How to / I whittle faces !

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Gary Elson

Full Member
Feb 27, 2007
214
201
59
Bulkington Warwickshire
Hi
I was asked a while ago if I could do a step by step to how I whittle faces
So here it is !!

Starting with a 30 mm x 30mm x 75mm block and using a blade about 25mm long this is my basic rough out note the centre line and start of a Hat

217EF575-9121-4E7A-A941-84346A28E962.jpeg

I draw guide lines in using crayon as it’s less messy than pencil
Top horizontal line is the eye line ( about half way down the head) then a sort of trapezoidal shape for the nose I’ve also started to round off the head and created a chin
B876FEF1-9670-4C21-AC07-E5573BA68DFA.jpeg

Basic notches to start creating features
13C87D7A-657E-40D2-9311-0A02E580A7E1.jpeg

Keep looking at the side profile the nose should stick out the farthest ( who’d have thought that)
A3F10610-76E2-4BF6-A017-92DEA9404C7A.jpeg

Now put in the smile lines - starting from the corner of the nose also deepen / shape the eye sockets and cheeks nose etc
325B2AAC-2647-45A8-8DA6-5103BB8D31DF.jpeg

Join up the smile lines with a mouth
583685B0-5856-4D71-9B13-DFB46D3B81DD.jpeg


Add a couple of little notches for simple eyes
D33E72BE-4A87-48CA-B88B-8C5544A33D80.jpeg

Keep rounding stuff off until you get the shape you want or it makes you smile and you will get to something like him below

F5536EB9-13D4-43C9-B816-144087AF17DA.jpeg

Hope this helps
Thanks for looking

Gary
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,938
4,571
S. Lanarkshire
You make it seem soooo simple, and I know that the eye for detail and the skill to make it 'right' are not simple things.
Thank you for the tutorial though; it makes it seem possible, and encouraging for us to have a shot ourselves :D
atb,
M
 

Muddypaws

Full Member
Jan 23, 2009
1,094
313
Southampton
Thanks for sharing. You make it look easy, which I'm sure it's not. However, you have provided inspiration for me to try.
 

Hunkyfunkster

Full Member
Mar 2, 2015
360
69
Loch Lomond
I tried carving a face once and gave up halfway through. I just can't seem to get my head around heads.

This has inspired me to give it another go so who knows.

Great tutorial
 

Gary Elson

Full Member
Feb 27, 2007
214
201
59
Bulkington Warwickshire
Thanks for your comments
If you guys feel you can give it a go then I’m really pleased being able to pass on knowledge and skills is a lovely feeling
I’d love to see some of your work I bet it would be better then you give yourselves credit for and as good as mine ( sorry if that sounds a bit big headed)
Cheers see you soon
Gary
 
Feb 17, 2012
1,061
77
Surbiton, Surrey
Here’s a couple of my recent ones, not a patch on yours and faces done in a very different way.
I have found a splash of paint helps hide a lot of poor carving.
2aceeee84f556a04993768e5fc0e551f.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Bionic

Forager
Mar 21, 2018
183
94
Bomber county
I’d seen this thread a while ago and meant to give it a shot but never got around to it. This bump has given me a timely reminder and it helps that I’ve just spotted a lump of basswood on the side left over from a previous project (a pig I made for my daughters birthday)
 

Sundowner

Full Member
Jan 21, 2013
891
341
70
Northumberland
It's dead ivy. Wasn't that bad though, apart from the heavy knife. A TSB BOAR with a 4mm thick blade!! Never mind, a whittling knife has been ordered this morning .
Now off to cut a few hazel sticks and thanks for your kind comment.
 

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