to self-jig and cut a flat face (which you would in a carpentry joint); rather we want the freedom of movement that comes from the cut rocking on the heel of the bevel. Even when we carve letters, it's easier to meet at the root in the V trench with a bevel to the wood. So although they appear flat, the walls of the letter aren't completely. When I started, I was so keen on carving that I took all my carpentry chisels and put bevels on both faces. Result? Disaster for any carpentry I'd planned! If you do need a dead flat face, use a single bevel chisel. For carving purposes, almost every time it's double bevels. =================================== **** QUESTION 3: GLUE FOR CEDAR **** "I have been asked to carve a sign for a local church. I chose cedar for the wood, and have to glue up the boards using a 'biscuit joiner' to spline joint them. "The biscuit manual calls for a water-based glue to make them work right. "I have been told water-based glue will not be best for the cedar joints. What type of glue would you recommend?" **** ANSWER **** Sorry, I've never used cedar. I looked the wood up in my timber books and none mention any problem with any glue. It may be what you have heard is cedar's susceptibility to water staining, easily going grey. When in doubt, do a test eh? *Anyone know anything more to add to this sparse reply? =================================== **** QUESTION 4: MISTAKES **** "Do you ever make mistakes?" **** ANSWER **** Do I make mistakes? Am I human? Is the Pope Catholic? Mostly I keep them to myself but, yes! The crunch is not 'whether', but 'what', and what to do about them. This is such a big issue, I'll write an article myself for the newsletter next month. But, be warned. I'm not going to reveal all...! =================================== **** QUESTION 5: POWER CHISELS**** "I am an artist; and I have impaired hands. I use the Flexcut tools and have just bought a power attachment to aid in the roughing out of the bultos I carve. I find these much easier to use, especially if I am having a "bad hand day" and can't use a mallet. "Your books, website, and slipstones are very useful. I thank you for your interest in teaching. I am hoping next year to be able to take your workshop. "My point is, I would hope you go gently on people who need to use power tools as a means to end?" **** ANSWER **** I probably come over as a little 'strict' in the written word, but I'm a very nice really! The Flexcut blades in combination with a reciprocal carver (a sort of lightweight, handheld power-chisel unit) are excellent. Provided you can stand the vibrating quality of these machines, you can remove wood beautifully. As I'm getting older I'm finding all sorts of aches and pains. I find myself thinking more of how I can husband my body - so I use power discs instead of heavy malletting, and so on. So I do understand! Using a reciprocal carver - which feels more like real carving with a chisel than these discs etc which produce dust - on bad hand days and leave the light finishing work for better ones seems a fine strategy. Far better than not carving at all... See, I'm not so mean! _______________________________________ 4. PARALLEL LINES: GUEST ARTICLE 'Connecting Head and Heart' by Rhoberta Shaler _______________________________________ CONNECTING HEAD AND HEART By Rhoberta Shaler When you decide on a new direction or set a new goal do you check with both your head and your heart? Many goals are not reached for lack of heart. Your head thinks something "should" happen and your heart says "No!". Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "One day we will learn that the heart can never be totally right if the head is totally wrong. Only through the bringing together of head and heart--intelligence and goodness--shall man (woman) rise to a fulfilment of his (her)] true nature. It is not wise to talk yourself into doing something that does not interest your heart. (Yes, of course, someone has to take out the garbage!) Why not let the head rule? Two reasons: you are negating the wisdom of your heart, and, you are building in failure. Remember that a goal is a specific, time-bounded, measurable and attainable target. It has to be important to you. When your heart disagrees with your head you may need to spend more time defining the goal, and, more time looking at the physical, mental, emotional, social or spiritual obstacles in the path to its completion. Examining obstacles can lead to making an action plan to overcome them. Once you have that plan, check with your heart once again. If the answer is still "No", it is likely not the right time to pursue this. It is not the degree of difficulty that makes the difference. It is the degree of willingness: the right thing for the right reason at the right time. That's where the heart comes in. Make it a habit to listen to your body. There is great wisdom there. Depend on it. You know so much intuitively and it is wise to go within, ask, and listen to the answers. You do "know" in your heart of hearts. ------------------------------------------------------- (C) Rhoberta Shaler, PhD. All rights reserved worldwide. Author of several books, programs & audiotapes, Seattle-based Rhoberta Shaler, PhD, speaks, consults and trains for corporations, conferences, and conventions on 'People Skills for a Competitive Edge' through her company, SPEAKING ABOUT WORK. She leads teams to improve and strengthen workplace relationships and recover time lost through conflict. http://www.RhobertaShaler.com http://www.SpeakingAboutWork.com Contact Telephone: (425) 401-6464 Email: mailto:RS@RhobertaShaler.com --------------------------------------------------------- *****COMMENT: HOW IS THIS RELEVANT TO WOODCARVING? Over the years I have really appreciated that to carve well you must engage both head and heart: Neither on its own is really enough. Both work best when working in tandem. So I try never to start a carving until my head and heart, thoughts and feelings, are aligned; until I know enough about what I want to carve; and really want to carve it. I've known many students come to a class unprepared and start any old carving rather than waste precious class time. The results of this desultory approach are almost invariably disappointing. And what's interesting, the carver knows it too, in both head and heart.. _______________________________________ 5. TEACHING IN THE USA _______________________________________ Just a reminder that I am teaching at the Center For Furniture Craftsmanship, in Maine for the last two weeks of June and the first week of July, if you are free! Full details: http://www.woodschool.org _________________________________________ That's it! Joy and success in your carving! Chris Pye This Ezine Is Listed At FreeZinesOnline. http://Globemark.net/FreeZinesOnline.htm