How to / I whittle faces !

[Gary Elson]

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



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


Basic notches to start creating features


Keep looking at the side profile the nose should stick out the farthest ( who’d have thought that)


Now put in the smile lines - starting from the corner of the nose also deepen / shape the eye sockets and cheeks nose etc


Join up the smile lines with a mouth



Add a couple of little notches for simple eyes


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



Hope this helps
Thanks for looking

Gary

 

[Toddy]

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
atb,
M

 

[Broch]

Great stuff! I can just imagine the stories he tells

 

[dwardo]

Great work. I will try that next time I am out,

 

[Muddypaws]

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]

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

 

[Hammock Hamster]

Thanks Gary that's really useful seeing your process.

It differs greatly from what I do which is probably why yours look so much better!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Gary Elson]

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

 

[woodspirits]

great demo Gary, thanks for sharing.

 

[Tony]

I really need to set aside some time and do this, I've been meaning to do a woodspirit for an age as well......Umm

Excellent stuff Gary

 

[Dean]

Nice tutorial, still something on my list of things to carve.

 

[Hammock Hamster]

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.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mickos]

nice hope its not a daft question but what kind of wood is it?

 

[Gary Elson]

nice hope its not a daft question but what kind of wood is it?

No such thing as a daft question this chap was made from Alder from a small board bought via those good folks at Axminster
Thanks for looking
Gary

 

[mickos]

cheers.

 

[Bionic]

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]

Found a bit of wood some time ago, knew then that I'd carve a WS eventually. Today was the day

 

[woodspirits]

Found a bit of wood some time ago, knew then that I'd carve a WS eventually. Today was the day
View attachment 49664

That looks a gnarly piece, must have been hard work, nicely done.

 

[Sundowner]

Ooops

 

[Sundowner]

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.